HomeMy WebLinkAboutPresident Obama Letter �a
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1P ORT NGELES
WASH i N G T O PSI U. S. A.City Council
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Aril 8, 2019
Dear President Obama,
We, Frances Charles, Tribal. Chairwoman for the Lower Elwha Tribe and. Sissi
Bruch, Mayor of Port Angeles, invite you to join us for a celebration of
Indigenous People's Day.
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Ten years ago, on.December 19, 2009, you signed the "Apology to Native
Peoples of the United States." Now,here in Port Angeles, WA we will be
celebrating Indigenous People's Day in. October and wanted to invite you to read
this apology. There are 8 federally recognized Tribes in the Olympic Peninsula
and 29 Tribes in the State of Washington. All will be invited to help us in this
celebration.
We are planning to have this apology read on October I"to kick off a month
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devoted to highlighting Native Americans, their history, culture and their
traditions that today can teach us to address issues such as climate change.
We would be honored to have you read these words and be present here as we
'r continue to heal the wounds of the past and acknowledge our Tribal Nations
' struggle with our government's"violence, maltreatment and neglect." We hope
that by this reading we can "bring healing to this land" and a continued
"commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to
move toward a brighter future where all the people of this land live reconciled as
brothers and sisters, and harmoniously steward and protect this land together."
These quoted words of the apology are important and can go a long way to
continue the healing for our Tribal Nations. It is our wish to have you read these
words as you were the first President to acknowledge this and we hold you deeply
in our hearts.
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Sincerely,
,
1 Frances G. Charles
Tribal Chairwoman for the Lower Elwha Klallam.Tribe
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Sissi P. Bruch
Mayor of Port Angeles
Phone: 360-417-4500 d Fax: 360-417-4509 l Y: 360-417-4645
Website: www.cityofpa.us/ Email: council@cityofpa.us
321. East Fifth Street/Fort Angeles, WA 96362-0217
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