Congressional Record -- Senate
Wednesday,
September 16, 1987 100th Cong. 1st Sess.133 Cong Rec S 12214
REFERENCE: Vol. 133 No. 140
TITLE: SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
76 -- TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE IROQUOIS CONFEDERACY OF
NATIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND TO REAFFIRM
THE CONTINUING GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIAN
TRIBES AND THE UNITED STATES
ESTABLISHED IN THE CONSTITUTION
TEXT: Mr. INOUYE, for himself, Mr. Evans, Mr. DeConcini, Mr.
Burdick, Mr. McCain, Mr. Adams, Mr. Boren, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Cranston,
Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Dole, Mr. Ford, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Levin, Mr. Pell,
Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reid, Mr. Riegle, and Mr. Stafford) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Select
Committee on Indian Affairs:
S. CON RES. 76
Whereas, the original framers of the Constitution, including
most notably, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, are known to
have greatly admired the concepts, principles and governmental
practices of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy; and,
Whereas, the Confederation of the original thirteen colonies into
one Republic was explicitly modeled upon the Iroquois Confederacy as
were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into
the Constitution itself; and,
Whereas, since the formation of the United States, the Congress has
recognized the sovereign status of Indian Tribes,
and has, through the exercise of powers reserved to the Federal
Government in the Commerce Clause of the Constitution (art. I, s8,
cl. 3), dealt with Indian Tribes on a government-to-government basis
and has, through the Treaty Clause (art. II, s2, cl. 2), entered
into 370 treaties with Indian tribal nations; and,
Whereas, from the first treaty entered into with an Indian nation,
the Treaty with the Delaware Indians of September 17, 1778, and
thereafter in every Indian Treaty until the cessation of
treaty-making in 1871, the Congress has assumed a trust
responsibility and obligation to Indian Tribes and their members to
"exercise the utmost good faith in dealings with the Indians" as
provided for in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, (1 Stat. 50); and,
Whereas, Congress has consistently reaffirmed these fundamental
policies over the past 200 years through legislation specifically
designed to honor this special relationship; and,
Whereas, the judicial system of the United States has consistently
recognized and reaffirmed this special relationship: Now, therefore
be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE (THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCONCURRING),
That:
(1) The Congress, on the occasion of the 200th
Anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution,
acknowledges the historical debt which this Republic of the United
States of America owes to the Iroquois Confederacy and other Indian
Nations for their demonstration of enlightened, democratic
principles of government and their example of a free association of
independent Indian nations;
(2) The Congress also hereby reaffirms the constitutionally
recognized government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes
which has historically been the cornerstone of this nation's
official Indian policy;
(3) The Congress specifically acknowledges and reaffirm the
trust responsibility and obligation of the United States Government
to Indian Tribes, including Alaska Natives, for their preservation,
protection and enhancement, including the provision of health,
education, social and economic assistance programs as necessary, to
assist Tribes to perform their governmental responsibility to
provide for the social and economic well-being of their members and
to preserve tribal cultural identity and heritage; and
(4) The Congress also acknowledges the need to exercise the
utmost good faith in upholding its treaties with the various Tribes,
as the Tribes understood them to be, and the duty of a Great Nation
to uphold its legal and moral obligations for the benefit of all of
its citizens so that they and their posterity may also continue to
enjoy the rights they have enshrined in the United States
Constitution for time immemorial.
Source:
Congressional Record Vol. 133, Part 17, pp.24223-24224
Other Sources:
The Oldest Participatory Democracy on
Earth. Book:
Forgotten Founders by Bruce
E. Johansen, 1988. Book:
Exemplar of Liberty by
Grinde, Jr. and Johansen, 1990. Bibliography:
Native American Political System and
the Evolution of Democracy
Sources that Challenged the Iroquois Contributions:
Book: Disuniting of America by Arthur Schlesinger, 1992.
Article: "The
Iroquois and the Constitution Founding Fathers," in
The New Republic Online by Michael Newman, Nov. 7, 1998.
Article: "The United States Constitution and the Iroquois League,"
by Elisabeth Tooker, in Ethnohistory, 35:4 (Fall 1988) pp. 305-306.
Article: "The Iroquois League, the Articles of Confederation, and
the Constitution." in William & Mary Q., Third Ser., LIII,
No. 3(Summer, 1996), pp. 606-621 by Samuel B., Payne Jr.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 168 on June 18, 2001
Washington, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives passed by
unanimous consent legislation sponsored by California Congressman
Joe Baca (D-Rialto) to recognize Native Americans. House Resolution
168 asks schools to recognize the contributions Native Americans
have made to American history, culture, and education. This
resolution is the first step towards seeking a Native American
holiday on the fourth Friday in September; similar to
legislation created and enacted while in the California legislature.
Congressman Baca is the sponsor of House Resolution 101 which
establishes a legal public holiday to celebrate Native Americans.
"That is why I am proud to be a member of the congressional Native
American caucus. Native Americans have shown their willingness to
fight and die for this nation in foreign lands. They honor the
American flag at every powwow and at many gatherings and remember
all veterans through song, music, and dance. This is about proud
Americans who have given so much to this country," said Congressman
Baca. "We must educate and sensitize our children about Native
Americans and what they have done for our nation. This resolution is
about justice! It is about teaching and educating our students,
parents and society about Native Americans! It is about the debt
created by the near extermination of their race! It is about making
at least some amends for the unspeakable harm we have done to a
proud and noble people. By recognizing and honoring them, maybe we
can start healing the wounds created by a history of distrust and
genocide!" Congressman Baca said, "this is just the beginning, we
will continue the struggle, fight the fight, we will not stop, we
will not rest, until there is a Native American holiday!"
HOUSE RESOLUTION 168
107th CONGRESS, 1st Session , H. RES. 168
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the
Nation's schools should honor Native Americans for their
contributions to American history, culture, and education.
IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June
18, 2001
Mr.
BACA (for himself, Mr. PALLONE, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms.
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma, Mr. HALL of
Ohio, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. REYES, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. HONDA, Mr. FILNER,
Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. MORAN of Virginia,
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. ENGLISH, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms.
ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. KIND, Mr. FROST, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. UDALL of New
Mexico, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. FARR of California, and Mr. MCDERMOTT)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
RESOLUTION:
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the
Nation's schools should honor Native Americans for their
contributions to American history, culture, and education.
Whereas Native Americans have given much to this country;
Whereas an emphasis on freedom, justice, patriotism, and
representative government have always been elements of Native
American culture;
Whereas Native Americans have shown their willingness to fight and
die for this Nation in foreign lands;
Whereas Native Americans honor the American flag at every powwow and
at many gatherings and remember all veterans through song, music,
and dance;
Whereas Native Americans honor, through song, the men and women of
this country who have fought for freedom;
Whereas Native Americans love the land that has nurtured their
parents, grandparents, and unnamed elders since the beginning of
their recorded history; and
Whereas Native Americans honor the Earth that has brought life to
the people since time immemorial:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that the Nation's schools should honor Native
Americans for their contributions to American history, culture, and
education.
Source:
107th CONGRESS, 1st Session , H. RES. 168, June 18, 2001
Senate
Project Resolution 108 th Congress, 2d Session S.J. RES. 37
To acknowledge a long history of official depredations and
ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding
Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples...
(Introduced in Senate)
108th CONGRESS, 2d Session, S. J. RES. 37
To
acknowledge a long history of official depredations and
ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding
Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf
of the United States.
IN
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May
6, 2004
Mr.
BROWNBACK (for himself, Mr. CAMPBELL, and Mr. INOUYE) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee
on Indian Affairs
JOINT RESOLUTION
To
acknowledge a long history of official depredations and
ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding
Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf
of the United States.
Whereas the ancestors of today's Native Peoples inhabited the land
of the present-day United States since time immemorial and for
thousands of years before the arrival of peoples of European
descent;
Whereas the Native Peoples have for millennia honored, protected,
and stewarded this land we cherish;
Whereas the Native Peoples are spiritual peoples with a deep and
abiding belief in the Creator, and for millennia their peoples have
maintained a powerful spiritual connection to this land, as is
evidenced by their customs and legends;
Whereas the arrival of Europeans in North America opened a new
chapter in the histories of the Native Peoples;
Whereas, while establishment of permanent European settlements in
North America did stir conflict with nearby Indian tribes, peaceful
and mutually beneficial interactions also took place;
Whereas the foundational English settlements in Jamestown, Virginia,
and Plymouth, Massachusetts, owed their survival in large measure to
the compassion and aid of the Native Peoples in their vicinities;
Whereas in the infancy of the United States, the founders of the
Republic expressed their desire for a just relationship with the
Indian tribes, as evidenced by the Northwest Ordinance enacted by
Congress in 1787, which begins with the phrase, `The utmost good
faith shall always be observed toward the Indians';
Whereas Indian tribes provided great assistance to the fledgling
Republic as it strengthened and grew, including invaluable help to
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their epic journey from St.
Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Coast;
Whereas Native Peoples and non-Native settlers engaged in numerous
armed conflicts;
Whereas the United States Government violated many of the treaties
ratified by Congress and other diplomatic agreements with Indian
tribes;
Whereas this Nation should address the broken treaties and many of
the more ill-conceived Federal policies that followed, such as
extermination, termination, forced removal and relocation, the
outlawing of traditional religions, and the destruction of sacred
places;
Whereas the United States forced Indian tribes and their citizens to
move away from their traditional homelands and onto federally
established and controlled reservations, in accordance with such
Acts as the Indian Removal Act of 1830;
Whereas many Native Peoples suffered and perished--
(1) during the execution of the official United States Government
policy of forced removal, including the infamous Trail of Tears and
Long Walk;
(2) during bloody armed confrontations and massacres, such as the
Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 and the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890;
and
(3) on numerous Indian reservations;
Whereas the United States Government condemned the traditions,
beliefs, and customs of the Native Peoples and endeavored to
assimilate them by such policies as the redistribution of land under
the General Allotment Act of 1887 and the forcible removal of Native
children from their families to faraway boarding schools where their
Native practices and languages were degraded and forbidden;
Whereas officials of the United States Government and private United
States citizens harmed Native Peoples by the unlawful acquisition of
recognized tribal land, the theft of resources from such
territories, and the mismanagement of tribal trust funds;
Whereas the policies of the United States Government toward Indian
tribes and the breaking of covenants with Indian tribes have
contributed to the severe social ills and economic troubles in many
Native communities today;
Whereas, despite continuing maltreatment of Native Peoples by the
United States, the Native Peoples have remained committed to the
protection of this great land, as evidenced by the fact that, on a
per capita basis, more Native people have served in the United
States Armed Forces and placed themselves in harm's way in defense
of the United States in every major military conflict than any other
ethnic group;
Whereas Indian tribes have actively influenced the public life of
the United States by continued cooperation with Congress and the
Department of the Interior, through the involvement of Native
individuals in official United States Government positions, and by
leadership of their own sovereign Indian tribes;
Whereas Indian tribes are resilient and determined to preserve,
develop, and transmit to future generations their unique cultural
identities;
Whereas the National Museum of the American Indian was established
within the Smithsonian Institution as a living memorial to the
Native Peoples and their traditions; and
Whereas Native Peoples are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable rights, and that among those are life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APOLOGY.
