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| (Image from Scholastic) |
Happy Native
American
Heritage Day
Native American Heritage Day
respects and honors Native American
heritage and Native identity!
-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"
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My Writing About Native American Heritage Day (2013): Please join me on Native American Heritage Day by donating to a Native American charities of your choice in order to respect and honor Native American heritage and Native identity! –Paul Whiting (written November 29th, 2013, revised November 25th, 2022 and revised November 24th, 2023)
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My Writing About Native American Heritage Day (2023): Please join me on Native American Heritage Day by donating to a Native American charities of your choice in order to give thanks for all that we have by giving to those in need. –Paul Whiting (November 24th, 2023)
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My Poetic Notes:
The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "Native American Heritage Day respects and honors Native American heritage and Native identity!"
Also, beginning in January 2013, I tried to create a post for virtually every holiday and special occasion of which I was aware, but I realized by September 2014 that I did not have enough time and energy to continue posting for every holiday and special occasion. And I decided to keep the poems in that series which were the most relevant to this blog, of which this is one.
And this poem was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."
This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.
-Paulee
https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com
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"Native American Heritage Day" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):
Native American Heritage Day is a civil holiday observed on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States.
National legislative history:
President George W. Bush signed into law legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto), to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day. The Native American Heritage Day Bill was supported by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) and 184 federally recognized tribes, and designates Friday, November 28 2008, as a day to pay tribute to Native Americans for their many contributions to the United States.
The Native American Heritage Day Bill encourages Americans of all backgrounds to observe Friday, November 28 2008, as Native American Heritage Day, through appropriate ceremonies and activities. It also encourages public elementary and secondary schools to enhance student understanding of Native Americans by providing classroom instructions focusing on their history, achievements, and contributions.
The House of Representatives originally passed H.J. Res. 62 on November 13, 2007. The bill was passed with technical adjustments by unanimous consent in the United States Senate on September 22, 2008. Then, on September 26, 2008, the House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass the legislation again, this time including the adjustments from the Senate. The legislation was signed into public law by the President on October 8, 2008.
Some individual states have also taken legislative action to recognize this day. For example, Maryland established this day in 2008 under the name American Indian Heritage Day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_Heritage_Day
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November 25th, 2022 Update: Native American Heritage Day is today, November 25th, 2022, because it is observed yearly (annually) on the day after Thanksgiving! And I recently received a mailer from American Indian College Fund, which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's main letter):
Dear Mr. Whiting,
For many of us a college education is something we pursue so we can be more successful, make more money, or even just learn about something that's interesting to us.
For Native scholars, education means so much more. It means solving difficult challenges affecting their communities such as food shortages, insufficient healthcare, housing insecurity, and unemployment – all exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
American Indian College Fund scholars understand the responsibility and power that comes with an education, but they are embracing it gratefully and enthusiastically so they can build stronger, healthier communities. There is just one thing standing in their way—financial need.
This year more than 3,200 students received scholarship support from the American Indian College Fund, but 6,135 did not.
That means fewer Native American graduates working to solve the persistent challenges Native communities face. But you can help change that, Mr. Whiting, with a generous gift of $50, $75, $100, or more today.
With your help, every new degree obtained means one more Native college graduate who is prepared and motivated to use their knowledge, power, and confidence to not only change, but save, lives.
Please make a difference for a student who is committed to addressing urgent needs, solving community-wide problems, and preserving the languages, traditions, and lands that will ensure a safe and healthy future for all Native people.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Wounspe gluha blihihunkic'iyapi [We strengthen ourselves with knowledge.]
Best regards,
[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
P.S. Since 1989, we have supported the educational needs of American Indian scholars, providing nearly 147,000 scholarships and $259.7 million to support American Indian communities. But the need is still great. Please make a generous gift today and provide the hope that only education can bring. Thank you!
And so, I made a one-time donation to the American Indian College Fund in order to show my support for Native American graduates who are striving to educate themselves so that they can contribute to their entire community—and so that they can contribute the entire country. –Paul Whiting (written November 25th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 27th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023)
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October 24th, 2023 Update No. 7 [My Writing About How I Have Changed The Way That I Label My Blog Posts 'Updates' For Any Additional 'Updates' That I Write, After The First 'Update,' By Using A Simple Numbering System, Which Starts With The First 'Update' (Originally From My Blog Post Titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was," Which Is On My "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" Blog)]:
I have changed the way I label the blog post 'updates' that I write because I oftentimes write more than one 'update' per day!
And in the past, I have labeled the second, third, fourth and fifth 'update' with the following extensions—on the days that I write more than 'update'—to differentiate any additional 'updates' from the first one, as follows:
[1st] Month Day, Year Update
[2nd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued
[3rd] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further
[4th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More
[5th] Month Day, Year Update—Continued Further Some More Than Before
However today, October 24th, 2023, I actually had more than five 'updates' to write, so I decided to change how I differentiate any additional 'updates,' from the first 'update,' by using a simple numbering system, which actually starts with the first 'update' that I write, as follows:
Month Day, Year Update No. 1
Month Day, Year Update No. 2
Month Day, Year Update No. 3
Month Day, Year Update No. 4
Month Day, Year Update No. 5
Month Day, Year Update No. 6
Month Day, Year Update No. 7
Therefore, that is why this 'update' is the seventh one for today! –Paul Whiting (written October 24th, 2023 and revised October 28th, 2023)
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November 24th, 2023 Update No. 1: Native American Heritage Day is today, November 24th, 2023, because it is observed yearly (annually) on the day after Thanksgiving! And so, I decided to make one-time donations to organizations that support Native American (American Indian) causes, including American Indian College Fund and Native American Rights Fund (NARF).
