[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           TOHONO O'ODHAM NATION CHILDREN'S DAY PROCLAMATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 1999

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the wisdom and 
vision of the Tohono O'odham Nation for recognizing the need to set 
aside a special day to honor children. I believe, and the Tohono 
O'odham believe, that they are the first tribal nation to declare a day 
for children. Because the Children's Day Proclamation speaks so 
eloquently of its purpose, I have included the original text that 
others may be inspired to ``recognize, protect and promote our 
children''.

                      Children's Day Proclamation

       Whereas, our children encounter challenges to their spirit, 
     emotional, mental and physical well being from sources that 
     exist outside our O'odham culture and tradition; and
       Whereas, the knowledge and wisdom necessary for our lives 
     was passed forward from our Ancient Ones to our Elders to 
     each successive generation; and
       Whereas, our Ancient Ones and our Elders form our 
     connecting bridge to our past and our present, but our 
     O'odham children form our bridge to the future, and without 
     our children we as Tohono O'odham would cease to exist; and
       Whereas, we must recognize, protect, and promote our 
     children for they are the only means for carrying on our 
     traditions, our history, our language, our values, our 
     culture for those generations yet to come.
       Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that as Chairman and Vice-
     Chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation, and by virtue of the 
     power vested in us to protect Tohono O'odham children, we do 
     hereby recognize that our children are our greatest resource 
     and on Friday, the 23rd day of April of this year and the 
     third Friday of April in every succeeding year shall be 
     forever known as Children's Day, a day in which we as Tohono 
     O'odham celebrate our children, our future. Done this 12th 
     day of April, 1999.

                                             Edward D. Manuel,

                                                         Chairman.

                                               Henry A. Ramon,

                                                    Vice-Chairman.

     

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