[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 2, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13685-S13686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 216--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1999 AS 
              ``NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH''

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Grassley, 
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. 
Akaka, Mr. Conrad, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kohl, Mr. 
Inhofe, Mr. Reid, Mr. Enzi, Mr. McCain, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Thomas, Mr. 
Burns, Mr. Grams, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Allard, Mr. Stevens, 
Mr. Crapo, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Frist, Mr. Jeffords, and Mr. Kennedy) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 216

       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives were the 
     original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the 
     United States;
       Whereas American Indian tribal governments developed the 
     fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of 
     powers that form the foundation of the United States 
     Government;
       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 1999 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 
the Vice Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Senator Inouye and 
many of our colleagues, a Senate resolution that designates the month 
of November 1999, as `National 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 almost a decade.

[[Page S13686]]

  American Indians and Alaska Natives have left an indelible imprint on 
many aspects of our everyday life that most Americans 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 over the last 500 years. Many of the healing 
remedies that we use today were obtained from practices already in use 
by Indian people and are still utilized today in conjunction with 
western medicine.
   Mr. President, many of the basic principles of democracy in our 
Constitution can be traced to practices and customs already in use by 
American Indian tribal governments including the doctrines of freedom 
of speech and separation of powers. Our Founding Fathers benefited 
greatly from the example of the Indian tribes in the early stages of 
our Nation.
  The respect of Native people for the preservation of natural 
resources, reverence for elders, and adherence to tradition, mirrors 
our own values which we developed in part, through the contact with 
American Indians and Alaska Natives. These values and customs are 
deeply rooted, strongly embraced and thrive with generation after 
generation of Native people.
  From the difficult days of Valley Forge through our peace keeping 
efforts around the world today, American Indian and Alaska Native 
people have proudly served and dedicated their lives in the military 
readiness and 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. Many American Indian men and women 
gave their lives selflessly in the defense of this Nation even before 
they were granted American citizenship 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 1999, as 
``National American Indian Heritage Month,'' we will continue to 
encourage self-esteem, pride, and self awareness amongst American 
Indians and Alaska Natives of all ages. Many schools, organizations, 
Federal, State, Tribal and local governments can 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. By recognizing the many Native 
contributions to the arts, governance, and culture of our Nation, we 
will honor their past and ensure a place in America for Native people 
for generations to come. I ask for the support of my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle for this resolution, and urge the Senate to pass 
this important matter.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I want to pay tribute to and 
recognize the contributions Native Americans and Indian tribes have 
made in the United States and in particular in the State of Oregon. 
Native Americans have a unique and important relationship with the 
United States, and Indian tribes continue to persevere in upholding 
their sovereign governments, economies, culture and heritage. I am 
pleased to join Senators Campbell and Inouye in submitting this 
resolution to designate this month as American Indian Heritage Month, 
and I appreciate their efforts on behalf of all Native Americans.
  There are nine federally recognized tribes in the State of Oregon. 
Each of these tribes has successfully collaborated with State and 
Federal agencies and continues to develop active partnerships with the 
surrounding communities.
  Five of Oregon's tribes are located in Western Oregon: The 
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz, 
the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw, 
Coquille Indian Tribe, and the Cow Creek Band of Umpquas. Each of the 
tribes has made its own extraordinary contribution in Oregon and the 
Pacific Northwest region. The five tribes of Western Oregon have been 
successful in recent years in restoring their Federal recognition as 
Indian tribes, and they continue to work to stabilize and revitalize 
their social, cultural, and economic ties with the State and local 
communities.
  There are four tribes located east of Oregon's Cascade Mountains. The 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, in Easter Oregon, have 
been successful in their conservation and restoration of salmon and 
water back into the Umatilla River. The Confederated Tribes of Warm 
Springs, in Central Oregon, with their Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, have been 
making significant contributions to Oregon's tourism industry. The 
Burns Paiute and Klamath Tribes have renewed a foothold in the local 
economy.
  Mr. President, I commend the contributions Native American people 
have brought to my State and this nation. American Indian Heritage 
Month is an important recognition to the accomplishments and 
contributions of Native Americans in our country. I urge my colleagues 
to join us in support of this resolution and I look forward to its 
prompt consideration.

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