Posted: | September 30, 2015 05:10 PM |
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From: | Representative Vanessa Lowery Brown |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Resolution recognizing the first Saturday in October as “Indigenous Peoples Day” in Pennsylvania |
Please join me in co-sponsoring a resolution to congratulate and recognize Pennsylvania’s American Indian peoples and communities by designating the first Saturday in October as “Indigenous Peoples Day” in Pennsylvania. The American Indians have inhabited Pennsylvania dating back some 5,000 years. During that time, they have provided a wealth of heritage and history within the United States and specifically this Commonwealth. Former Secretary of the PA Historical and Museum Commission, Dr. George Donehoo, acknowledged that “No state in the entire nation is richer in Indian names or in fact Indian history than Pennsylvania.” Some of the great nations that inhabit and previously inhabited the territory known as Pennsylvania are the Lenape, Cherokee, Susquehanna, Unami, Erie, Muscogee, Mohawk, Huron, Allegany, Shawnee, Susquehannock, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca Indians, and the Wyandot, Chippewa, Mississauga and others. Some of our busiest highways such as Route 1, Route 40, Route 611 and Route 590 began as American Indian paths that were used for trade or hunting. The American Indian culture has contributed to the agricultural development, medicinal discoveries, environmental preservation, commerce, governmental institutions and many other facets of our country and state. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this resolution, please contact April James at 717-783-3822 or ajames@pahouse.net. In 2013, HR446 was adopted on October 1, 2013 (194-0) and was co-sponsored by Reps. K. Boyle, Brownlee, Caltagirone, Clay, Cohen, Cruz, Cutler, DiGirolamo, Fleck, Freeman, Gingrich, Godshall, Hennessey, Kim, Kinsey, Kirkland, Kortz, Mahoney, Major, Millard, Miranda, Murt, O’Brien, Painter, Parker, Readshaw, Ross, Sonney, Swanger, Watson, and Vereb. |