Health Commission adopts Ramaytush Ohlone land-acknowledgement to be read at public meetings

The San Francisco Health Commission voted unanimously to adopt a land-acknowledgement recognizing the Ramaytush Ohlone as the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula and directing that a formal statement be read at the start of each public Health Commission and Department of Public Health meeting.

Patrick Chang of the Office of Policy Planning read the resolution, which states in part that "we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula." The resolution cites San Francisco Administrative Code chapter 67.3(d) as the authority for reading the statement at public meetings.

The chair acknowledged community members who helped shape the resolution, including Dr. Jonathan Cordero and Shariah Souza of the American Indian Cultural District. Dr. Cordero thanked the commission for its time and for the resolution being in its "final version."

Commissioner Guillermo moved adoption and Commissioner Gerardo seconded. Secretary Morwitz called the roll; each commissioner recorded "yes," and the item passed.

Commissioners and staff said the land-acknowledgement is a first step and discussed a possible future companion resolution addressing programmatic supports for American Indian communities. The commission indicated it will calendar follow-up work to consider concrete measures beyond the acknowledgement.

The commission's recorded action will cause the specified land-acknowledgement text to be read aloud at subsequent open Health Commission and DPH meetings, per the resolution language.