Washington, DC – –
U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced a resolution Thursday to recognize November as “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.” S. Res. 342 was approved by the Senate, the same day, by unanimous consent.
“Native Americans have made significant contributions in the fields of agriculture, medicine, music, language and art,” Dorgan said. “They were an influencing force in the founding documents of our federal government. Indian tribes even made use of Native languages to develop an unbreakable military code that helped defeat the Axis powers in World War II. These remarkable tribes and individual Native Americans have shaped our nation’s history in so many meaningful ways.”
Dorgan said he hopes a month long recognition of Native American contributions to the country will spur all Americans to learn more about Native American history and culture as well. Presidents have proclaimed November to be National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month since 1990.
The measure has 17 bi-partisan co-sponsors.