Jim Matheson: “I rise in celebration of today's opening of the National Museum of the American Indian--a historic event that is long…”

“I rise in celebration of today's opening of the National Museum of the American Indian--a historic event that is long overdue. My congressional district contains lands of the Navajo Nation, the Southern Utah Paiutes, and the Northern Ute Indian Tribe-- people who understand all too well the atrocities that Native Americans have experienced at the hand of our Federal Government. The opening of this museum is a bold step toward the United States becoming a nation that understands the history of its people and celebrates the uniqueness of native cultures in its society. My hope is that the museum will help foster and maintain this understanding for ``as long as the rivers shall run and the grass shall grow.'' The designing of the National Museum of the American Indian was indicative of the cooperative and inclusive process that the Federal Government should always use when working with Native American tribes. I am proud of the collaborative efforts of all of the people who worked to make this museum a success, and I welcome the many Utahns who join me in celebrating this joyous occasion.”