Trump honors Native Americans, US founders in same month

President Donald Trump has declared vember as a time to celebrate both Native American herit and country’s founders, a move that upset Native Americans who have historically h month to mselves to mark ir contributions to nation. Trump unveiled his National American History and Founders Month proclamation to coincide with a National Native American Herit Month declaration that every U.S. president has me since 1990.

Native Americans believe founder's proclamation diminishes importance of time set aside to hor m. y say ir ancestors were oppressed and killed by soldiers and settlers at time country was being founded, and that nation regularly celebrates founding fars with holidays such as Presidents’ Day and Fourth of July.

“I felt like it was undercutting Native American herit month,” said Joshua Wabindato, whose family is from Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Indians and Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Michigan. “This is stifling indigeus voice.”

White House did t respond to a request for comment.

proclamation is part of a push by Jennifer and Jack London, Republican dors who run National American History and Founders Month Organization in Virginia. Jennifer London said more than 15 states have issued similar proclamations, and she praised Trump for doing same on federal level.

She said she chose vember because it encompasses celebration of Native American herit, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and tritional school year.

“re are two ways of looking at our relationship with Native Americans, y actually were allies at times in our history, and that’s something, again, that Americans should be educated about,” she said.

London said donations by couple were t tied to Trump’s decision to issue proclamation. Jennifer London has given more than $70,000 to Trump and Republican National Committee since 2016. Jack London has given $313,000 to Republicans since 2015, most of it to Trump and RNC, according to disclosures filed with Federal Election Commission.

She said couple also has donated to groups for veterans and those that support American history.

proclamation follows three years of tense relations between Native Americans and Trump.

Native Americans say Trump has hurt federal government’s relationship with tribes by approving oil pipeline projects near tribal lands, downsizing Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, expediting environmental reviews and referring to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas.

In his proclamation, Trump pointed to public safety listening sessions in Indian Country and efforts to reduce drugs and violence in tribal communities as progress. He also highlighted ministration’s efforts to secure Native Americans’ remains and artifacts that h been in a collection in Finland and return m to tribes near Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest.

Nathan Wright, who is Sioux, said he’s hopeful more Americans will seek to understand treaties with tribes and Native American worldview as caretakers of land and water with a responsibility to pray for everyone.

“It’s something we inherit, and some of our teachings go way back,” said Wright, who is among Native Americans who have served in military at a higher rate per capita than or mirity groups. Native American code talkers also were credited with helping U.S. win World War II.

Both proclamations were published in Federal Register on Tuesday. National Native American Herit Month proclamation wasn’t immediately posted on White House website after it was issued last week, leing some Native Americans to believe that trition h changed.

Trump has signed proclamations horing Native Americans in vember since he took office, and it’s become an expectation.

“It speaks to a level of diplomacy, a diplomatic sort of relationship, that special relationship we have with federal government,” said Jacqueline Keeler, a Navajo and Dakota writer.

In proclamation for National American History and Founders Month, Trump called on Americans to “develop a deeper understanding of our American story” by studying founding documents and exploring history.

Robert Stockdale, of Kxville, Tennessee, said focus in vember should be on horing Native American herit. A better fit to celebrate founders and signing of Declaration of Independence would be July when a day alrey is set aside, he said. “It would seem to me if you want to make an educational opportunity, that’s a perfect time,” he said.