State of ^Norflj Carolina
PAT McCRORY
GOVERNOR
AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH
2016
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, “Walking in Two Worlds and Preserving American Indian Heritage” is the theme of 2016 American
Indian Heritage Month in North Carolina, which celebrates and commemorates the rich history, culture and contributions of
American Indians in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, American Indians are the original inhabitants of North Carolina, having lived here for more than
12,000 years; and today are enumerated at more than 122,000, giving North Carolina the largest American Indian
population east of the Mississippi River and the eighth largest American Indian population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is home to eight American Indian tribes: the Coharie, the Eastern Band of
Cherokee, the Haliwa-Saponi, the Lumbee, the Meherrin, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, the Sappony, and the
Waccamaw-Siouan; and
WHEREAS, American Indian tribes continue a rich history of government-to-govemment relations with the State
of North Carolina, a mutual honoring and protection of the sovereign rights of our tribes and advocacy for American Indian
citizens; and
WHEREAS, North Carolinians have long benefitted from the many diverse contributions of American Indian
culture and society: commerce and trade, governmental institutions and structure, agricultural development, medicinal
discoveries, environmental preservation, and many other facets of our state and nation; and
WHEREAS, American Indian tribes and communities across the state continue to make major contributions in
areas, such as government and leadership development, business development, rural community development, the arts and
education, medicine, law enforcement and the military; and
WHEREAS, American Indians continue to “walk in two worlds” thriving in the American mainstream while
perpetuating American Indian culture and heritage through songs, dances, arts, crafts, and spirituality; and continuing to
exercise sovereignty in tribal governance while continuing to contribute to the growth and prosperity of our State;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAT McCRORY, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim
November 2016, as “AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to
all citizens.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 1 have hereunto set myhand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina
at the Capitol in Raleigh this fourteenth day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and sixteen, and the
Independence of the UnitecUSMas af America the two hundred and forty-first.
РР&епъ,
—
Crory
Pat McCrary
Governor
