Honoring Native American Heritage Month: Q&A with CA Commission on the State of Hate Commissioner Regina Cuellar
Photo courtesy of Regina Cuellar
As Native American Heritage Month comes to a close, we connected with Regina Cuellar, Chairwoman of her Tribe, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, and a Commissioner for the CA Commission on the State of Hate. Commissioner Cuellar has been an advocate for the indigenous community and has been involved in Tribal leadership for more than a decade.
As a person of Native, Hispanic, and Filipino descent, her lived experience as a multi-racial individual in poverty exposed her firsthand to the generational trauma, social inequity, and discrimination that exists in disadvantaged communities not unlike her own. Regina is an advocate for self-sufficiency and embodies a strong work ethic as a leader. She believes in exercising powers of self-government and sovereign immunity to provide and promote social, health, economic, and educational opportunities and services that contribute to the well-being of her own, and surrounding, Tribal communities. On the state level, Chairwoman Cuellar stands for the rights of all Native and Indigenous peoples, recently sponsoring two critically important pieces of legislation, which we’ll learn more about below.
We spoke with Regina about some of the ways that the Native American community has experienced hate, bigotry, and discrimination in recent years, and how she and other advocates are taking action to secure the civil rights of all indigenous peoples.
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You’re the Chairwoman of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians and a member of the Commission on the State of Hate. In your experience, what are some of the main ways in which the Native American community has been confronted by discrimination, hate, or bigotry in recent years?
Native Americans have faced discrimination through derogatory stereotypes perpetuated in the media, hate crimes, cultural appropriation of our traditions, unequal access to voting, education, health care, and more. Our Tribal Members have also faced racism regarding land rights and challenges to tribal sovereignty.
The unfortunate history of colonization by this country has allowed for micro-acts of hate to become commonplace and accepted by dominant society, leaving Native peoples in the contemporary world to constantly confront them in day-to-day life. From product marketing featuring romanticized imagery of our ancestors, team mascots and chants, and Halloween costumes; these everyday aspects of modern life may never seem out of place to a non-Tribal individual. But to a Native person, they are reminders that our culture and people remain a cultural commodity to be consumed by the masses and seen as better left in the past. All without awareness that we very much are still here, practicing and keeping our cultures alive as a way of being, not a product or fad. This is just one example of the many ways Native peoples confront hate.
In terms of addressing discrimination and issues related to hate and prejudice, what types of resources are available or what work is being done to provide increased support and protection to indigenous people in California? What would you like to see happen?
Forming entities such as the Commission on the State of Hate is an extremely important and positive step in addressing these issues because the Commission provides a structured platform to raise awareness, collect data on experiences of hate, recommend policies, enlist community engagement, offer educational initiatives, and legal accountability to those responsible.
Photo courtesy of the Assembly Democratic Office of Communications and Outreach (DCO)
You’ve been a longstanding advocate for the rights of all Native and Indigenous peoples. Is there anything in your work that you are particularly proud of having accomplished to support California’s Native Peoples?
My passion for my Tribe and all Native Americans is grounded in a sense of cultural identity, a commitment to preserving traditions and a desire to address historical injustices. I feel a strong responsibility to advocate for the rights and recognition of all Native Americans in a society that has often marginalized them.
I am honored that my Tribe recently co-sponsored two critically important pieces of legislation. The first bill establishes the Feather Alert, a statewide emergency advisory system for missing and murdered Indigenous People who account for a disproportionate share of these cases. The Tribe also sponsored an independent film, “The Gift of Fear,” to provide more education about this horrific epidemic.
A second bill established a monument recently erected at Capitol Park. The land which the Capitol occupies today is the home of the sovereign people who have remained committed to the stewardship of this land since time immemorial and will continue to do so. The monument of William J. Franklin Sr. honors the enduring legacy of California’s Native Peoples. It replaced the statue of Father Junipero Serra which protesters toppled in 2020. Serra was the leader of California’s Spanish mission system, which tragically impacted Native American Communities.
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians recently executed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with California State Parks for the protection, preservation, and interpretation for parks on the Tribe’s ancestral homelands. Our story is like many here in California. The MOU is critical to not only securing the future well-being of the ancestral lands we are engaged in stewarding and the revitalization of sacred practices, but to us as a people and our identity as a Tribe.
Recently, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians became the first in the nation to have a designated voter registration site on tribal land. This milestone underscores our commitment to removing barriers for Native Americans and others in our rural community.
The value of education about Native Americans cannot be overstated. It is crucial for fostering understanding, respect, and addressing historical inaccuracies. It helps dispel stereotypes, promotes cultural awareness, and contributes to a more inclusive community.
The Sacramento History Museum's new exhibit, “Mómtim Péwinan, River People” is shining a light on the indigenous people who called those waters home. The exhibit was curated by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, descendants of the Nisenan, Miwok, and Maidu peoples. The exhibit is displayed permanently on the third floor of the Sacramento History Museum.
Photo courtesy of the Assembly Democratic Office of Communications and Outreach (DCO)
Many communities who have been targeted for hate feel hesitant to report it when it happens. Why do you think Native Americans who have been targeted for hate or discrimination might be hesitant to report and receive support? What do you think can help change that?
Native Americans may hesitate to report hate incidents due to mistrust in the justice system, fear of retaliation, historical trauma, and a perception that their concerns may not be taken seriously. Past experiences of injustice and systemic racism can contribute to a reluctance to engage with institutions that may not have adequately addressed their communities’ concern in the past. Cultural differences can also play a role, making it challenging for some to navigate the reporting process effectively.
It’s Native American Heritage Month. What types of events and actions can the general public take part in to support and better understand the Native American community? Is there anything about your tribe that you want people to know?
I recommend visiting the Sacramento History Museum's new exhibit, ”Mómtim Péwinan, River People.” This exhibit shines a light on the indigenous people who called those waters home, including our own. The exhibit was curated by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, descendants of the Nisenan, Miwok, and Maidu peoples whose heritage ties them to principal village sites at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, and the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. The exhibit is displayed permanently on the third floor of the Sacramento History Museum.
Photos courtesy of the Sacramento History Museum
