[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 15, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 68871-68872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29297]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 221 / Wednesday, November 15, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 68871]]

                Proclamation 7372 of November 8, 2000

                
National American Indian Heritage Month, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians 
                are a special part of the tapestry of our Nation's 
                history. As keepers of a rich and ancient cultural 
                heritage, Native Americans share with all of us the 
                beauty of their art, the power of their songs, and the 
                grace of their people. As individuals, they have 
                distinguished themselves in virtually every field, from 
                the arts to the sciences, from the world of sports to 
                the world of commerce.

                This month, we celebrate the culture and contributions 
                of the first Americans. We also remember with sorrow 
                the suffering they endured because of past Federal 
                actions and policies that had long-term and often 
                devastating consequences for Native Americans and their 
                culture. But, as the new millennium dawns, there is 
                reason for optimism. During my 1999 New Markets tour of 
                the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota and my visit 
                to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico in April of this 
                year, I saw firsthand a strength of spirit and hope 
                sweeping through Indian Country. The Vice President and 
                I have worked with tribes to foster this hope--through 
                economic development initiatives and improved education 
                and health care.

                We still have much to accomplish, however. While my 
                Administration has worked hard to bridge the digital 
                divide and bring the Information Superhighway to Indian 
                Country, some areas still do not have telephone and 
                power lines. We continue striving to provide American 
                Indians with the tools they need to strengthen family 
                and community life by fighting poverty, crime, alcohol 
                and drug abuse, and domestic violence, and we are 
                working with tribes to improve academic achievement and 
                strengthen tribal colleges.

                We are also seeking to ensure that tribal leaders have 
                a voice equal to that of Federal and State officials in 
                addressing issues of concern to all our citizens. I 
                reaffirmed that commitment to tribal sovereignty and 
                self-determination by issuing this month a revised 
                Executive Order on Consultation and Coordination with 
                Indian Tribal Governments. This order builds on prior 
                actions and strengthens our government-to-government 
                relationship with Indian tribes by ensuring that all 
                Executive departments and agencies consult with Indian 
                tribes and respect tribal sovereignty as the agencies 
                consider policy initiatives that affect Indian 
                communities.

                This year, my Administration proposed the largest 
                budget increase ever for a comprehensive Native 
                American initiative for health care, education, 
                infrastructure, and economic development. Just last 
                month, as part of the Department of the Interior 
                appropriations legislation, I signed into law one 
                segment of this budget initiative that includes 
                significant investments for school construction in 
                Indian Country and the largest funding increase ever 
                for the Indian Health Service. These are the kinds of 
                investments that will empower tribal communities to 
                address an array of needs and, ultimately, to achieve a 
                better standard of living.

                Back in 1994, when I first met with the tribal leaders 
                of more than 500 Indian nations at the White House, I 
                saw the strength and determination that have enabled 
                Native Americans to overcome extraordinary barriers and 
                protect their hard-won civil and political rights. 
                Since then, by working

[[Page 68872]]

                together, we have established a new standard for 
                Federal Indian policy--one that promotes an effective 
                government-to-government relationship between the 
                Federal Government and the tribes, and that seeks to 
                ensure greater prosperity, self-reliance, and hope for 
                all Native Americans. While we cannot erase the 
                tragedies of the past, we can create a future where all 
                of our country's people share in America's great 
                promise.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim November 2000 as National 
                American Indian Heritage Month. I urge all Americans, 
                as well as their elected representatives at the 
                Federal, State, local, and tribal levels, to observe 
                this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
                activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-29297
Filed 11-13-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P