The California Valley Miwok Tribe (located at 10601 Escondido Place, Stockton, CA 95212) on December 17th, 2009, received a holiday greeting addressed specifically to the chairperson of our tribe, Silvia Burley. The card was sent from the White House in Washington, D.C., and personally signed by President of the United States, Barack Obama and his lovely wife, First Lady Michelle Obama.

These are tumultuous and ever-changing times for our President and one can only guess of the complexity of his schedule and of the difficult decisions he must be making on a daily basis, so to know that he and his family took a moment to send a greeting to our chairperson, acknowledging her and our tribe during this holiday season, should be considered a source of inspiration to all Native American peoples as it is to our tribe that this president even with all he endures, finds the time to reflect and remember us Native Americans during this holiday season.

To the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama and our nation’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, we thank you; this card means more to our chairperson and our tribe than the words written here can express.

1. Card from the White House, Christmas 2009