For nearly three decades, the California Indian Heritage Center (CIHC) has been under development in West Sacramento.
But it wasn’t until this week that Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced the groundbreaking of the CIHC, following the California Tribal Nations Summit on Tuesday.
The project covers 51 acres at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers. Once complete, it will serve as a center for cultural preservation, land stewardship, and learning based on Native American values.
This week’s groundbreaking comes after the City of West Sacramento transferred a 43-acre land parcel to California State Parks in 2019, enabling the State Parks system to proceed with the CIHC. Phase 1 of the CIHM is moving forward with $100M in Newsom’s 2018-2019 budget, and a campaign is currently raising a matching donation of $100M for future phases.
Phase 1: Welcome Center
Phase 1 of the CIHC comprises an outdoor welcome center area, with amenities ranging from parking and restrooms to cultural and educational signage, amphitheater-style seating, and garden areas.
The area is designed to welcome all tribal and non-tribal communities, offering a space for people to reflect on the continuing legacy of California tribes.
“Now, 175 years into California’s statehood, we can finally say that we are following through on a commitment to honor the first people of this place,” said Tribal Affairs Secretary Christina Snider-Ashtari at this week’s summit.
“Having a place where all California Native people can see that they are genuinely celebrated and belong as the foundational people of this state is worth the time and effort it has taken to get here.”
A CalParks blog post elaborates on the center’s explicitly non-museum role: “This space is intended to not only educate us and honor the past, but also be a place to showcase Indigenous peoples now and in the future,” they write.
What’s next for the CIHC
California tribes have shaped plans for the CIHC through ongoing consultation and community outreach, with a clear vision to represent and celebrate all California Indian Cultures.
The design features an integrated indoor-outdoor plan, built with light, natural materials that embrace the natural land and river.
Beyond phase 1, CIHC’s long-term vision includes interpretive trails to the river, restored habitat and plantings, native gardens, outdoor zones to host community gatherings, water features, and public art.
🌐 Learn more: California Indian Heritage Center
