was issued, Red Fox James, a
Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback
from state to state seeking approval
for a day to honor Indians. On
December 14, 1915, he presented
the endorsements of 24 state
governments at the White House.
There is no record, however, of
such a national day being
proclaimed.
The first American Indian Day in a
state was declared on the second
Saturday in May 1916 by the
governor of New York. Several
states celebrate the fourth Friday in
September. In Illinois, for example,
legislators enacted such a day in
1919. Presently, several states
have designated Columbus Day as
Native American Day, but it
continues to be a day we observe
without any recognition as a
national legal holiday.