PRINTER'S NO. 4303
No. 399 Session of 1994
INTRODUCED BY HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, SAURMAN, GERLACH, RUBLEY,
FICHTER, LEE, ACOSTA, FLICK, LAUB, REBER, BROWN, LEH,
DEMPSEY, CHADWICK, E. Z. TAYLOR, PICCOLA, BIRMELIN, MASLAND,
STRITTMATTER, PITTS AND TANGRETTI, OCTOBER 4, 1994
ADOPTED, OCTOBER 4, 1994
A RESOLUTION
1 Observing November 1994 as "Native American Indian Heritage
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The month of November has been observed as Native
4 American Indian Heritage Month, by Presidential Proclamation,
5 since 1990; and
6 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is rich in Native American history
7 and has an ongoing reliance on the unique cultural contributions
8 of its Native American residents; and
9 WHEREAS, According to the 1990 U.S. Census, 15,976 residents
10 of this Commonwealth identify themselves as Native Americans;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, These figures show an increase of over 5,000 since
13 the 1980 U.S. Census, attributable in part to an increased
14 willingness Native Americans have to acknowledge the pride they
15 hold for their heritage and also attributable to the influx into
16 this Commonwealth of new residents with a Native American
17 heritage; and
1 WHEREAS, The median age of Native Americans in this
2 Commonwealth is 31.4 years; and
3 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has no reservations, creating a
4 Native American community in Pennsylvania which is interspersed,
5 difficult to identify and difficult to target for social
6 programs which might be beneficial and appropriate; and
7 WHEREAS, Awareness of the Native American community in this
8 Commonwealth, of its ongoing cultural contributions and of the
9 diversity represented within this community is long overdue;
10 therefore be it
11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
12 Pennsylvanians to join it in observing November 1994 as Native
13 American Indian Heritage Month in Pennsylvania.
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