An inaugural Native American Parade running down Capitol Mall to the state Capitol’s West Steps is being sponsored by tribes and the California Native American Legislative Caucus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Eighty entries are confirmed with participants represented by floats, vehicles, walkers, performers and others taking part in this first Sacramento cavalcade celebrating California Native Americans during National Native American Month.

Also planned as part of the November festivities is a Friday, Nov. 8, cultural exchange for 150 third and fourth grade students with classes in traditional crafts and performances such as dancing or bird singing. The student program is scheduled from 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Capitol grounds.

Tribal artisans and performers will teach the classes in Capitol Park in the Native American monument area or in Capitol hearing rooms, depending on the weather.

This program is modeled after a successful project more than 20 years old held for elementary students in the Inland Empire at California State University, San Bernardino.

That student gathering is coordinated annually in September during California Native American Month and was founded and organized by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), the first and only California Native American elected to the state Legislature, along with area tribes and the university.

More than 5,000 native and nonnative young students have participated in the San Bernardino event.