H. J. Res. 40 

One Hundred Eleventh Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, 

the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine 

Joint Resolution 

To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United 

States, and for other purposes. 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Native American Heritage Day 

Act of 2009’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds that— 

(1) Native Americans are the descendants of the aboriginal, 

indigenous, native people who were the original inhabitants 

of and who governed the lands that now constitute the United 

States; 

(2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve in the 

United States Armed Forces and have served with valor in 

all of the Nation’s military actions from the Revolutionary 

War through the present day, and in most of those actions, 

more Native Americans per capita served in the Armed Forces 

than any other group of Americans; 

(3) Native American tribal governments included the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of governmental powers; 

(4) Native Americans have made distinct and significant 

contributions to the United States and the rest of the world 

in many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art, and Native Americans have distinguished themselves as inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and 

scholars; 

(5) Native Americans should be recognized for their contributions to the United States as local and national leaders, 

artists, athletes, and scholars; 

(6) nationwide recognition of the contributions that Native 

Americans have made to the fabric of American society will 

afford an opportunity for all Americans to demonstrate their 

respect and admiration of Native Americans for their important 

contributions to the political, cultural, and economic life of 

the United States; 

(7) nationwide recognition of the contributions that Native 

Americans have made to the Nation will encourage self-esteem, 

pride, and self-awareness in Native Americans of all ages; 

(8) designation of the Friday following Thanksgiving of 

each year as Native American Heritage Day will underscore 
H. J. Res. 40—2 

the government-to-government relationship between the United 

States and Native American governments; 

(9) designation of Native American Heritage Day will 

encourage public elementary and secondary schools in the 

United States to enhance understanding of Native Americans 

by providing curricula and classroom instruction focusing on 

the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to 

the Nation; and 

(10) the Friday immediately succeeding Thanksgiving Day 

of each year would be an appropriate day to designate as 

Native American Heritage Day. 

SEC. 3. HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN THE UNITED 

STATES. 

Congress encourages the people of the United States, as well 

as Federal, State, and local governments, and interested groups 

and organizations to honor Native Americans, with activities 

relating to— 

(1) appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to 

observe Native American Heritage Day; 

(2) the historical status of Native American tribal governments as well as the present day status of Native Americans; 

(3) the cultures, traditions, and languages of Native Americans; and 

(4) the rich Native American cultural legacy that all Americans enjoy today. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.