III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 444 

Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, 

Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 22, 2018 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. UDALL, Mr. HOEVEN, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. 

HARRIS, Ms. HEITKAMP, Ms. WARREN, Mr. TESTER, Ms. SMITH, Ms. 

CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. DAINES, Mr. LANKFORD, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

WYDEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. SANDERS) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women 

in the United States. 

Whereas the United States celebrates National Women’s History Month every March to recognize and honor the 

achievements of women throughout the history of the 

United States; 

Whereas an estimated 3,081,000 American Indian, Alaska 

Native, and Native Hawaiian women live in the United 

States; 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 444 IS 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women helped shape the history of their communities, 

Tribes, and the United States; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women contribute to their communities, Tribes, and 

the United States through work in many industries, including business, education, science, medicine, literature, 

fine arts, military service, and public service; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have fought to defend and protect the sovereign rights of Native Nations; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have demonstrated resilience and courage in 

the face of a history of threatened existence, constant removals, and relocations; 

Whereas more than 6,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, 

and Native Hawaiian women bravely serve as members of 

the United States Armed Forces; 

Whereas more than 17,000 American Indian, Alaska Native, 

and Native Hawaiian women are veterans who have made 

lasting contributions to the United States military; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women broke down historical gender barriers to enlistment in the military, including— 

(1) Inupiat Eskimo sharpshooter Laura Beltz 

Wright of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World 

War II; and 

(2) Minnie Spotted Wolf of the Blackfeet Tribe, the 

first Native American woman to enlist in the United 

States Marine Corps in 1943; 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 444 IS 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have made the ultimate sacrifice for the 

United States, including Lori Ann Piestewa, a member of 

the Hopi Tribe and the first woman in the United States 

military killed in the Iraq War in 2003; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have contributed to the economic development 

of Native Nations and the United States as a whole, including Elouise Cobell of the Blackfeet Tribe, a recipient 

of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, who— 

(1) served as the treasurer of her Tribe; 

(2) founded the first Tribally owned national bank; 

and 

(3) led the fight against Federal mismanagement of 

funds held in trust for more than 500,000 Native Americans; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women own an estimated 154,900 businesses; 

Whereas these Native women-owned businesses employ more 

than 50,000 workers and generate over $10,000,000,000 

in revenues as of 2016; 

Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native women have 

opened an average of more than 17 new businesses each 

day since 2007; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have made significant contributions to the 

field of medicine, including Susan La Flesche Picotte of 

the Omaha Tribe, who is widely acknowledged as the first 

Native American to earn a medical degree; 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 444 IS 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have contributed to important scientific advancements, including— 

(1) Floy Agnes Lee of Santa Clara Pueblo, who— 

(A) worked on the Manhattan Project during 

World War II; and 

(B) pioneered research on radiation biology and 

cancer; and 

(2) Native Hawaiian Isabella Kauakea Yau Yung 

Aiona Abbott, who— 

(A) was the first woman on the biological 

sciences faculty at Stanford University; and 

(B) was awarded the highest award in marine 

botany from the National Academy of Sciences, the 

Gilbert Morgan Smith medal, in 1997; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have achieved distinctive honors in the art of 

dance, including Maria Tall Chief of the Osage Nation 

the first major prima ballerina of the United States and 

was a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from 

the Kennedy Center; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have accomplished notable literary achievements, including Northern Paiute author Sarah 

Winnemucca Hopkins who wrote and published one of 

the first Native American autobiographies in United 

States history in 1883; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have regularly led efforts to revitalize and 

maintain Native cultures and languages, including— 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 444 IS 

(1) Tewa linguist and teacher Esther Martinez, who 

developed a Tewa dictionary and was credited with revitalizing the Tewa language; and 

(2) Native Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui, 

who published more than 50 academic works and was 

considered the most noted Hawaiian translator of the 

20th century; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have excelled in athletic competition and created opportunities for other female athletes within their 

sport, including Rell Kapoliokaehukai Sunn who— 

(1) ranked as longboard surfing champion of the 

world; and 

(2) co-founded the Women’s Professional Surfing 

Association in 1975, the first professional surfing tour 

for women; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have played a vital role in advancing civil 

rights, protecting human rights, and safeguarding the environment, including Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich 

of the Tlingit Nation who helped secure the passage of 

the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 of the Alaska Territory, the first anti-discrimination law in the United 

States; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have succeeded as judges, attorneys, and legal 

advocates, including Eliza ‘‘Lyda’’ Conley, a WyandotAmerican lawyer and the first Native woman admitted to 

argue a case before the United States Supreme Court in 

1909; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women have paved the way for women in the law, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Mar 23, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR444.IS SR444

daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 444 IS 

cluding Native Hawaiian Emma Kailikapiolono Metcalf 

Beckley Nakuina who served as the first female judge in 

Hawaii; 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women are dedicated public servants, holding important positions in State governments, local governments, 

the Federal judicial branch, and the Federal executive 

branches; 

Whereas American Indian and Alaska Native women have 

served as remarkable Tribal councilwomen, Tribal court 

judges, and Tribal leaders, including Wilma Mankiller, 

the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the 

Cherokee Nation who fought for Tribal self-determination 

and improvement of the community infrastructure of her 

Tribe; 

Whereas Native Hawaiian women have also led their People 

through notable acts of public service, including 

Kaahumanu who was the first Native Hawaiian woman 

to serve as regent of the Kingdom of Hawaii; 

Whereas the United States should continue to invest in the 

future of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native 

Hawaiian women to address the barriers they face, including access to justice, health care, and opportunities 

for educational and economic advancement; and 

Whereas American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women are the life givers, the culture bearers, and 

the caretakers of Native peoples who have made precious 

contributions enriching the lives of all people of the 

United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
7 

•SRES 444 IS 

1 (1) celebrates and honors the successes of 

2 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawai3 ian women and the contributions they have made 

4 and continue to make to the United States; and 

5 (2) recognizes the importance of supporting eq6 uity, providing safety, and upholding the interests of 

7 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawai8 ian women. 

Æ 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS