Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3752

 123STA T . 3 7 32 PROCL A M AT I O N84 4 9— OCT. 3 0, 2009 Proclam a ti o n84 4 9 o fO cto be r 30,2 009 Nation a l Nati veAm e r i c an H erita g e M ont h,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Theind i g en ousp eop l eso fN o rt h Am eri ca— the F irst Americans—ha v e w oven rich and diverse threads into the tapestr y of our Nation ’ s herit - age . Throughout their long history on this great land , they have faced moments of profound triumph and tragedy ali k e. D uring National Na- tive American H eritage M onth, we recogni z e their many accomplish- ments, contri b utions, and sacrifices, and we pay tribute to their partici- pation in all aspects of American society. This month, we celebrate the ancestry and time-honored traditions of American I ndians and Alaska Natives in North America. They have guided our land stewardship policies, added immeasurably to our cul- tural heritage, and demonstrated courage in the face of adversity. From the American R evolution to combat missions in Ira q and Afghanistan, they have fought valiantly in defense of our Nation as dedicated serv- icemen and women. Their native languages have also played a pivotal role on the battlefield. During W orld Wars I and II, Native American code talkers developed unbreakable codes to communicate military messages that saved countless lives. Native Americans have distin- guished themselves as inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholars. O ur debt to our First Americans is immense, as is our respon- sibility to ensure their fair, equal treatment and honor the commit- ments we made to their forebears. The Native American community today faces huge challenges that have been ignored by our G overnment for too long. To help address this disparity, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocates more than $3 billion to help these communities deal with their most pressing needs. In the Fiscal Y ear 201 0 budget, my Administration has proposed over $1 7 billion for programs carried out by the B ureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health S ervice, and other Federal agencies that have a critical role to play in improving the lives of Native Americans. These programs will increase educational opportunities, address the scourge of alcohol abuse and domestic violence, promote economic de- velopment, and provide access to comprehensive, accessible, and af- fordable health care. While funding increases do not make up for past deficiencies, they do reflect our determination to honor tribal sov- ereignty and ensure continued progress on reservations across Amer- ica. As we seek to build on and strengthen our nation-to-nation relation- ship, my Administration is committed to ensuring tribal communities have a meaningful voice in our national policy debates as we confront the challenges facing all Americans. We will continue this constructive dialogue at the White House Tribal Nations C onference held in Wash- ington, D.C., this month. Native American voices have echoed through the mountains, valleys, and plains of our country for thousands of years, and it is now our time to listen. NOW, TH E REFORE, I, BARAC K OBAMA, P resident of the U nited States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con-