[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 196 (Monday, December 19, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING TUOLUMNE BAND OF ME-WUK INDIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 19, 2011

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the 
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians for the integral part they played in 
bringing the 2011 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to Washington, DC.
  Since 1970, it has become an honor for one of the National Forests to 
be asked to provide the Capitol Tree. The appointed National Forest, in 
turn, engages help from diverse partners throughout its respective 
State. The opportunity to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree becomes a 
state-wide celebration and civic event, leaving a lasting impression on 
all who are fortunate enough to be involved.
  2011 is only the fourth time California has contributed the U.S. 
Capitol Christmas Tree, the last time was in 1995. Known as ``The 
People's Tree,'' the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree was harvested from the 
Stanislaus National Forest located in the Central Sierra Nevada 
Mountains. The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians performed a blessing of 
the tree prior to it being harvested. The members of the tribe cut and 
laid the tree down on a special cradle without breaking a branch in the 
frigid 17 degree weather.
  In addition to assisting with the harvesting and blessing of the 2011 
Capitol Christmas Tree, the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians also 
harvested and blessed their own tree. The 20-foot tall White Spruce was 
hand-picked by the Elders to be donated to the Smithsonian's National 
Museum of the American Indian. It is the first time that a Native 
American tribe from California has donated a tree to the museum. It 
traveled 4,280 miles from California to Washington, DC making 23 stops 
along the way. At two of the stops, the Me-Wuk's had tribal gift 
exchanges with two other Indian tribes. The tree's arrival received 
international press and showed the rest of the world that our nation 
has the freedom to celebrate a religious holiday at the Capitol.
  A notable moment for the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians was being 
able to perform a tribal dance in the Library of Congress. Their 
performance marks the first time that a Native American tribe has 
danced in the historic building. The dancers that participated were 
Robert Millis, Louis Millis, Robert Burciaga, Miguel Campos, Joey 
Guinn, Shanta Millis, Tricia Guinn, Heather Palmer, Darla Berg, Janell 
Lavell, Melissa Wiest, Lucy Parker, and Ursula Jones. Special 
Recognition should be extended to Reba Fuller, the Tuolumne Band of Me-
Wuk Indians Government Specialist, who worked tirelessly on the project 
and traveled with the tree until it was properly placed.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the Tuolumne 
Band of Me-Wuk Indians for their historic journey with the 2011 U.S. 
Capitol Christmas Tree.

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