Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, invites everyone to participate in a POW WOW sponsored by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Equal Employment Office and the Bureau's Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) in celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month. The POW WOW will be held outside (weather permitting) and open to the public. This event will feature music, traditional dance, storytelling, cultural displays, and Native American lore. The activity will also feature representatives from various Native American organizations. , This POW WOW will be held on November 20, 1996 at RAWLINS PARK, which is on the north side of the OPM building on 19th & "E" Streets, NW. In case of inclement weather the event will take place in the Department of the Interior's Main Auditorium on 19th and "C" Streets, NW.
Events will begin at 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The sequence of events is as follows:
|
Master of Ceremony |
Tom Fugate |
|
Presentation of Colors |
Arm Forces Color Guard |
|
Flag Song |
White Oak Singers - Collin Bears Tail |
|
Invocation |
Clayton Old Elk |
|
Opening Remarks |
Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs John C. Nicholas, Director, EEO Norman Taylor, Director, CFC National Capitol Area |
|
Drum |
White Oak Singers |
|
Head Man Dancer |
Joe Martin |
|
Head Woman Dancer |
Kimberly Toyekoyah, CFC Coordinator |
|
Storyteller |
Mary Arpante |
|
Raffel |
Master of Ceremony |
|
Closing |
Social Dance (Group Participation) |
On October 29, 1996 President Clinton signed a proclamation, designating the month of November 1996 as National American Indian Heritage Month., "I join the President in affirming tribal self-governance and sovereignty, 11 Ms. Deer said." Our most important resource is our Indian children. The President, in this proclamation vows that American Indians will not be left behind as the bridge to the 21st century is constructed. We must focus on developing our single most important asset -- our Indian children."
In the proclamation the President states "It means that American Indian children and youth must be provided a solid education and the opportunity to go on to college." On October 21, 1996 President Clinton signed an executive order that expands opportunities for federal assistance to tribal colleges and universities that serve approximately 25,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students. This executive order:
- Reaffirms the special relationship of the federal government to American Indians and Alaskan Natives, ensures that tribal colleges and universities are fully recognized as accredited institutions, establishes a mechanism to increase accessibility of federal resources committed to tribal colleges/universities in their communities on a sustaining basis, promotes access to high quality educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students, promotes the preservation and revitalization of American Indian/Alaskan Native languages and cultural traditions, and provides innovative approaches to relationships between tribal colleges and early childhood programs.
These are exciting times as we begin building the bridge for the American Indian community for the 21st century. This is a season of change. Accordingly, the BIA's observance theme is "SEASONS OF CHANGE." President Clinton"... urge[s] all Americans, as well as their elected representatives at the Federal, State, local, and tribal levels, to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. “In this context the BIA extends an open invitation to everyone to join us on this day.”
