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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 16, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Native American Heritage Month Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> UNDER SEPARATE COVER Renee A. Price, Chair, 919-245-2130 <br /> Proclamation (To Be Provided Prior to or Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board, 919- <br /> at the Meeting) 245-2130 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation recognizing November 2021 Native American Heritage <br /> Month. <br /> BACKGROUND: For thousands of years, various nations of Indigenous Peoples with their own <br /> tribal governments, social organizations and cultural traditions inhabited the lands that are <br /> now known as the United States of America. North Carolina is home to eight state recognized <br /> tribes including the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, <br /> Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw-Siouan. The Occaneechi <br /> Band of the Saponi Nation lived in this region now known as Orange County, with their own <br /> social, economic, and political systems. <br /> Native Americans and Alaska Native peoples have struggled and persevered to maintain their <br /> identity and their civilization despite centuries of inhumane and unjust Federal policies focused <br /> on genocide, removal, and forced assimilation. In recognition of this history, President Joseph <br /> R. Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum committing his administration to fulfilling Federal <br /> trust and treaty responsibilities, respecting Tribal self-governance, and consulting with Native <br /> American Nations on policy issues. <br /> On August 3, 1990, President George H. W. Bush declared November as National Native <br /> American Heritage Month. The month is a platform for Native Americans to share their culture, <br /> traditions, arts, and concepts of life, as well as a time for others to celebrate contributions by <br /> Native Americans and honor their influence on the advancement of the United States. The <br /> theme of November 2021 is "Strong Roots in Changing Times" to reflect the resilience of <br /> Native Americans throughout the pandemic and continued preservation of their culture and <br /> traditions. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. <br />