November 17, 2007

Native American Heritage Day reaches Senate

Inland lawmaker's efforts to create Native American Heritage Day now paying offThough not proposing a true national holiday, the bill would name the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day and encourage the teaching of Indian culture and contributions to society in school curriculums.

With the bill now before the Senate, Michael Lombardi, gaming commissioner for the Augustine Band of Mission Indians, which operates a casino near Coachella, said he thinks the Republican Party now has a chance to take a strong stand on the issue.

"I don't know of an Indian tribe in the United States that I've spoken with on the subject that is not enthusiastic in supporting this," Lombardi said. "Everybody in the Senate always says they support tribal rights, and we'll get a chance to see who does and who doesn't."

6 comments:

writerfella said...

Writerfella here --
Utmost, if it ever should be enacted, the Native American Heritage Day legislation would give dominant Americans and Native Americans something to talk about (or not) as they wait in line for Wal-Mart to open at 6 am the day after Thanksgiving...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'

Anonymous said...

Would everyone get the day off from work? If so, than I'm all for it.


Anonymouse

writerfella said...

Writerfella here --
Probably Native Americans might be able to take the day off, but only if they ate roast crow sandwiches...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'

Rob said...

If it's not a "true national holiday," as the article says, you won't get the day off. Sorry.

writerfella said...

Writerfella here --
Nonsense. Almost all Native tribes now close their tribal complexes on Good Friday, which is not a 'true national holiday.' Now, if writerfella can convince them to close on Senator Dawes' birthday, on the anniversary of the 'blanket law, and on the anniversary of The Wounded Knee Massacre, maybe we'd have something to talk about...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'

Rob said...

If it's not a "true national holiday," as the article says, you won't get the day off as a national holiday. States, tribes, and private employers may give you the day off, but it'll be their choice, not a federal requirement.