* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
American Indian Heritage Month - November 2007
FOR the purpose of celebrating American Indian Heritage Month by honoring and recognizing the original peoples of this land, who played a unique role in the shaping of our Nation's history and culture, and encouraging all members of our community to participate in the observation of American Indian Heritage Month by celebrating the heritage and the contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples to this Nation.
Body
Recitals
Although the first "American Indian Day" was declared by the State of New York in 1916, a month-long recognition of Native Americans was not achieved until 1990. In that year, the President declared the first National American Indian Heritage Month on August 3.
The Native American community established itself in Baltimore City in the 1940s, as many Native Americans settled here to take employment in construction and factory trades. The majority of this community found homes in Southeast Baltimore. A large portion of Native Americans in the City come from the Lumbee tribe, but a number of tribes are represented, including the Pima, Haliwa-Saponi, Apache, Blackfoot, Cherokee, Tuscarora, Coharie, Sioux, Navajo, Oneida, Piscataway, Nanticoke, Lenni-Lenape, Cheyenne, and many others.
The celebration of American Indian Heritage Month provides an opportunity for the people of Baltimore City to recognize the significant contributions made by Native Americans to Baltimore City, the state of Maryland, the United States, and the rest of the world in many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art.
Native American culture has provided a model for the preservation and nurturing of our natural environment and has served as a foundation for our structure and principles of government. In honoring and preserving this legacy, we have an opportunity to enrich our lives as a community.
The Baltimore City Council encourages all members of our community to participate in the observation of American Indian Heritage Month. It is our hope that these activities will create forums for fruitful discussion of the historical and constitutional status of Native American tribal governments, as well as the present day status of Native Americans, for honoring the cultures, traditions, and languages of Native Americans, and for appreciating the rich Native American cultural legacy that all Americans enjoy today.
The native peoples of North America played a unique role in the shaping of our Nation's history and culture. During this month when we celebrate Thanksgiving, we especially celebrate their heritage and the contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples to this Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body celebrates American Indian Heritage Month by honoring and recognizing the original peoples of this land, who played a unique role in the shaping of our Nation's history and culture, and encourages all members of our community to participate in the observation of American Indian Heritage Month by celebrating the heritage and the contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples to this Nation.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Baltimore American Indian Center, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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