IA 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 20 
To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the 
United States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2009 
Mr. BACA introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
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 Her-
itage Day Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) Native Americans are the descendants of 
the aboriginal, indigenous, native people who were 
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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 devel-
oped the fundamental principles of freedom of 
speech and separation of governmental powers that 
were a model for those that form the foundation of 
the United States Constitution; 
(4) the Founding Fathers based the provisions 
of the Constitution on the unique system of democ-
racy of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, 
which divided powers among the branches of govern-
ment and provided for a system of checks and bal-
ances; 
(5) Native Americans have made distinct and 
significant contributions to the United States and 
the rest of the world in many fields, including agri-
culture, medicine, music, language, and art, and Na-
tive Americans have distinguished themselves as in-
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ventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and schol-
ars; 
(6) Native Americans should be recognized for 
their contributions to the United States as local and 
national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; 
(7) 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 admira-
tion of Native Americans for their important con-
tributions to the political, cultural, and economic life 
of the United States; 
(8) 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; 
(9) designation of the Friday following Thanks-
giving of each year as Native American Heritage 
Day will underscore the government-to-government 
relationship between the United States and Native 
American governments; 
(10) designation of Native American Heritage 
Day will encourage public elementary and secondary 
schools in the United States to enhance under-
standing of Native Americans by providing curricula 
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and classroom instruction focusing on the achieve-
ments and contributions of Native Americans to the 
Nation; and 
(11) 
the 
Friday 
immediately 
succeeding 
Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an appro-
priate day to designate as Native American Heritage 
Day. 
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERIT-
AGE DAY. 
Congress encourages the people of the United States, 
as well as Federal, State, and local governments, and in-
terested groups and organizations to observe Native Amer-
ican Heritage Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, 
and activities, including activities relating to— 
(1) the historical status of Native American 
tribal governments as well as the present day status 
of Native Americans; 
(2) the cultures, traditions, and languages of 
Native Americans; and 
(3) the rich Native American cultural legacy 
that all Americans enjoy today. 
Æ 
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