III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 689 

Recognizing National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month 

and celebrating the heritage and culture of American Indians and Alaska 

Natives and the contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives 

to the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2010 

Mr. DORGAN (for himself, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. 

CRAPO, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. TESTER, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. 

BINGAMAN, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. AKAKA, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. BEGICH, Mr. JOHNSON, and Mr. UDALL of Colorado) submitted 

the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing National American Indian and Alaska Native 

Heritage Month and celebrating the heritage and culture 

of American Indians and Alaska Natives and the contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives to 

the United States. 

Whereas from November 1, 2010, through November 30, 

2010, the United States celebrates National American 

Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month; 

Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives are descendants of the original, indigenous inhabitants of what is 

now the United States; 


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•SRES 689 ATS 

Whereas the United States Bureau of the Census estimated 

in 2009 that there were almost 5,000,000 individuals in 

the United States of American Indian or Alaska Native 

descent; 

Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives maintain vibrant cultures and traditions, and hold a deeply rooted 

sense of community; 

Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have moving 

stories of tragedy, triumph, and perseverance that need 

to be shared with future generations; 

Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives speak and 

preserve indigenous languages, which have contributed to 

the English language by being used as names of individuals and locations throughout the United States; 

Whereas Congress has recently reaffirmed its support of tribal self-governance and its commitment to improving the 

lives of all Native Americans by enhancing health care 

services, increasing law enforcement resources, and approving settlements of litigation involving Indian tribes 

and the United States; 

Whereas Congress is committed to improving the housing 

conditions and socioeconomic status of American Indians 

and Alaska Natives; 

Whereas the United States is committed to strengthening the 

government-to-government relationship that it has maintained with the various Indian Tribes; 

Whereas Congress has recognized the contributions of the Iroquois Confederacy, and its influence on the Founding 

Fathers in the drafting of the Constitution of the United 

States with the concepts of freedom of speech, the sepaVerDate Mar 15 2010 23:40 Nov 19, 2010 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR689.ATS SR689

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•SRES 689 ATS 

ration of governmental powers, and the system of checks 

and balances between the branches of government; 

Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have served 

with honor and distinction in the Armed Forces of the 

United States, and continue to serve in the Armed 

Forces in greater numbers per capita than any other 

group in the United States; 

Whereas the United States has recognized the contribution of 

the Native American code talkers in World War I and 

World War II, who used indigenous languages as an unbreakable military code, saving countless Americans; and 

Whereas the people of the United States have reason to 

honor the great achievements and contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives and their ancestors: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the month of November 2010 as 

3 National American Indian and Alaska Native Herit4 age Month; 

5 (2) celebrates the heritage and culture of Amer6 ican Indians and Alaska Natives and honors the con7 tributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives 

8 to the United States; and 

9 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob10 serve National American Indian and Alaska Native 

11 Heritage Month with appropriate programs and ac12 tivities. 

Æ 


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