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American Indian/Alaska Native Emphasis Program
November is American Indian Heritage Month
American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month originated in 1915 when the
president of the Congress of American Indian Associations issued a proclamation
declaring the second Saturday in May of each year as American Indian Day. The
first American Indian Day was celebrated in May 1916 in New York. In 1990,
President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating
November 1990 as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar
proclamations have been issued every year since 1994.
"The American Indian and Alaska Native population rose by 1 percent or 45,000,
from 2005 to 2006.
California had the largest population of American Indians and Alaska Natives
(689,000) on July 1, 2006, with Oklahoma (397,000) and Arizona (331,000) next.
Arizona had the largest numerical increase (8,000) since July 1, 2005, followed
by Texas (7,000) and Florida (4,000). In Alaska, American Indians and Alaska
Natives made up the highest proportion of the total population (18 percent),
with Oklahoma and New Mexico, at 11 percent each, next.
The American Indian and Alaska Native population in 2006 was younger, with a
median age of 31, compared with the population as a whole at 36.4. About 28
percent of the American Indian and Alaska Native population was younger than 18,
compared with 25 percent of the total population. " (
Census Bureau website May 2007)
The American Indian and Alaskan Native Emphasis Program Manager deals with a
different set of criteria than other special emphasis programs. The 1964 Civil
Rights Act does not apply to American Indians and Alaskan Natives. In order to
be considered American Indian 1/32 of your ancestry must be Native American or
Alaskan Native.
The program seeks to:
- Support the unique role of American Indians and Alaskan Natives within the
Federal Government system.
- Recruit potential American Indian/Alaskan Native employees.
- Develop mentoring processes among American Indian/Alaskan Native
employees.
- Build coalitions with appropriate advocacy groups.
This
document requires
Adobe Acrobat.
2007
American Indian / Alaska Native Heritage Month Poster for NRCS (shown at
upper right) (102 kb)
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Last Modified:
June 04, 2008
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