Ancient heritage, modern society

Before the arrival of European settlers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited most areas of the Australian continent. They spoke one or more of hundreds of separate languages and dialects, and their lifestyles and cultural traditions differed from region to region. Their complex social systems and highly developed traditions reflect a deep connection with the land.

Asian and Oceanic mariners and traders were in contact with Indigenous Australians for many centuries before the era of European expansion. Some formed substantial relationships with communities in northern Australia.

Seat Belt Use at Record Level in 2008

More Americans are buckling up than ever before, Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said Sept. 17. In 2008, 83 percent of all vehicle occupants are using seat belts during daylight hours — up from 82 percent in 2007, according to NHTSA. “We have seen seat belt use rising steadily every year and that means more and more lives are being saved and countless serious injuries prevented,” said Peters. NHTSA estimates approximately 270 lives are saved for every one percent increase in belt use.

Industrial, Aerospace, and Marine Painting

The GSA Schedule 03 FAC offers a wide range of services for surface preparation and application of chemical compounds. The applications may be used on federal equipment, machinery, ships, aircraft, and vehicles. Please note that this does not include passenger cars, trucks, or buses.

Surface Preparation:

Services related to the preparation for application of chemical compounds and support training/consultation services as they pertain to preparation for and could include, but are not limited to:

* Abrasive air, wet, micro or wheel blasting;
* Vibratory and mass finishing;
* Shot peening;
* Lapping and grinding;
* Drag or high energy barrel finishing;
* Mechanical scarification;
* Acid etching;
* Ultrasonic.

Application of Chemical Compounds:

These services include painting and sealant application on ships, aircraft, vehicles and other equipment or machinery surface that requires application of chemical compound, such as paint, sealant, coatings, or adhesives. These services could include, but are not limited to:

* Bridge painting;
* Electrostatic painting;
* Engineering structure (e.g., oil storage tank, water tower) painting;
* Aluminum coating;
* Bonderizing, chasing, enameling, enameling, etching, flocking, galvanizing;
* Glazing, hot dip galvanizing, japanning, lacquering, parkerizing;
* Powder coating, rust proofing, sherardizing, or varnishing.

Identifying Arts and Crafts Made by Alaska Natives

Any item produced after 1935 that is marketed with terms like "Indian, "Native American," or "Alaska Native" must have been made by a member of a state or federally-recognized tribe or a certified non-member Indian artisan. That’s the law.
A certified Indian artisan is an individual certified by the governing body of the tribe of his or her descent as a non-member Indian artisan.

For example, it would violate the law to advertise products as "Inupiaq Carvings" if the products were produced by someone who isn’t a member of the Inupiaq tribe or certified in writing by the tribal governing body as a non-member Alaska Native artisan of the Inupiaq people.

Qualifiers like "ancestry," "descent," and "heritage" - used in connection with the terms "Indian," "Alaska Native," or the name of a particular Indian tribe - do not mean that the craftsperson is a member of an Indian tribe or certified by a tribe. For example, "Native American heritage" or "Yupik descent" would mean that the artist is of descent, heritage' or ancestry of the tribe. These terms may be used only if they are truthful.