[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 25942]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to announce the beginning of 
National American Indian Heritage Month. This November we will honor 
the achievements made by American Indians and Alaskan Natives 
throughout the history of our country.
  For many years, Native Americans strived for an official recognition 
of their people. The first observance of a day celebrating the 
contributions of American Indians occurred on the second Saturday of 
May 1916 in New York State. In 1990, Congress, with my support, passed 
a joint resolution declaring November 1990 as National American Indian 
Heritage Month, dedicated to appreciating the impact of Native 
Americans on the foundation and development of our Nation.
  Rooted in the history and culture of South Dakota, as well as the 
United States, lies the steadfast influence of the Native American 
people. The Great Sioux Nation of South Dakota consists of nine 
separate tribes, the Cheyenne River Sioux, the Crow Creek Sioux, the 
Flandreau Santee Sioux, the Lower Brule Sioux, the Oglala Sioux, the 
Rosebud Sioux, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, the Standing Rock Sioux, 
and the Yankton Sioux. I would like to pay tribute to the more than 
62,000 Native Americans in South Dakota and the Native Americans 
throughout our country whose presence and traditions have enriched our 
communities.
  With the commencement of National American Indian Heritage Month, we 
have been given an excellent opportunity to educate ourselves about the 
cultural and historical influence of American Indians and Alaskan 
Natives. In November, I encourage everyone to join South Dakota in our 
reverence of Native Americans with the hope that our Government can 
continue to make the concerns of American Indians a priority and to 
ensure that their freedoms and way of life are preserved.

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