IIB 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 62 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 14, 2007 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To honor the achievements and contributions of Native 

Americans to the United States, and for other purposes. 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Native American Her5 itage Day Act of 2007’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds that— 

3 (1) Native Americans are the descendants of 

4 the aboriginal, indigenous, native people who were 

5 the original inhabitants of and who governed the 

6 lands that now constitute the United States; 

7 (2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve 

8 in the United States Armed Forces and have served 

9 with valor in all of the Nation’s military actions 

10 from the Revolutionary War through the present 

11 day, and in most of those actions, more Native 

12 Americans per capita served in the Armed Forces 

13 than any other group of Americans; 

14 (3) Native American tribal governments devel15 oped the fundamental principles of freedom of 

16 speech and separation of governmental powers that 

17 were a model for those that form the foundation of 

18 the United States Constitution; 

19 (4) the Founding Fathers based the provisions 

20 of the Constitution on the unique system of democ21 racy of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, 

22 which divided powers among the branches of govern23 ment and provided for a system of checks and bal24 ances; 

25 (5) Native Americans have made distinct and 

26 significant contributions to the United States and 


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1 the rest of the world in many fields, including agri2 culture, medicine, music, language, and art, and Na3 tive Americans have distinguished themselves as in4 ventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and schol5 ars; 

6 (6) Native Americans should be recognized for 

7 their contributions to the United States as local and 

8 national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; 

9 (7) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

10 that Native Americans have made to the fabric of 

11 American society will afford an opportunity for all 

12 Americans to demonstrate their respect and admira13 tion of Native Americans for their important con14 tributions to the political, cultural, and economic life 

15 of the United States; 

16 (8) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

17 that Native Americans have made to the Nation will 

18 encourage self-esteem, pride, and self-awareness in 

19 Native Americans of all ages; 

20 (9) designation of the Friday following Thanks21 giving of each year as Native American Heritage 

22 Day will underscore the government-to-government 

23 relationship between the United States and Native 

24 American governments; 


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1 (10) designation of Native American Heritage 

2 Day will encourage public elementary and secondary 

3 schools in the United States to enhance under4 standing of Native Americans by providing curricula 

5 and classroom instruction focusing on the achieve6 ments and contributions of Native Americans to the 

7 Nation; and 

8 (11) the Friday immediately succeeding 

9 Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an appro10 priate day to designate as Native American Heritage 

11 Day. 

12 SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIVE AMERICAN HERIT13 AGE DAY. 

14 (a) DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL EDUCATIONAL CUR15 RICULA.—Educational institutions are encouraged to de16 velop model educational curricula, in consultation with 

17 Native American governmental leaders, for purposes of 

18 recognizing a Native American Heritage Day, emphasizing 

19 the contributions of Native Americans to the United 

20 States and the world, including— 

21 (1) the historical and constitutional status of 

22 Native American tribal governments as well as the 

23 present day status of Native Americans; 

24 (2) the cultures, traditions, and languages of 

25 Native Americans; and 


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1 (3) the rich Native American cultural legacy 

2 that all Americans enjoy today. 

3 (b) CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE

4 DAY.—Congress encourages the people of the United 

5 States, as well as Federal, State, and local governments 

6 and interested groups and organizations to observe a Na7 tive American Heritage Day with appropriate programs, 

8 ceremonies, and activities. 

Passed the House of Representatives November 13, 

2007. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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