[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 39 (Monday, September 27, 2004)]
[Pages 2105-2106]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Opening of the National Museum of the American Indian

September 23, 2004

    Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. Please be seated. Welcome 
to the White House. Laura and I are so honored that you're here, and 
we're honored to be with you.
    This week, during one of the largest gatherings of American Indians 
in our Nation's history, we celebrate the legacy of the first people to 
call this land home. And we celebrate the opening of the National Museum 
of the American Indian, a unique and beautiful place that will introduce 
generations of visitors to a strong and living tradition. That museum is 
a long time in coming, but it now stands in a place of honor, exactly 
where it belongs, on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
    I'm honored to call Ben Nighthorse Campbell a friend. He is a 
strong, strong leader. He is a proud Indian and a proud American. He 
represents the best of public service. And I appreciate his wife, Linda, 
being here as well. Thank you, friend. Plus, he's a pretty fine athlete. 
[Laughter]
    I appreciate Secretary Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, for 
being here, and other members of my administration involved with Indian 
affairs who are here. And they should be here. After all, they're with 
the leaders of sovereign tribes: Dave Anderson, Assistant Secretary of 
Indian Affairs, Department of Interior; Vickie Vasquez, Assistant Deputy 
Secretary of the Office of Indian Education; Dr. Charles Grim, Director, 
Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. Thank 
you all for coming.
    I'm proud to be here with Senator Ted Stevens--Senator Stevens, 
Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, strong backer of the 
American Indian, as is Senator Domenici and all the other Senators who 
are here. I appreciate you all coming.
    I'm honored the Members of the House are here: Richard Pombo, 
chairman of the House Resources Committee; J.D. Hayworth, cochairman of 
the Native American Caucus; along with Dale Kildee of Michigan, 
cochairman of the Native American Caucus; Congressman Tom Cole from 
Oklahoma; and other Members of the Congress. Proud you're here, and 
thank you for coming.
    I'm honored to have distinguished tribal leaders here today. Thank 
you all for coming to Washington, DC. We're proud you're here. I 
appreciate Sheila Burke, the Deputy Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institute. I thank Rick West, the Director of the National Museum of the 
American Indian, for being here as well.
    I want to thank the Indian members of our United States military for 
joining us today. Thank you for your service. Finally, I want to thank 
the Cherokee Choir for filling the East Room with such beautiful music. 
Thank you all, and welcome to the White House.

[[Page 2106]]

    The museum's location on the Mall is fitting, because the American 
Indian experience is central to the American story. That story has 
involved great injustice against native peoples and great contribution 
by native peoples.
    We remember Sacagawea's presence with Lewis and Clark. What a heroic 
woman she was. We remember the patriotism and bravery of the Code 
Talkers in World War II. We're still looking for Clarence Wolf Guts. 
[Laughter] We also remember all the Native Americans who fought to 
defend America, including the 17 American service personnel we just 
recognized here.
    Native Americans have supported this country during its times of 
need, and their contributions have made America stronger and better. 
Decades ago, there were some who viewed American Indians as the 
vanishing Americans, people on the margins of our national life. Yet, 
the exhibits in the new museum and the museum itself carry a different 
message. Many of its staff and curators are Native Americans, and the 
exhibits are created in close consultation with the tribes.
    The National Museum of the American Indian shows how your ancestors 
once lived, and it does much more than that. It affirms that you and 
your tribal governments are strong and vital today and provides a place 
to celebrate your present achievements and your deepest hopes for the 
future. It allows all Americans to experience the rich culture of the 
American Indian.
    Native American cultures survive and flourish when tribes retain 
control over their own affairs and their own future. That is why, 
earlier this morning, I signed an Executive memorandum to all Federal 
agencies reaffirming the Federal Government's longstanding commitment to 
respect tribal sovereignty and self-determination. My Government will 
continue to honor this government-to-government relationship.
    Long before others came to the land called America, the story of 
this land was yours alone. Indians on this continent had their own 
languages and customs, just as you have today. They had jurisdiction 
over their lands and territories, just as you have today. And these 
sovereign tribal nations had their own systems of self-governance, just 
as you have today.
    The National Museum of Indian Affairs affirms that this young 
country is home to an ancient, noble, and enduring native culture. And 
all Americans are proud of that culture. Like many Indian dwellings, the 
new museum building faces east, toward the rising sun. And as we 
celebrate this new museum and we look to the future, we can say that the 
sun is rising on Indian country.
    Welcome to the White House. May God bless you. Thanks for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 8:35 a.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of 
Colorado and his wife, Linda; and Clarence Wolf Guts, World War II 
veteran and Lakota Sioux code talker.