Members of the Riverbank City Council have designated November as Native American Heritage Month.

The move came at a regular council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The mayor and council made the presentation to Gerrick Figueroa, a city employee, and his mother, Brenda Reed-Figueroa, who are members of the Chickasaw Nation. Gerrick was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on Tribal Lands, and moved to Riverbank in 1999.

The council noted the month of November is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.

“It’s also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges,” the council proclamation indicated. “It is crucial to use this time to honor the contributions, traditions, and culture of native peoples.

“Particularly around the time of the Thanksgiving holiday, we hope to continue education surrounding the tribes and peoples that were indigenous to our land, while gaining awareness to the struggles that Native American people have historically faced.”

The council learned that employee Gerrick Figueroa is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, with Chickasaw and Seminole heritage. His native ancestry traces back to his mother, Brenda Reed-Figueroa, as well as to the Seminole Tribe.

Brenda serves as a Community Outreach Liaison for the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, providing information about the tribe’s services and programs to members across the U.S. She said the family takes great pride in sharing their tribe’s traditions and values with others.