105 STAT. 614 PUBLIC LAW 102-123—OCT. 9, 1991 Public Law 102-123 102d Congress Joint Resolution Oct. 9, 1991 To authorize and request the President to proclaim each of the months of November [S.J. Res. 172] 1991 and 1992 as "National American Indian Heritage Month". Whereas American Indians are the original inhabitants of the lands that now constitute the United States of America; Whereas American Indian governments developed fundamental principles of freedom of speech and the separation of powers in government, and these principles form the foundation of our own government today; Whereas American Indian societies exhibited a respect for the finiteness of natural resources through deep respect for the earth, and such values continue to be widely held today; Whereas American Indian people have served with valor in all wars since the Revolutionary War to the War in the Persian Gulf, often in a percentage well above their percentage in the population of the Nation as a whole; Whereas American Indians have made distinct and important contributions to America and the rest of the world in many fields including agriculture, medicine, music, language and art; Whereas it is fitting that American Indians be recognized for their individual contributions to American society as artists, sculptors, musicians, authors, poets, artisans, scientists and scholars; Whereas the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Western Hemisphere is an especially appropriate time for all the people of the United States to study and reflect on the long history of the original inhabitants of this continent; Whereas the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives believe that a resolution and proclamation as requested in this resolution will encourage self-esteem, pride and self-awareness in American Indians young and old; Whereas the month of November is the traditional harvest season of the American Indians and is generally a time of celebration and giving thanks: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF MONTH. That each of the months of November 1991 and 1992 are designated as "National American Indian Heritage Month", and the
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