Profile America Segments for American Indian

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Listen		Will Rogers Profile America — Friday, November 4th. This is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month — and it's also the birthday of one of the nation's great humorists, Will Rogers, who was born in Oolagah Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. Rogers was a homespun cowboy philosopher who appeared on stage and in movies and wrote a daily syndicated newspaper column. He was especially proud of his Indian heritage and liked to boast that while his ancestors had not come over on the Mayflower, they were on hand to greet the ship when it landed. In Will Rogers' time, the American Indian population was about 350-thousand. Today, there are estimated to be 4.4-million American Indian and Alaska Natives. Oklahoma is home to nearly 400-thousand, second only to California's almost 690-thousand. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>. Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2005, p. 568 U.S. Census Bureau Facts for Features, CB05-FF.16 Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970: p. 14
Listen		American Indians in the Military Profile America — Saturday, November 12th. Many of those who took part in yesterday's Veterans Day observance were also celebrating National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Members of this diverse population group have long been associated with the country's military — from the War of 1812, right up to current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their service was dramatized in the recent movie "Windtalkers." Five American Indians were awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II and three for bravery in the Korean War. Sixteen others won the nation's highest military decoration during the 19th century. Today, there are nearly 185-thousand American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>. Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2005, p. 563 U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB05-FF.16
Listen		Astronaut John Herrington Profile America — Friday, November 18th. This is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. One aspect of the observance is to honor the wide-ranging accomplishments of the men and women who make up this group. One of them is Navy Commander John Bennett Herrington, the first American Indian astronaut. Born in Wetumka, Oklahoma, he became a naval aviator in 1984. Selected for the astronaut program, Herrington logged 330 hours aboard the Endeavor, including almost 20 hours — in a space suit — on tasks outside the shuttle. He holds degrees in applied mathematics and aeronautical engineering, one of the 14 percent of adult American Indians and Alaska natives who hold at least a bachelor's degree. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>. Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2005, p. 563 U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB05.FF.16
Listen		State Names Profile America — Sunday, November 27th. This is national American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, designated by presidential proclamation since 1994, to honor the history and traditions of this diverse population group. Across the country, the names of 26 states come from American Indian-Alaska native words, including Alaska, Kentucky, Mississippi and Wisconsin. It’s estimated that there are 4.4-million people who are entirely or partially American Indian or Alaska native, about 1.5 percent of the total U.S. population. There are 10 American Indian tribal groups that number more than 50-thousand. The largest are Cherokee and Navajo at more than 200-thousand each. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau on the Web at <www.census.gov>. Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2005, p. 563 U.S. Census Bureau, Facts for Features, CB05-FF.16