WHEREAS, the State of Alaska honors and recognizes the First People of our State and Nation. It is important that honor is bestowed not only on elders and those who lived before, but all Alaska Natives living today; and
WHEREAS, Alaska Native people have fortified our great State with their traditions and values, enriching our land, and shaping our present-day culture; and
WHEREAS, Alaska’s identity is knit together by many indigenous cultures and we celebrate their original traditions, languages, clothing, art, values, and lifestyles that have been passed on through generations; and
WHEREAS, it is crucial that these rich cultures continue to thrive for future generations, and that the historical values continue to grow through the practicing of time-honored ceremonies, subsistence lifestyles, and the use and preservation of traditional languages; and
WHEREAS, every region of Alaska reveals the valued customs of its people, including the Iñupiaq culture of Northwest Alaska, the Athabascan of the Interior, the Yup’ik and Cup’ik of Southwest Alaska, the Unangax of the Aleutian Islands, the Alutiiq of Southcentral Alaska, and the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska; and
WHEREAS, we honor and respect the unique history and cultural traditions of Alaska’s First People and we recognize the important work of elders and culture-bearers who share the knowledge of the past with Alaska’s youth and work to maintain their cultural inheritance for the future; and
WHEREAS, by emphasizing the important background and traditions of Alaska Native people, Alaska’s children can connect with the past and ensure a bright future. This month and throughout the year, we celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native Alaskans and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Mike Dunleavy, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ALASKA, do hereby proclaim November 2020 as:
Alaska Native Heritage Month
in Alaska, and encourage all Alaskans to observe this month with appropriate respect, programs, and activities to celebrate Alaska’s First People.
