[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Pages 28690-28691]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, each November, we celebrate National 
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month to honor the original 
inhabitants of our great nation and celebrate their formative impact on 
American history. This month is an opportunity to promote the tenets of 
tribal sovereignty and recommit to the Federal Government's treaty and 
trust responsibilities to American Indians. I would like to personally 
honor the nine treaty tribes of South Dakota: 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. Each tribe's 
rich heritage greatly influences the character of South Dakota.
  It is fitting that hundreds of tribal leaders journeyed to our 
Nation's Capital in early November to participate in the White House 
Tribal Nations Conference. President Barack Obama has committed to 
placing American Indian issues at the center of his administration, and 
the multiday conference was an important testament to the President's 
pledge to involve American Indian people in constructive dialogue. The 
conference allowed leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes to 
interact directly with the President and representatives from the 
highest levels of the administration. The tribal leaders in attendance 
displayed the very diverse face of Indian Country. Each individual 
tribe forms a distinctive chapter of the American Indian story, yet the 
narrative contains many common themes of triumph and tragedy.
  President Bill Clinton hosted the first tribal nations conference at 
the White House in 1994. It is not without precedent that President 
Obama invited leaders from all federally recognized tribes; however, I 
believe that this year's event is unmatched in its potential for 
progress. President Obama has charged each Cabinet agency with 
delivering a detailed plan of how to improve tribal consultation and 
how to address the complex challenges facing Indian Country. This 
Congress, with the leadership of President Obama, has an exceptional 
opportunity to improve the quality of life for American Indian tribes 
by consulting with tribal leaders and focusing on tribal sovereignty 
and the empowerment of Indian communities. For far too long, American 
Indians have endured a drastically underfunded health care system, 
crumbling education facilities, dismal economic prospects, and a subpar 
standard of living. It is essential to address this erosive cycle of 
poverty and marginalization in a thoughtful manner.

[[Page 28691]]

  The diversity of American Indian tribes reflects the vibrant origins 
of our Nation. As the First Americans, sound American Indian policy is 
a precursor to our Nation's capacity to evolve and progress in an ever 
changing, diversifying society. We need to celebrate the proud ancestry 
and incredible sacrifices of American Indians. National American Indian 
and Alaska Native Heritage Month reminds us to promote diversity rather 
than suppress it, as diverse values and cultures erect the foundation 
of the United States.
  American Indians contributed to the formation of modern political 
institutions as tribal confederacies influenced the foundations of 
early American democracy. In every conflict since the Revolutionary 
War, tribal members have courageously sacrificed their lives to help 
defend and preserve these democratic ideals. As the Federal Government 
works to assert a modern environmental ethic that can address climate 
change and natural resource scarcity, we have much to learn from 
American Indian communities. The environmental consciousness inherent 
in tribal culture promotes conservation and sustainability. American 
Indian communities have demonstrated that society can thrive and 
prosper without destroying the natural environment.
  I hope this month provides students with the opportunity to explore 
the Thanksgiving story from the American Indian point of view. 
Observance of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month 
reaffirms this Nation's respect for American Indian people. I encourage 
everyone to participate in our celebration of American Indians. I would 
like to pay tribute to the more than 65,000 American Indians in South 
Dakota whose heritage enriches our communities. While the month of 
November serves as an important testament to American Indian culture, 
it is critical to make a daily commitment to advancing the quality of 
life of American Indians, in order for our Nation to walk forward with 
strength and purpose.

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