By Frank Suniga
On July 23, 2007, Sen. Daniel Inouye from Hawaii introduced Senate Bill 1852 and Rep. Joe Baca of California introduced House Resolution 3585 to establish on the American calendar a Native American Heritage Day, one day after Thanksgiving.
Why? It fits well; we were the first Native Americans on these lands called the United States. We helped Columbus and other Europeans survive in harsh winters with food such as corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc.
The Oneida Indian Nation helped George Washington survive the harsh winter during the American Revolution with food and other needed supplies. Sacagawea, the young Indian woman, helped Lewis and Clark as they explored the West. Ely Parker, a Seneca Indian attorney, wrote the terms of the final Confederate surrender.
Think of the code talkers from the Navajo Nation who helped win World War II. The Pima Indian soldier who helped raise the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. Lori Piestewa, a Hopi Indian, the first woman to die in military action defending the United States in Iraq.
The American Indian tribes across these great lands helped as the pioneers moved across all corners of the beautiful land called America. And yes, it is true that we had many difficult times between Indian tribes, the federal government, military and pioneers, but it all worked out. We are One Nation under God working together for the good of all mankind!
The Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians (which consists of thousands of Native Americans from Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and the state of Washington) helped introduce the First Resolution No. 01-71 on Sept. 17, 2001, and Sept. 20, 2001, at the Chinook Winds Casino and Convention Center in Lincoln City to establish on the American calendar a Native American Day.
Staff members and tribal people all agreed it is time to add another milestone to the history of Native American ancestry. This legislation will also help and encourage schools to educate all our children in the future about the role Native Americans had in American history and culture.
President Earnest Stensgar from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and I moved this resolution forward to the National Congress of American Indians Organization and they, in turn, placed it in the hands of Inouye and Baca. The progress at the present is out of the Senate and House of Representatives and on to committees for approval. It appears very favorable, according to Senate judiciary committee staff members.
It has been a long seven-plus years, but we are in a finishing progress mode. We thank the U.S. Congress, American people and Indian country for all your support on this historical event.
Please consider writing, e-mailing or phoning your representative and senator urging them to vote for passage of the "Native American Heritage Day Act." It is not too late to add help.
Frank Suniga of Salem is a member of the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians. His heritage is Apache (Mescalero Tribe).
Additional info on the "Native American Heritage Day Bill":
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:S.1852: