National American Indian Heritage Month, 2006

Proclamation 8076 of October 30, 2006

National American Indian Heritage Month, 2006

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National American Indian Heritage Month, we
honor the generations of American Indians and Alaska
Natives who have added to the character of our Nation.
This month is an opportunity to celebrate their many
accomplishments and their rich ancestry and traditions.

America is blessed by the character and strength of
American Indians and Alaska Natives, and our citizens
are grateful for the countless ways Native Americans
have enriched our country and lifted the spirit of our
Nation. We are especially grateful for the Native
Americans who have served and continue to serve in our
Nation's military. These brave individuals have risked
their lives to protect our citizens, defend our
democracy, and spread the blessings of liberty to
people around the world.

My Administration is working to ensure that American
Indians and Alaska Natives have access to all the
opportunities of this great land. My fiscal year 2007
budget proposes more than $12.7 billion for government
programs for Native Americans. Education is vital to
ensuring all citizens reach their full potential, and
my budget includes funding to help Native-American
schools succeed and meet the requirements of the No
Child Left Behind Act. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is
providing education for approximately 46,000 American-
Indian and Alaska-Native children. To help keep Native
Americans safe, I have also proposed to increase law
enforcement personnel and improve law enforcement
facilities in American-Indian communities. My
Administration will continue to work on a government-
to-government basis with tribal governments, honor the
principles of tribal sovereignty and the right to self-
determination, and help ensure America remains a land
of promise for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and
all our citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim November 2006 as National
American Indian Heritage Month. I call upon all
Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate
programs and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand six, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.