SJ0001 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0001 LRB095 07527 KXB 27676 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The People of the Mountains and their descendants can legitimately claim their Cherokee ancestry and heritage in all capacities, both public and private; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we support the People of the Mountains in their efforts to become a federally-recognized Cherokee Tribe; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the efforts of the People of the Mountains to be allowed free access once each year to the Trail of Tears State Forest, including camp sites, to honor their ancestors who died there; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the efforts of the People of the Mountains to be allowed free access once each year during the third weekend in May to Pere Marquette State Park, including camp sites, in order to have the opportunity to view the sacred bald eagle in Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we support the efforts of the People of the Mountains to be permitted to possess sacred items, such as eagle feathers, hawk feathers, and turtle rattles, so long as they are acquired without harming the animals that are the sources of those items.