Chief Gray proclaims Nov. 27 as Osage Heritage Day

Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray has issued an executive proclamation designating Friday as Osage Heritage Day in recognition of the Nation’s many accomplishments, contributions to history and maintenance of culture.

Gray is making this proclamation in accord with U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent announcements designating November as National Native American Heritage Month and Friday as National Native American Heritage Day.

“The Osage Nation and its ancestry have historically shared the experiences of other Indian nations in our relations with the United States and in maintaining our heritage,” Gray said in the written proclamation. “The history of our 220-year relationship with the United States has been marked more by loss than gain for our people.”

Gray said the highlights of this period “have been in the continuation of parts of our culture and heritage in the face of so many efforts to assimilate and acculturate our Nation and its people.”

On Oct. 30, President Obama proclaimed November as National Native American Heritage Month so “we recognize their many accomplishments, contributions, and sacrifices, and we pay tribute to their participation in all aspects of American society.” As an example, Obama referred to Native military veterans from the World War I and II eras who enlisted and used their Native languages to develop indecipherable communication codes used during battles, which saved countless lives.

Obama wrote: “The Native American community today faces huge challenges that have been ignored by our Government for too long. To help address this disparity, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocates more than $3 billion to help these communities deal with their most pressing needs.”

“In the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, my Administration has proposed over $17 billion for programs carried out by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and other Federal agencies that have a critical role to play in improving the lives of Native Americans,” the proclamation states.

In honor of Osage Heritage Day, Gray is calling upon all Osage citizens “to commemorate this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”