Advocacy
Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes of SC

WE shall all celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of Native American Indians in SC ! Our Bill Made it!

Initiated by Dr. Will Moreau Goins and the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois & United Tribes and introduced by Reps. D.C. Moss and V.S. Moss: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND TO DECLARE NOVEMBER 18, 2013, AS NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

View the bill at SCStatehouse.gov

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER AS NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH AND TO DECLARE NOVEMBER 18, 2013, AS NATIVE AMERICAN AWARENESS DAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Amend Title To Conform

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to note that November is National Native American History Month; and

Whereas, the contributions of Native Americans to modern knowledge, comfort, and general advancement are legion. For example, edible plants domesticated by Indians have become major staples in the diets of peoples worldwide. Such foods include corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peanuts, squashes and pumpkins, tomatoes, and many species of beans. Other plants of great importance developed by Indians include cotton and rubber; and

Whereas, Native Americans contributed more than two hundred indigenous drugs used by one or more Indian tribes to The Pharmacopoeia of the United States of America. The medicine we practice today is a combination of Native healing practices and modern science; and

Whereas, the United States owes much to Native Americans in terms of its governmental structure. Indian governments in eastern North America, particularly the League of the Iroquois, served as models of federated representative democracy to Europeans and American colonists. The government of the United States is based on such a system, whereby power is distributed between a central authority (the federal government) and smaller political units (the states); and

Whereas, Indian contributions to the world’s economy have been enormous. As just one instance, during colonial times Indian labor in the North American fur trade contributed significantly to the wealth of England, France, the Netherlands, and Russia; and

Whereas, as the first people to live on the land we all cherish, American Indians have profoundly shaped our country’s character and our cultural heritage. Today, Native Americans are leaders in every aspect of our society, from the classroom to the boardroom to the battlefield. In November, we celebrate and honor the many ways American Indians have enriched our nation; and

Whereas, grateful for the rich heritage Native Americans have bestowed on the United States, the General Assembly takes great pleasure in recognizing November as National Native American History Month and declaring November 18, 2013, as Native American Awareness Day in South Carolina; and

Whereas, in order to properly serve the Native American and other minority interests in this State, the Commission for Minority Affairs needs and deserves the ability to meet, carry out its statutory duties, and conduct business on behalf of Native Americans and other minorities in this State, whether or not a quorum of the total membership of the Commission’s board has been appointed or continues to serve in office;

Whereas, in order to clarify that it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Commission for Minority Affairs meet, carry out its statutory duties, and conduct business as provided in Chapter 31 of Title 1, notwithstanding any contrary opinion of law and whether or not a quorum of the total membership of the Commission’s board has been appointed or continues to serve in office. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize November as National Native American History Month and declare November 18, 2013, as Native American Awareness Day in South Carolina.

That the Commission for Minority Affairs meet, carry out its statutory duties, and conduct business on behalf of Native Americans and other minorities as provided in Chapter 31, Title 1, notwithstanding any contrary opinion of law and whether or not a quorum of the total membership of the Commission’s board has been appointed or continues to serve in office.

1st Annual South Carolina Native American Heritage Awareness Day Celebration was held at the SC State House North Steps on Monday, November 18, 2013 from 12:00pm until 1:00pm. The Public and the Media were invited to attend this free event.

Special Presentations by elected leaders and Native American Leaders will include the formal reading of State and City of Columbia Proclamations, the National Native American Heritage Month Concurrent Resolution and cultural presentations. Speakers from several Native American Indian Tribes and Entities will speak about their cultural heritage and its significance to future generations of Native American Indian people. Speakers include: Chief Ralph Oxendine-Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians, Dr. Will Moreau Goins-Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois and United Tribes, Mr. Rod Beck-Catawba Indian Nation, Mr. Thomas J. Smith-SC Commission for Minority Affairs, Rep. Dennis Moss, Vice Chief Peggy Scott-Santee Indian Organization, 2nd Chief Phil White-Waccamaw Indian People and others.

National Native American Heritage Month events are celebrated all over the United States to honor the contributions and heritage of the FIRST Americans. According to the Native American Heritage Month website ( http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/index.html ):

Since 2005, the State of South Carolina has officially recognized Native American entities through the SC Commission for Minority Affairs. There are currently one Federally Recognized tribe and fourteen State Recognized tribes & State Recognized groups. There are large numbers of urban Indian and non-recognized Indian people in South Carolina as well. There are approximately 43,000+ Native American Indian people living in South Carolina according to the 2010 Census Data.

The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs-Native American Affairs Initiative serves as the State’s official Native American Affairs agency working with Native American Indians to address issues of poverty and socio-economic deprivation through collaboration with government and private partners.

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