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About Siletz news letter. (Siletz, Oregon) 1989-1997 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1994)
¿June 1994 amended next year's budget to restore more than $120 million in funding fo r the Indian Health Service. (Applause.) Finally, as we heard so eloquently today, there is in America^ across the lines o f race and class and region, a profound concern fo r our children. Too many are poor, or sick or unsupervised. Too many are likely to use violence or be the victims o f violence. Too many are unprepared intellectually fo r life or work. Yet nothing is so striking in tribal communities as your love o f family and extended family and your devotion to your children. Every segment o f our society could well take a lesson from you. But in spite o f your best efforts, too many o f your children also suffer from p oor health and inadequate education. And we are trying hard to address these problems. You mentioned Head Start -- our budget calls fo r continued, substantial increases and expansions o f the Head Start program, as well as the Women and Infants and Children program. Our education plan, called Goals 2000, fo r the first time sets world-class education standards fo r every school and all our children, and gives local communities the grass roots support they need to achieve those goals. Goals 2000 contains millions more next year fo r BIA-funded schools and schools serving Native Alaskans. And these funds cannot be spent until the education goals o f your community are considered. In the 1980's, our nation fe ll behind many third world countries in the rate at which we immunized children against communicable diseases. I know the Indian Health Service does a good jo b o f immunizing children. Beginning this year, under the Vaccine fo r Children program, every Indian child - no matter where he or she lives, and regardless o f whether they are fortunate enough to live near an IHS facility - will be eligible fo r free vaccine. (Applause.) The Great Law o f the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy contained this advice: "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact o f our decision on the next seven generations." We are stewards. We are caretakers. That standard will keep us great i f we have the vision o f your forefathers. As we look back on the American journey, the test ahead is always whether we are moving in the right direction o f more tolerance, wider justice and greater opportunity fo r all. It is the direction that counts, always the direction, and our choices will set that direction. O f course, as you well know, our history has not always been a proud one. But our future can be, and that is up to us. Together we can open the greatest era o f cooperation, understanding and respect among our people ever. I know that we will. And when we do, the judgment o f history will be that the President o f the United States and the leaders o f the sovereign Indian nations met and kept faith with each other and our common heritage, and together lifted our great nations to a new and better place. Thank you all. (Applause). (The President signs Presidential Directive.) (Applause.) (The President, The Vice President, Mrs. Clinton, and Mrs. Gore are presented with gifts.) ********* THE PRESIDENT: Before we go, I wanted to make a brief announcement to thank you, on behalf o f the First Lady, the Vice President, Mrs. Gore and Cabinet fo r being here and fo r giving us a chance to be with you, and fo r the wonderful gifts we have received. In keeping with a tradition that goes back to the early days o f our republic, I want each ofy o, in leaving to receive a miniature replica o f the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. On the front i s a picture o f our third President, Thomas Jefferson, author o f the Declaration o f Independence, and one o f the chief architects o f our democracy. When you receive your medal, you will see on the back two hands clasped — one with a cuff showing three stripes and three buttons, the other wearing a bracelet engraved with an eagle. The hands join with the inscription, "Peace and Friendship. ” As we pray and as we leave, let us hope that this is the beginning o f true peace, true friendship and true progress. Thank you (Applause) END Billings, MT...According to syndicated columnist, Paul Harvey, concern about imitation "Indian” products is on the rise. "Our federal government has laws to protect them (the products) w most isn't. Customs officials complain that they can't be expected to open every box," states Harvey. Some, states, Arizona for example, "have laws prohibiting mislabeling, but those laws are largely ignored, Harvey added. A "Made by American Indians" trademark was developed and is currently being registered by the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) to address this growing problem. The trademark was developed to improve product recognition, which will clearly identify Native American products as bona fide American Indian produced and not an imitation. Two distinctive points to the trademark authorization are: M ade by American Indians. "Made by American Indians" is die labeling statement certifying that the product sold or advertised is at least 80% made by American Indians. Produced by Indian C ountry. "Produced in Indian Country" means dairy animals, poultry, or other livestock that were fed in Indian Country for at least 60 days prior to milking, processing, or slaughtering or fruits, vegetable, grains, or floral and nursery crops that have been grown in Indian Country. Products identified as Indian made or produced and are clearly identified with the trademark, will stand out from those which only benefit from the name "Indian" or "Native", but in fact have no relationship to Indian Country other than for the increased revenues and reputation. The trademark will serve as a promotional and legal tool. It will assist Tribes, tribal members, organizations, firms, partnerships or associations, with proper trademark authority, in marketing their goods on a global basis by improving product recognition. In addition, it will enable the authorized user legal recourses, if necessary, to protect the authenticity of Indian-made goods and products. An application for authorization of use does have to be completed and approved in order to comply with the trademark rules and regulations and serves as a means of protecting it from misuse or copy infringement. At the time of this release an application fee does not exist; however, licensees will have to apply on a yearly basis so at some point a minimal fee may be assessed. For more information on the specific rules and regulations governing the use of the "Made by American Indians" trademark as well as an application, please contact: Kristie Madden, IAC, 100 North 27th Street, Suite 500, Billings, MT 59101, (406) 259-3525. 12
