[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 118--TO DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2001 AS 
              ``NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH''

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Stevens, Mr. 
Corzine, Mr. Brownback, Mr. McCain, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
Cochran, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Domenici, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Crapo, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. 
Thomas, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Craig, Mr. Reid, Mr. 
Smith of Oregon, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Allard, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Schumer, and 
Mr. Breaux) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 118

       Whereas American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native 
     Hawaiians 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, Alaska Natives, and Native 
     Hawaiians have traditionally exhibited a respect for the 
     finiteness of natural resources through a reverence for the 
     earth;
       Whereas American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native 
     Hawaiians 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, Alaska Natives, and Native 
     Hawaiians 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, Alaska Natives, and Native 
     Hawaiians 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, Alaska Natives, and 
     Native Hawaiians 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 2001 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, along with thirty of my colleagues today 
I am pleased to introduce a resolution to recount the many 
contributions American Indians and Alaska Natives have made to this 
great Nation and to designate November, 2001, as ``National American 
Indian Heritage Month'' as Congress has done for nearly a decade.
  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, the armed forces, medicine, 
industry, and government are a few of the areas that have been 
influenced by American Indian and Alaska Native people over the last 
500 years. In the medical field, 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.
  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.
  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.
  It is a fact that on a per capita basis, Native participation rate in 
the Armed Forces outstrips the rates of all other groups in this 
Nation. Many American Indian men made the ultimate sacrifice in the 
defense of this Nation, some even before they were granted 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 2001, 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.
  November is a special time in the history of the United States: we 
celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by remembering the Indians of the 
Northeast 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.

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