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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Native American Peoples have been disassociated
3from their traditional homelands contrary to a universal belief
4that all persons have inherent worth and dignity; human
5relations should be based on justice, equity, and compassion;
6this world should be a community of peace, liberty, and justice
7for all; and our communities should seek to live in peace with
8our fellow human beings, both as individuals and as peoples;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, The Doctrine of Discovery was a principle of law
11developed in a series of 15th century papal bulls and royal
12charters by European monarchs by which the Americas were first
13explored, and was the legal authority used by those who
14colonized the Americas, appropriated lands and resources, and
15attempted to dominate Native American Nations and undermine
16inherent Native American sovereignty; and
 
17    WHEREAS, After the United States Revolutionary War, the
18tenets of the Doctrine of Discovery were continued by the new
19states and courts, controlling all purchase of lands and any
20foreign, personal, or commercial interactions with tribes; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Prior to and during the War of 1812, the
22principles of the Doctrine of Discovery were practiced by both

 

 

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1the British and the United States in relations and transactions
2with the Native American tribes; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The Illinois Territory was on the border of this
4conflict between Great Britain and the United States and used
5by the British to conduct raids on American settlements during
6the War of 1812; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Following the War of 1812, Native American peoples
8who had supported either the United States or Great Britain
9during the war continued to be subjected to the policies of the
10Doctrine of Discovery resulting in the appropriation of their
11lands and resources, the prohibition of their cultural and
12spiritual practices, and the reduction of their sovereign
13rights, resulting in the complete elimination of their land in
14the Illinois Territory, which later became the State of
15Illinois; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that during this
18bicentennial remembrance of the War of 1812, and in recognition
19of all Native American peoples whose ancestors once lived on,
20temporarily resided in, or traveled through the great State of
21Illinois, we designate November 2012 as Native American History
22Month and join governmental and public organizations in paying
23tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native

 

 

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1Americans; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the Illinois State Historical Society, the
4American Indian Center in Chicago, the American Indian Museum
5at the Smithsonian, in Washington, D. C. and the D'Arcy
6McNickel Center for the History of the American Indian,
7Newberry Library, in Chicago.