And I was inspired to make these donations by the following sources:
Source No. 1: An 'update' that I wrote last year (2022) labeled, 'November 25th, 2022 Update,' regarding a mailer that I received from the American Indian College Fund, a copy of which can be found below from my blog post titled, "I Am No Longer Being An Activist In The Same Way That I Was" that is on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" blog. Plus, this copy of the aforementioned 'update' is also from my blog post titled, "My Point Of View On...Giving Charity And Accepting Charity" that is on both of my "Paul Whiting — Math Magician" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs:
November 25th, 2022 Update: Native American Heritage Day is today, November 25th, 2022, because it is observed yearly (annually) on the day after Thanksgiving! And I recently received a mailer from American Indian College Fund, which stated the following (by the way, I hand-typed the text below on my smartphone from the mailer's main letter):
Dear Mr. Whiting,
For many of us a college education is something we pursue so we can be more successful, make more money, or even just learn about something that's interesting to us.
For Native scholars, education means so much more. It means solving difficult challenges affecting their communities such as food shortages, insufficient healthcare, housing insecurity, and unemployment – all exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
American Indian College Fund scholars understand the responsibility and power that comes with an education, but they are embracing it gratefully and enthusiastically so they can build stronger, healthier communities. There is just one thing standing in their way—financial need.
This year more than 3,200 students received scholarship support from the American Indian College Fund, but 6,135 did not.
That means fewer Native American graduates working to solve the persistent challenges Native communities face. But you can help change that, Mr. Whiting, with a generous gift of $50, $75, $100, or more today.
With your help, every new degree obtained means one more Native college graduate who is prepared and motivated to use their knowledge, power, and confidence to not only change, but save, lives.
Please make a difference for a student who is committed to addressing urgent needs, solving community-wide problems, and preserving the languages, traditions, and lands that will ensure a safe and healthy future for all Native people.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Wounspe gluha blihihunkic'iyapi [We strengthen ourselves with knowledge.]
Best regards,
[Name redacted]
[Title redacted]
P.S. Since 1989, we have supported the educational needs of American Indian scholars, providing nearly 147,000 scholarships and $259.7 million to support American Indian communities. But the need is still great. Please make a generous gift today and provide the hope that only education can bring. Thank you!
And so, I made a one-time donation to the American Indian College Fund in order to show my support for Native American graduates who are striving to educate themselves so that they can contribute to their entire community—and so that they can contribute the entire country. –Paul Whiting (written November 25th, 2022, revised December 18th, 2022, revised December 30th, 2022, revised April 28th, 2023, revised May 17th, 2023 and revised November 24th, 2023)
Source No. 2: I received an email from Native American Rights Fund (NARF) two days ago on November 22nd, 2023, with the subject line, "We Give Thanks", which stated the following:
Dear Paul,
Let Us Give Thanks.
As we celebrate this harvest season, let us be thankful for our friends, relatives, the food we have, and the roofs over our heads. Let us give thanks every day as we greet the morning star in the eastern sky. Let us give thanks, for our families, our ancestors, and our survival.
Let us not forget those in need.
As we give thanks for all that we have, let us not forget those who are in need. Let us stand strong with them to make sure that their voices are heard, their needs are met, and that promises made to them are upheld. We cannot change our history, but we look to a future with a hope for something better.
We are thankful for you.
We are so grateful for your support of the Native American Rights Fund. You are part of the change, for now and generations to come. Thank you.
NARF
Native American Rights Fund
Thus, these two donations are to show my support for "Native American graduates who are striving to educate themselves so that they can contribute to their entire community—and so that they can contribute the entire country," as well as to show my support for standing strong "with [those who are in need] to make sure that their voices are heard, their needs are met, and that promises made to them are upheld ... as we give thanks for all that we have." –Paul Whiting (November 24th, 2023)
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November 6th, 2024 Update No. 1 [My Writing About No Longer Being An 'Online Activist' In Any Way, Shape Or Form]: Due to Donald Trump winning the 2024 Presidential Election—and until further notice—I am no longer being an 'Online Activist' in any way, shape or form, which includes no longer signing petitions from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations, and no longer sending letters to my Representative and Senators in Congress, as well as no longer making donations to political, social, environmental and charitable causes. Full stop! I am also unsubscribing from any of the emails that I used to receive from political, social, environmental and charitable organizations. In fact, I am even cancelling all of my monthly political donations to the main Democratic fundraising and coordinating organizations, as well as to the USO (United Service Organizations), in addition to cancelling all of my monthly news organization subscriptions, or news organization donations, because I am absolutely terrified of this second Trump administration. And I fully expect that democracy in America as we know will be over! So, I am choosing to not engage in any 'activism' whatsoever—plus, I am not even sure that I will be exercising my 'civic duty' by voting in any upcoming elections because, as a (formerly) donating and a (potentially former) voting Democrat, I totally fear the retribution of President Donald J. Trump. Full stop! –Paul Whiting (written November 6th, 2024 and revised November 7th, 2024)
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This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 168 was edited on November 7th, 2024.
"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]
