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Danielle Willmott, founder of IndiRec, is asking all Americans to support her call for a National Walkout to help bring recognition to a federal holiday for Native Americans

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National Walkout Event called in support of National "Native American Day"

Danielle Willmott, founder of IndiRec, is asking all Americans to support her call for a National Walkout to help bring recognition to a federal holiday, especially to the efforts of United Native America (UNA), an organization that has poured a great deal of time, energy, and money into getting a holiday for the general appreciation of all Native American tribes alike. The event is scheduled for April 11th, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. EST. Participants are to leave their desks and stand on the sidewalks for fifteen minutes. Danielle is asking for people to spread the word, and show their support by wearing three ribbons on their shirt: RED - for reflection of blood shed, BLACK - for power and strife, BLUE - for depth, wisdom and purity of the spirit.

The founder of UNA, Mike Graham, in support of the Walkout asks, "Why shouldn't Native Americans have a national holiday in their true home land? We have national holidays for most all other groups of people in America. If the federal government is going to have national holidays then one of them should honor the first Americans on this land now called America."

Somehow and for what ever reasons the U.S. government has not seen fit to bring about a national holiday for Native Americans. When you look at our government's national holiday list you will see it covers a wide range of events and people dedicated to the identity of the American; however, none for Natives, whose cultural traits have been so widely used and abused for the benefit of a culture (American) lacking authenticity. Still, there is no recognition.

If groups like UNA, IndiRec, and others have a say on this issue there will be a federally recognized holiday dedicated to this cause as their efforts have shown. For over fifteen years Indian groups have been trying to persuade federal representatives to introduce legislation on this issue. Their efforts are now seeing some results. There is a house resolution before the U.S. Congress calling for the National Day - House Resolution H.RES.76 - one more step toward the goal.

At this time the holiday resolution is before the House Resources Committee. It will need around eighty congressmen signed on before the resolution can come out of the committee; then it will go before another committee or to the full Congress for a vote.

One would think this holiday would be a slam dunk for our government to enact. However, on the contrary, when the holiday resolution was before the last Congress, only 25 congressmen signed on. The holiday resolution had to be reintroduced in the new, 2005 Congress this year. At this time only seven congressmen have signed on. That is where the Walkout comes into play: "If Congress sees that the issue is now in the public eye, they will have a difficult time trying to pass on it." Willmott states.

UNA is calling on the federal government to reevaluate its national holiday list. It should include Native American Day, not exclude it. Over the years Congress has made many changes to its holiday list. They have dropped some, added others, and even changed the dates of holidays.

With the government-to-government relationship between Indian Nations and the United States government, it is past time for this great country of ours to bring about a federal holiday. Native Americans should not be written out of America's history: "Our nation's history started with them," stated Graham.

Our federal government admits that the fundamental principles of freedom of speech, separation of government powers, and federalism, came from the American Indian Nation's style of government. (This point is also stated in the Native American Day resolution H.RES.76.)

"People of all ethnic groups and racial groups around the world have signed United Native America's on line holiday petition. Our federal government should take notice and step up to the plate to do the right thing by enacting Native American Day," says Graham.

In conclusion, "The grand purpose of the National Walkout is to help bring recognition of the idea of having a holiday dedicated to the general appreciation of Native Americans. This will become a yearly event until the holiday resolution is recognized." declares Danielle.

The National Walkout is meant to give Congress a punch, which will consequently force them to pay attention to this subject, so they know that this is something that is important to our society. If there are enough people in support of having a holiday, it will be more difficult for Congress to deny the holiday resolution.

"Our personal belief is that the ignorance on this matter is deeply rooted in our society due to our primary public education. The history of Natives isn't woven into the curriculum." concedes Danielle.

For more information on the National Walkout visit: www.ITISTIME.US

Contact your US Congressmen. Ask them to add their name as a co-sponsor of National Native America Day H.RES.76 http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml

For information on the National Holiday issue and other Native American issues go to: www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com

Mike Graham
Founder, United Native America

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Biography - Mike Graham

Mike Graham is a member of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation, a retired service connected disabled Army veteran. Founded United Native America in 1993 to form a national group to take action on American Indian issues. The groups main issue is to bring about a federal national holiday for Native Americans. United Native America's motto is, "Standing up for America and the American Indian community."

Graham has been a guest speaker on national and international radio talk shows to include television programs concerning Indian community issues, his reports on Indian issues have been published in newspapers all over America. He has traveled across the country discussing issues with Indian nation leaders, he has presented Indian issues at college's and high schools