Thomas Daschle: “like the exhibits in the new museum, the Dakota Letters illustrate in a powerful way that we do not have separate…”

“like the exhibits in the new museum, the Dakota Letters illustrate in a powerful way that we do not have separate histories, but we see the same history through different eyes. This gift of being able to see our history from others' perspectives can only help heal our Nation and make us stronger. I believe strongly that the Federal Government, which had such a direct hand, for so long, in efforts to destroy Native cultures, has a responsibility to help preserve these cultures not just on the National Mall in Washington, but in tribal communities throughout America. And we are making a start. Next month, the first applications will go out for a new grant programs for tribal museums. Under the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program, tribes can receive grants of up to $20,000 a year. The museum program, and a similar program to support tribal libraries, are both administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences. The Tribal Historic Preservation Program in the National Park Service gives tribes control of decisions about cultural preservation on tribal lands by establishing tribal historic preservation offices, just like State historic preservation offices. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, passed in 1990, lays out a process to identify Native American sacred and funerary objects and return them to their people.”