BILL NUMBER: SR 58INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Walters AUGUST 14, 2014 Relative to Native American Heritage Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST WHEREAS, Throughout our country's history, Native Americans have played an important role in our culture and success; and WHEREAS, The Native American community has helped dramatically in the preservation of tangible aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people; and WHEREAS, In the State of California, a state rich with Native-American culture and history, we are fortunate to have students of the Four Directions Education Organization involved in preserving their Native-American culture; and WHEREAS, Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the United States; and WHEREAS, Native Americans traditionally have exhibited a respect for the finiteness of natural resources through a reverence for the earth; and WHEREAS, Native Americans have made distinct and important contributions to the United States and the rest of the world in many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art; and WHEREAS, Native Americans deserve to be recognized for their individual contributions to the United States as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; and WHEREAS, This recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, and self-awareness in Native Americans of all ages; and WHEREAS, The Senate finds that it is important to celebrate the role of Native-American history in our community and the contributions that have been made by dedicated members of this culture; and WHEREAS, The Senate is honored to join all California residents in celebrating Native-American heritage during this month and encourages the preservation of this extraordinary culture; and WHEREAS, November is a time when many Americans commemorate a special time in the history of the United States when American Indians and English settlers celebrated the bounty of their harvest and the promise of new kinships; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California,That the Senate recognizes November 2014 as Native American Heritage Month; and be it further Resolved,That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.