Celebrate Native Americans Day on September 28

A Day of Reconciliation

Each year the Native American is celebrated on the fourth Friday of September. This year Native American Day will take place on September 28, 2007. The day is not an official governmental holiday, but many people believe it should replace the celebration of Columbus "discovery of America." In fact the state of South Dakota Legislature passed a bill creating Native American Day. The Native American tribes of South Dakota and non-Indians set aside this day of tribute to the rich history and culture of the Plains Native Americans and their contribution to North America.

The Native Americans are the first people of North America. There presence is pervasive from the outer most regions of Canada and Alaska to the Yucatan region of Mexico. Native Americans were the first people of the United States which includes Alaska and Hawaii. Had it not been for the aid and comfort provided by the Native Americans to the early settlers of Jamestown, Plymouth Rock and subsequently the Lewis & Clark explorers the United States as we know it today would not have occurred.

The Native American herbs, planting methods, knowledge of the terrain and awareness of nature saved the early immigrants of the United States from total disaster. The assistance and knowledge of Sacajawea to Lewis and Clark about the death defying route through the Bitterroot and survival techniques in the the last leg of their journey on the cold and dismal coast of Washington and Oregon saved the expedition.

There are various education web sites produced by Native Americans that provide information geared to various ages. There are school plans and curriculum suggestions at Native American dot com. There are numerous links on this web site to newspapers, associations and tribes in the United States and Canada. The original treaties and proclamations of the "white man's government," are set forth on this web site along with exquisite slides and photos.