National American Indian Heritage Month, 2008

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Part IV

The President

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Proclamation 8313--National American Indian Heritage Month, 2008

Proclamation 8314--Diabetes Month, 2008

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8313 of October 30, 2008

National American Indian Heritage Month, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National American Indian Heritage Month, we
celebrate the rich ancestry of American Indians and
Alaska Natives and recognize their many contributions
to our national story.

Native Americans have enriched our heritage and added
to all aspects of our society. Our country is blessed
to have their character and strength, and we are
especially grateful for the generations of Native
Americans who have answered the call to defend our
country. During World War II, these brave patriots used
their native languages to create an unbreakable oral
code. Today, that legacy continues as Native Americans
work to advance freedom's cause.

My Administration remains committed to protecting
tribal sovereignty and the right to self-determination
and to working with tribes on a government-to-
government basis. To help more Native Americans realize
the dream of home ownership, I signed the Native
American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination
Reauthorization Act of 2008. For nearly eight years, we
have also worked to strengthen educational
opportunities for all Americans. In 2004, I issued an
executive order to help Native American students
fulfill the challenging standards of the No Child Left
Behind Act. This order established the Interagency
Working Group on American Indian and Alaska Native
Education to improve educational programs consistent
with tribal traditions, languages, and cultures. By
setting high standards for academic achievement, we are
enabling more Americans throughout our country to
pursue their dreams. During this month, we honor our
native peoples and recognize them for strengthening the
diversity of our society.

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 2008 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 eight, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.