What
started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of
recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans
made to the establishment and growth of this Nation has resulted
in a whole month being designated for that purpose. But, it has
been a long and winding trail that has taken many turns during the
last 84 years that has not resulted in an "official day" of recognition.
For
many years, Indians and non-Indians have urged that a special day
be set aside to honor America's first citizens. From time to time,
legislation was proposed in the U.S. Congress that would designate
the Fourth Friday in September of each year as American Indian Day.
There has also been legislation that would establish a Native American
Awareness Week the fourth week in September. Introduction of these
bills, none of which were passed by Congress, resulted in modern
day almanacs listing the fourth Friday in September as American
Indian Day under the heading "Day usually observed -- not legal
holidays".
One
of the very first proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur
C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the Director of the Museum of
Arts and Science, Rochester, NY. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of
America to set aside a day for the "First Americans",
and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual
Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence,
Kansas, formally approved a plan. It directed its President, the
Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to
observe such a day. He issued a proclamation on September 28, 1915,
which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian
Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians
as citizens.
The
year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfeet
Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for
the celebration of a day in honor of Indians. he later presented
the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House on December
14, 1915. However, there is no record of such a national day being
proclaimed.
The
first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the Second
Saturday in May 1916, by the Governor of New York. Several states
celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example,
it became that day by legislative enactment in 1919. In Massachusetts,
in accordance with a law passed in 1935, the Governor issued a proclamation
naming the day that will become American Indian Day for any given
year. Presently, several states have designated Columbus day as
Native American Day, but, it continues to be a day we observe without
any recognition as a legal holiday.
Presidential
Proclamations designating National Native American Heritage Month:
- President
Bush has continued the practice of issuing a proclamation, designating
the month of November as "National American Indian Heritage
Month".
- Since
1995, President Clinton issued a proclamation, each year, designating
the month of November as "National American Indian Heritage
Month".
- On
November 5, 1994, President Clinton issued a proclamation based
on Senate Joint Resolution 271, designating the month of November
1994 as "National American Indian Heritage Month".
- On
March 2, 1992, President Bush issued a proclamation designating
1992 as the "Year of the American Indian" based on legislation
by Congress (Public Law 102-188).
- On
August 3, 1990, a Joint Resolution designating the month of November
1990 as "National American Indian Heritage Month" was
approved by President Bush, becoming Public Law 101-343 (104 Stat.
391).
- On
December 5, 1989, President Bush issued a proclamation base on
Senate Joint Resolution 218, designating the week of December
3-9, 1989, as "National American Indian Heritage Week".
- On
September 23, 1988, President Reagan signed a Senate Joint Resolution
designating September 23-30, as "National American Indian
Heritage Week".
- In
1987, the week of November 22-28 was proclaimed as "American
Indian Week" by President Reagan, pursuant to Senate Joint
Resolution 53
- Prior
to that, President Reagan had twice earlier designated an American
Indian Day or Week. In 1986, he signed Senate Joint Resolution
390, which designated November 23-30 as "American Indian
Week"; and during his first term he named May 13, 1983, as
"American Indian Day".
- In
1976, Senate Joint Resolution 209 authorized the President to
proclaim the week of October 10-16, 1976, as "Native American
Awareness Week".
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