[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 70573-70575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22667]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 196 / Thursday, October 12, 2023 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 70573]]


                Proclamation 10649 of October 6, 2023

                
Indigenous Peoples' Day, 2023

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On Indigenous Peoples' Day, we honor the perseverance 
                and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude 
                for the myriad contributions they have made to our 
                world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal 
                sovereignty and self-determination.

                The story of America's Indigenous peoples is a story of 
                their resilience and survival; of their persistent 
                commitment to their right to self-governance; and of 
                their determination to preserve cultures, identities, 
                and ways of life. Long before European explorers sailed 
                to this continent, Native American and Alaska Native 
                Nations made this land their home, some for thousands 
                of years before the United States was founded. They 
                built many Nations that created powerful, prosperous, 
                and diverse cultures, and they developed knowledge and 
                practices that still benefit us today.

                But throughout our Nation's history, Indigenous peoples 
                have faced violence and devastation that has tested 
                their limits. For generations, it was the shameful 
                policy of our Nation to remove Indigenous peoples from 
                their homelands; force them to assimilate; and ban them 
                from speaking their own languages, passing down ancient 
                traditions, and performing sacred ceremonies. Countless 
                lives were lost, precious lands were taken, and their 
                way of life was forever changed. In spite of 
                unimaginable loss and seemingly insurmountable odds, 
                Indigenous peoples have persisted. They survived. And 
                they continue to be an integral part of the fabric of 
                the United States.

                Today, Indigenous peoples are a beacon of resilience, 
                strength, and perseverance as well as a source of 
                incredible contributions. Indigenous peoples and Tribal 
                Nations continue to practice their cultures, remember 
                their heritages, and pass down their histories from 
                generation to generation. They steward this country's 
                lands and waters and grow crops that feed all of us. 
                They serve in the United States military at a higher 
                rate than any other ethnic group. They challenge all of 
                us to celebrate the good, confront the bad, and tell 
                the whole truth of our history. And as innovators, 
                educators, engineers, scientists, artists, and leaders 
                in every sector of society, Indigenous peoples 
                contribute to our shared prosperity. Their diverse 
                cultures and communities today are a testament to the 
                unshakable and unbreakable commitment of many 
                generations to preserve their cultures, identities, and 
                rights to self-governance. That is why, despite 
                centuries of devastation and turmoil, Tribal Nations 
                continue to thrive and lead in countless ways.

                When I came into office, I was determined to usher in a 
                new era in the relationship between the Federal 
                Government and Tribal Nations and to honor the solemn 
                promises the United States made to fulfill our trust 
                and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. That work 
                began by appointing Native Americans to lead on the 
                frontlines of my Administration--from the first Native 
                American Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and 
                dozens of Senate-confirmed Native American officials to 
                the over 80 Native American appointees serving across 
                my Administration and in the Federal courts. I restored 
                the White House Council on Native American Affairs to 
                improve interagency coordination and decision-making as 
                well as the White House

[[Page 70574]]

                Tribal Nations Summit to bring together key members of 
                my Administration and the leaders of hundreds of Tribal 
                Nations.

                Last year, I signed a new Presidential Memorandum that 
                creates uniform standards for consultation between the 
                Federal Government and Tribal Nations. And together, we 
                are making historic investments in Indian Country. That 
                includes $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan, the 
                largest one-time direct investment in Indian Country in 
                American history; more than $13 billion to rebuild 
                infrastructure, the single largest investment in Indian 
                Country infrastructure in history; and the biggest 
                investment ever to combat the existential threat of 
                climate change, including $700 million dedicated to 
                climate change response in Native communities.

                We are also working to improve public health and safety 
                for Native Americans. That is why I signed an Executive 
                Order that helps us respond more effectively to the 
                epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. 
                And when we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act 
                last year, I was proud to include historic provisions 
                that reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and restore Tribal 
                jurisdiction. I have also requested a $9.1 billion 
                infusion for Indian Health Services and asked the 
                Congress to make that funding a mandatory part of the 
                Federal budget for the first time in our history.

                My Administration will also continue using all the 
                authority available to it, including the Antiquities 
                Act, to protect sacred Tribal lands. We have already 
                restored protections for Bears Ears and Grand 
                Staircase-Escalante in Utah and the Northeast Canyons 
                and Seamounts National Monument in New England. I have 
                declared new national monuments at the Camp Hale-
                Continental Divide in Colorado, Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, 
                and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni in Arizona to protect 
                lands that are sacred to so many Tribes. My 
                Administration has also signed at least 20 new co-
                stewardship agreements with Tribes, and we are working 
                on many more.

                As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, may we renew 
                the enduring soul of our Nation-to-Nation 
                relationships--a spirit of friendship, stewardship, and 
                respect.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, by virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9, 
                2023, as Indigenous Peoples' Day. I call upon the 
                people of the United States to observe this day with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct 
                that the flag of the United States be displayed on all 
                public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our 
                diverse history and the Indigenous peoples who 
                contribute to shaping this Nation.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                eighth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2023-22667
Filed 10-11-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P