R 052109Z NOV 15
MARADMIN 557/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/MPE//
SUBJ/2015 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH//
POC/LENER J. GADEA/SGT/UNIT: MPE/-/TEL: (703)784-9371/TEL: DSN 278-9371/TEL: COMM (703)784-9371//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. IN NOVEMBER 2014, PRESIDENT OBAMA STATED BY PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION THAT “AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES HELPED BUILD THE VERY FABRIC OF AMERICA. TODAY, THEIR SPIRIT AND MANY CONTRIBUTIONS CONTINUE TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTHEN OUR COUNTRY. DURING THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, WE HONOR THEIR LEGACY, AND WE RECOMMIT TO STRENGTHENING OUR NATION-TO-NATION PARTNERSHIPS.”
2. THE NATIVE AMERICAN AND ALASKA NATIVE CULTURES ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR RICH TRADITIONS, HISTORIES, CUSTOMS, RITUALS, AND LEGENDS. THE 2015 THEME IS “GROWING NATIVE LEADERS: ENHANCING SEVEN GENERATIONS.” THIS YEAR’S THEME ORIGINATES FROM THE GREAT LAW OF THE IROQUOIS’ SEVEN GENERATIONS SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT, WHICH URGES LEADERS TO REMEMBER SEVEN GENERATIONS IN THE PAST AND CONSIDER WHETHER DECISIONS THEY MAKE TODAY WILL BENEFIT SEVEN GENERATIONS INTO THE FUTURE.  LEADERS WHO “LOOK AND LISTEN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WHOLE PEOPLE AND HAVE ALWAYS IN VIEW NOT ONLY THE PRESENT BUT ALSO THE COMING GENERATIONS, EVEN THOSE WHOSE FACES ARE YET BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND, THE UNBORN OF THE FUTURE NATION,” AS QUOTED FROM THE GREAT LAW OF THE IROQUOIS.  THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALASKA NATIVES HAVE SPANNED OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY FROM THE NAVAJO CODE TALKERS TO THE ALASKAN TERRITORIAL GUARD. THE CODE TALKERS ROSE TO AN URGENT NEED OF RAPID, SECURE COMMUNICATION ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE PACIFIC THEATER DURING WORLD WAR II, AND WHOSE UNIQUE LANGUAGE AND ORAL TRADITIONS CREATED AN UNBREAKABLE CODE THAT SAVED LIVES AND WON BATTLES. AS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, THE ALASKAN TERRITORIAL GUARD SECURED THE HARSH NORTHERN TERRITORY, PROTECTING THE VITAL TERRAIN THAT SUPPORTED THE AIR ROUTE FOR THE LEND LEASE SUPPLY ROUTE DURING WORLD WAR II. NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALASKA NATIVE MARINES THEN AND NOW CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THOSE TRADITIONS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS OF SERVICE TO THIS GREAT NATION.
3. DURING THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO OUR COUNTRY AND CORPS. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
4. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY (SES) MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//