IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 83 

Expressing the Sense of Congress that the Eagle Staff shall be recognized 

as the first flag of the sovereign Native American tribal nations and 

the first flag of the Americas, and to encourage programs promoting 

the cultural significance of the Eagle Staff. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 28, 2019 

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Natural Resources 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the Sense of Congress that the Eagle Staff shall 

be recognized as the first flag of the sovereign Native 

American tribal nations and the first flag of the Americas, and to encourage programs promoting the cultural 

significance of the Eagle Staff. 

Whereas the Eagle Staff, considered the first flag of the 

Americas, represents the stature and honor of a particular Native American tribe or tribes; it commonly looks 

like a shepherd’s staff, wrapped in either otter skin or 

buffalo skin, and featuring eagle feathers; pre-dating colonization, the Eagle Staff was the indicator of the tribe’s 

accomplishments in battle and the integrity and honor of 

its people; today, it is used to represent tribal commuVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:49 Jan 30, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR83.IH HR83

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•HRES 83 IH 

nities, Native American and First Nation organizations, 

or a member of an honor society or a service veteran; 

Whereas the Eagle Staff represents tribal sovereignty, unity, 

and tradition, and reflects the honor bestowed upon the 

individual, tribal organization, or tribal elder, the Eagle 

Staff is typically carried by Native American veterans of 

the United States Armed Forces; Native Americans have 

served in greater numbers per capita than any other ethnicity across all branches of the military; 

Whereas the Eagle Staff is a proud legacy of the Native 

American people, it is the embodiment of the warrior of 

enduring fortitude which together have enabled the tribes 

to survive policies intended to extinguish their race and 

culture; 

Whereas the Eagle Staff is adorned with eagle feathers symbolizing the remembrance of fallen warriors; because eagles and eagle features are highly revered and federally 

protected, only a few Federal agencies and enrolled Native people may carry them; the eagle feather is the highest award that can be given by a tribe to its people; 

Whereas the Eagle Staff is recognized by all Native American 

Tribes, First Nations, and other Native American organizations, the Eagle Staff is welcomed into all communities, 

including Native American and First Nation communities, with a flag song or victory song; 

Whereas the Eagle Staff is formally recognized by all 

branches of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Department of National Defence; 

Whereas the Eagle Staff is recognized and honored by the 

national Congress of American Indians; and 


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•HRES 83 IH 

Whereas the Eagle Staff is recognized by the Trickster Art 

Gallery, a Native American art gallery and museum in 

Schaumburg, Illinois: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) we recognize the Eagle Staff as the first 

4 flag of the sovereign Native American tribal nations 

5 and the First Nations; 

6 (2) we renew our commitment to cooperate with 

7 tribes, intergovernmental tribes, and Native Amer8 ican organizations, including Native American Vet9 erans organizations to encourage programs pro10 moting cultural education of the significance of the 

11 Eagle Staff; and 

12 (3) the United States is committed to inclusive13 ness for all Native Americans, the traditions and 

14 symbolism of the Eagle Staff, and that we encourage 

15 all units of the United States Government to incor16 porate these principles into their policies and prac17 tices. 

Æ 


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