PRESIDENT CLINTON RECEIVES GENUINE EAGLE FEATHER WAR BONNET FROM THREE AFFILIATED TRIBES CHAIRMAN TEX HALL.

A genuine eagle feather war bonnet was presented to President Clinton in a traditional ceremony in the Oval Office by Chairman Tex G. Hall of the Three Affiliated Tribes.

Washington, DC - Chairman Tex G. Hall of the Three Affiliated Tribes in North Dakota was among 20 tribal leaders who met Friday, February 25, in the Oval Office of the White House with President Clinton to discuss the FY 2001 budget in Indian Country.

     After the meeting, Chairman Hall presented a genuine war bonnet, made with eagle feathers to the President in a traditional ceremony. Chairman Hall explained to President Clinton that after consulting with elders and spiritual leaders of the Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation, (the Three Affiliated Tribes), it was decided to present the President with the genuine war bonnet. A genuine war bonnet is normally given only to those Indian leaders who display the highest honor and courage on behalf of their people. Chairman Hall said the presentation of the (maa-ishu apuga) sacred war bonnet by the Plains Indians is a very high honor. "Only our chiefs wore genuine eagle feather war bonnets". An individual has to earn the right to wear the war bonnet. I consulted with my people and we decided the President has earned the right to wear the war bonnet because of his commitment to Indian people. In his budget which he presented to Congress last month the President, says Chairman Hall, has shown his commitment to Indian Country by asking Congress for $1.2 billion for health, education and housing for all indigenous people in this country. The need in Indian Country is much higher but this is definitely a step toward fulfilling our unmet needs, Hall said.

     "President Clinton has shown a deep commitment to the indigenous people of this great country. It is my hope that whoever follows him will show the same commitment and that this Congress will follow through with the President's initiatives", said Chairman Hall.

     'The war bonnet presented to President Clinton by the people of the Three Affiliated Tribes, was presented on behalf of all the indigenous people in this country. We wanted to acknowledge the unique relationship that exists between Indian tribes and the federal government", Hall said. "It is a traditional way to give thanks to the President for his work in Indian Country."

     As Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association, Hall represents the Three Affiliated Tribes and 15 other tribes in the Great Plains, in South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska.

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