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MORE NEWS ON THE NATIVE AMERICAN HOLIDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2000 The Congressional Indian Caucus in Washington DC. has announced they will start the process of drafting a holiday bill to take before congress. They will circulate this bill around the country to Tribal Nations, allowing them the opportunity to have input on the wording of the bill. Kimberly Teehee of the Indian Caucus is asking for all Tribal Nations to pass resolutions in support of this holiday or official letters of support to be sent to her office. Her address is: Also a copy should be sent to: It is important for each and every one of us to contact a Tribal council member and ask that they present this issue to the full Council to consider drafting letters of support for the national holiday issue. The Indian Caucus has heard us loud and clear, they are fully aware that the people want this holiday to become a reality! They need Tribal support to show Congress that the Indian Nations are behind this issue too. With this support congress will have to acknowledge that the majority of Americans are for this holiday. After this announcement you will receive three more one will be The Cherokee Nation Resolution, United Native America Resolution and a letter to congress members. Copy these letters and send them to your Tribal Nation to use as a reference to the holiday issue. CHEROKEE NATION RESOLUTION 91-93 - PASSED COUNCIL OF THE CHEROKEE NATION Resolution in support of Designation of a National Holiday for Native Americans Whereas, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government in behalf of the Cherokee people; and Whereas, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government-to-government relationship with the United States of America; and Whereas, the Cherokee Nation supports projects and activities which encourage self-esteem, self-determination, health, education and general welfare of Cherokee People trough maintaining it's language, culture and history; and Whereas, the Cherokee Nation supports and promotes a recommendation to the United States of America to designate one day each year as a National Native American Day; and Whereas, the United States of America recognizes special memorials, historic events, historical figures and national activities that are consequential to the development of the United States; and Whereas, Native Americans have contributed to historic and cultural events and have contributed to the history and formation of the United States of America. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the Cherokee Nation does hereby express its support for the designation of a National Holiday in observation of the special political, scientific, religious and cultural contributions of Native Americans to the history of the United States. CERTIFICATION The foregoing resolution was adopted by the council of the Cherokee Nation at a duly called meeting on the 13th day of December, 1993 having 14 members present, constituting a quorum, by the vote of 14 yea; 0 nay; 0 abstaining. John A. Ketcher,
President
Wilma P. Mankiller,
Principal Chief Resolution in support of designation of a National Holiday for Native Americans
Whereas, its citizens are subject to the laws and taxation of the United States government; and Whereas, there are ten national holidays now recognized by the federal government, not one of them paying tribute to the Native Americans, and Whereas, Columbus Day is the most uncelebrated holiday in America, and not recognized by any Native American Government as cause for celebration of the re-discovery of them and their homeland, and Whereas, the majority of Americans are in full support of a proposal to change Columbus Day to Native American Day, and seventeen states do not recognize Columbus Day, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the United States Government support and promote a recommendation to designate one day each year as a National Holiday recognizing the Native Americans Indians, Alaskans and Hawaiians; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all national holidays, and specifically Columbus Day, be re-evaluated to accommodate the inclusion of Native American Day; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Columbus Day no longer be recognized as a national holiday, and be moved back to its traditional day, the second Wednesday of October, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in conjunction with the second Monday of October, being Native American Day, the month of November be designated Native American History month; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the United States Government establish such holiday with the intent to show solidarity and identification with Native American government in recognition of their historic involvement, cultural contributions and social significance as citizens of this great land. Mike L. Graham
Founder /Chairman
To Congressional representatives:
This holiday would include American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskans. This federal holiday would pay tribute to a long and honorable list of elected tribal representatives that stood up for our human rights to live in peace and self govern. In doing so our tribal leaders were imprisoned for life and killed for standing up for our civil rights. In our society today two national holidays were brought about with the help of Native Americans they are The Fourth of July United States Independence and Thanksgiving Day. Native America recognizes all federal holidays except Columbus Day, at this time seventeen states do not recognize Columbus Day. The state of South Dakota has changed Columbus Day to Native American Day. United Native America proposes moving Columbus Day back to its original day the second Wednesday of October and not be a federal tax paid holiday in doing this the second Monday of October could be designated as a federal holiday for Native Americans. Our surveys show that the vast majority of all Americans support this change. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma supports a national holiday for Native Americans with council resolution 91-93. Columbus Day should be celebrated as is St. Patrick Day and Octoberfest they are not federal tax paid holidays. Columbus was never a citizen of this country and never set foot on this land. He committed numerous atrocities against the island people he came in contact with which led to the destruction of them and their communities this is the true history of Columbus. America's children are taught in schools that he's a great explorer but our children know the truth. It is inappropriate for our tax dollars to pay for this man's holiday for finding us. In the special government to government relationship it is fitting for the federal government to designate a federal holiday paying tribute to elected Native American leaders. The federal government recognizes that the fundamental principals of freedom of speech separation of government powers and federalism was drafted into the constitution of the United States arrived from Indian governments. As our elected representatives we ask that you support the designation of a federal holiday for Native Americans. Please copy the above as requested and send to your Tribal Nations as requested by Mike Graham. Received from Mike Graham - September 13, 2000 105TH CONGRESS - 1ST SESSION - S. RES. 145 Designating the month of November 1997 as "National American Indian Heritage Month". IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATE November 9, 1997 Committee discharged; considered and agree to Designating the month of November 1997 as "National American Indian Heritage Month." Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives were the original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the United States; Whereas American Indian tribal governments developed the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of powers that form the foundation of the United States Government; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have traditionally exhibited a respect for the finiteness of natural resources through a reverence for the earth; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have served with valor in all of America's wars beginning with the Revolutionary War through the conflict in the Persian Gulf, and often the percentage of American Indians who served exceeded significantly the percentage of American Indians in the population of the United States as a whole; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have made distinct and important contributions to the United States and the rest of the world in many fields, including agri- culture, medicine, music, language, and art; Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives deserve to be recognized for their individual contributions to the United States as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; Whereas this recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, and self-awareness in American Indians and Alaska Natives of all ages; and Whereas November is a time when many Americans commemorate a special time in the history of the United States when American Indians and English settlers celebrated the bounty of their harvest and the promise of new kinships: Now, therefore, be it 1 Resolved,
That the Senate designates November |