In 2021, SF Heritage started a partnership with the American Indian Cultural District (AICD), the first established cultural district of its size in the United States dedicated to recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the American Indian legacy, culture, people, and contributions. Since its founding in 2020, AICD has successfully advocated for equitable resources, funding, and opportunities for American Indians in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Our first initiative was formally adopting, with AICD’s guidance, a Land Acknowledgement and a Commitment to Work Meaningfully with the American Indian Community. Our collaborative posts spotlight important places that transcend cultural district boundaries and honor the resilience of the American Indian community: from the Ashbury Heights home of the American Indian Historical Society, to the roots of the service organization, Friendship House, in an Alamo Square Victorian, to the burning and rebirth of the American Indian Center in the Mission District.
We look forward to continuing our partnership to boost American Indian visibility and history in San Francisco.
2025 made history, celebrating 50 years of Gay American Indians in San Francisco. On June 27th, various American Indian organizations, including the American Indian Cultural District, came together to support the co-founder of GAI, Randy Burns. The San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also dropped by to offer a plaque and announce June 27th as Gay American Indians Day in San Francisco. GAI is notable for being the first association for gay Native Americans in the United States. Originally GAI was a place for LGBTQIA Two-Spirit Natives to meet in the Bay Area as they were excluded from the gay bars in the Castro district because of their race.
