[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 154 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11882-S11883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 145--DESIGNATING NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE 
                                 MONTH

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Allard, Mr. 
Baucus, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. 
Brownback, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, 
Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Ford, Mr. Frist, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Mr. McCain, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Moseley-
Braun, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reid, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. 
Thomas, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Wyden) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 145

       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives were the 
     original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the 
     United States;
       Whereas American Indians tribal governments developed the 
     fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of 
     powers that form the foundation of the United States 
     Government;

[[Page S11883]]

       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have 
     traditionally exhibited a respect for the finiteness of 
     natural resources through a reverence for the earth;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have served 
     with valor in all of America's wars beginning with the 
     Revolutionary War through the conflict in the Persian Gulf, 
     and often the percentage of American Indians who served 
     exceeded significantly the percentage of American Indians in 
     the population of the United States as a whole;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have made 
     distinct and important contributions to the United States and 
     the rest of the world in many fields, including agriculture, 
     medicine, music, language, and art;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives deserve to be 
     recognized for their individual contributions to the United 
     States as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, and 
     scholars;
       Whereas this recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, 
     and self-awareness in American Indians and Alaska Natives of 
     all ages; and
       Whereas November is a time when many Americans commemorate 
     a special time in the history of the United States when 
     American Indians and English settlers celebrated the bounty 
     of their harvest and the promise of new kinships: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates November 1997 as 
     ``National American Indian Heritage Month'' and requests that 
     the President issue a proclamation calling on the Federal 
     Government and State and local governments, interested groups 
     and organizations, and the people of the United States to 
     observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
     activities.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit today, along with 
many of my colleagues, a Senate resolution that designates the month of 
November 1997, as ``American Indian Heritage Month.'' I feel it is 
appropriate and deserving to honor American Indians and Alaska Natives, 
as the original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the United 
States, with this November designation as Congress has done for the 
past 7 years.
  American Indians and Alaska Natives have left an indelible imprint on 
many aspects of our everyday life that we often take for granted. The 
arts, education, science, medicine, industry, and government are areas 
that have been influenced by American Indian and Alaska Native people. 
Many of the healing remedies that we use today were obtained from 
practices already in use by Indian people.
  Mr. President, many of the basic principles of democracy in our 
Constitution can be traced to ideologies already in use by Indian 
tribal governments including such doctrines of freedom of speech and 
separation of powers. Our Founding Fathers benefited greatly from 
assistance given to them by Indian tribes in the early stages of 
establishing our Nation.
  Our respect for the preservation of natural resources, reverence for 
our elders, and adherence to tradition, were developed, in part, 
through contact with American Indians and Alaska Natives.
  American Indian and Alaska Native people have proudly served and 
dedicated their lives in the military defense of our country in wartime 
and in peace. In fact, their participation rate in the Armed Forces far 
outstrips the rates of all other groups in this Nation. They gave their 
lives in defense of this Nation even before they were allowed to be 
citizens in 1924.
  Many of the words in our language have been borrowed from native 
languages, including many of the names of the rivers, cities, and 
States across our Nation. Indian arts and crafts have also made a 
distinct impression on our heritage.
  It is my hope that by designating the month of November 1997, as 
``American Indian Heritage Month,'' it will encourage self-esteem, 
pride, and self awareness in American Indians and Alaska Natives of all 
ages. Many schools, organizations, Federal, State, and local 
governments also plan activities and programs to celebrate the 
achievements of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
  November is a special time in the history of the United States; we 
celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by remembering the American Indians 
and English settlers as they enjoyed the bounty of their harvest and 
the promise of new kinships. That is why, this is an appropriate time 
of the year for this designation.
  Therefore, I ask for the support of my colleagues for this special 
tribute of this country, and urge the Senate to pass this resolution.

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