[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15274-15275]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. President, each November we 
recognize National Native American Heritage

[[Page 15275]]

Month to honor the tradition, culture, contributions, achievements, and 
sacrifices of those that originally inhabited this great Nation. With 
over five million individuals of Native American descent in the United 
States, it is important to celebrate the instrumental impact Native 
American culture has had on American history. National Native American 
Heritage Month is an opportunity to focus our attention on the beliefs 
of tribal sovereignty by ensuring trust responsibilities and 
strengthening government-to-government relationships with tribes across 
the Nation.
  Representing a State that is home to nine treaty tribes, this month 
has added significance to me. I would like to personally acknowledge 
and honor South Dakota's nine treaty 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. South Dakota 
greatly benefits from the rich heritage and culture each tribe brings 
to our State.
  It is fitting that President Obama has declared November 23, 2012, 
the day after Thanksgiving, as Native American Heritage Day in an 
effort to fully appreciate the legacy American Indian culture has had 
on our Nation since its infancy. I am pleased we have honored our 
Native American Indian and Alaska Native people with a day, week, and 
month of observance every year since 1976.
  During this month's commemoration, we must not only celebrate our 
Native American Indian and Alaska Native's past, but also emphasize 
where improvements are needed for their future well-being. I am proud 
the Indian Affairs Committee has recently approved my legislation to 
reauthorize the Native American Languages Preservation Act, and I hope 
my colleagues will consider this important measure, as it is critical 
to preserve Native languages that have long influenced our history and 
culture. We should promote diversity rather than suppress it, as the 
foundation of the United States is built on diverse cultures and 
backgrounds. While we pause to recognize the strong contributions our 
tribes have made to this Nation, the Federal government must uphold its 
responsibilities to our tribal communities.
  I hope students around the United States take the opportunity this 
month to learn about the Thanksgiving story from the American Indian 
point of view. By observing and celebrating National Native American 
Heritage Month, we are reaffirming our Nation's respect for American 
Indian people. I would like to acknowledge and praise the more than 
70,000 American Indians in South Dakota who bring a unique and 
enriching culture to our communities. I urge everyone in America to 
participate in our celebration of American Indians, not only during the 
month of November, but through a daily commitment to advancing the 
quality of life of American Indians, in an effort for our Nation to 
move forward with strength and resolve.

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