Smoke Signals
10 NOVEMBER 1 5, 201 1
Obama designates November as Native American Heritage Month
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
President Barack Obama des
ignated November as National
Native American Heritage Month
on Nov. 1.
In his proclamation, Obama
said:
"From the Aleutian Islands to
the Florida Everglades, Ameri
can Indians and Alaska Natives
have contributed immensely to our
country's heritage. During National
Native American Heritage Month,
we commemorate their enduring
achievements and reaffirm the vital
role American Indians and Alaska
Natives play in enriching the char
acter of our Nation.
"Native Americans stand among
America's most distinguished
authors, artists, scientists and
political leaders, and in their ac
complishments, they have pro
foundly strengthened the legacy we
will leave our children. So, too, have
American Indians and Alaska Na
tives bravely fought to protect this
legacy as members of our Armed
Forces. As service members, they
have shown exceptional valor and
heroism on battlefields from the
American Revolution to Iraq and
Afghanistan. Native Americans
have demonstrated time and again
their commitment to advancing
our common goals, and we honor
their resolve in the face of years of
marginalization and broken prom
ises. My administration recognizes
the painful chapters in our shared
history, and we are fully commit-
President Barack
Obama
ted to moving
forward with
American Indi
ans and Alaska
Natives to build
a better future
together.
"To strength
en our econo
my and win
the future for
our children,
my administration is addressing
problems that have burdened Na
tive American communities for too
long. We are working to bolster eco
nomic development, expand access
to affordable health care, broaden
post-secondary educational oppor
tunities, and ensure public safety
and Tribal justice. In June, I signed
an Executive Order establishing
the White House Rural Council,
to strengthen federal engagement
with Tribal governments and pro
mote economic prosperity in Indian
Country and across rural America.
This comes in conjunction with sev
eral settlements that will put more
land into the hands of Tribes and
deliver long-awaited trust reform
to Indian Country.
"To bring jobs and sustainable
growth to Tribal nations, my ad
ministration is connecting Tribal
economies to the broader economy
through transportation infrastruc
ture and high-speed Internet, as
well as by focusing on clean energy
development on Tribal lands. First
lady Michelle Obama's recently
launched 'Let's Move!' in Indian
Country initiative will also redouble
efforts to encourage healthy living
for American Indians and Alaska
Natives. These actions reflect my
administration's ongoing commit
ment to progress for Native Ameri
cans, which was reaffirmed last year
when we announced our support for
the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Through a comprehensive strategy
where the federal government and
Tribal nations move forward as equal
partners, we can bring real and last
ing change to Indian Country.
"This month, we celebrate the
rich heritage and myriad contri
butions of American Indians and
Alaska Natives, and we rededicate
ourselves to supporting Tribal sov
ereignty, Tribal self-determination
and prosperity for all Native Ameri
cans. We will seek to strengthen
our nation-to-nation relationship
by ensuring Tribal nations have a
voice in shaping national policies
impacting Tribal communities.
We will continue this dialogue at
the White House Tribal Nations
Conference held in Washington,
D.C., next month. As we confront
the challenges currently facing
our Tribal communities and work
to ensure American Indians and
Alaska Natives have meaning
ful opportunities to pursue their
dreams, we are forging a brighter
future for the First Americans and
all Americans.
"Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama,
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 November 201 1 as
National Native American Heritage
Month. I call upon all Americans to
commemorate this month with ap
propriate programs and activities,
and to celebrate November 25,
201 1, as Native American Heritage
Day." D
Zumba held Monday,
Wednesday in gym
Zumba, an easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired and calorie-burning dance
fitness party, is held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday
in the Tribal gymnasium.
The first class is free and $6 thereafter for drop-ins, or $5 if par
ticipants purchase a punch card.
For more information, contact Tribal Recreation Coordinator Alton
Butler at 503-879-1369 or alton.butlergrandronde.org. a
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
Contact Shonn Leno for more information. 503-879-2397
A proud tradition of giving!
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