Happy Father's Day from the Native News Network

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – Fathers are important in the lives of the children. Historically in American Indian family living, fathers taught their children tribal traditions.

John Anthony with New Year's Twins - Lakota Sioux

Even today, it is a wonderful thing to watch young fathers at powwows take their children by the hand and lead them into the dance circle.

It is a wonderful thing to watch fathers exhibit leadership within the family circle.

The idea of Father's Day was conceived slightly more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm. A day in June was chosen for the first Father's Day celebration June 17, 1910, proclaimed by Spokane&339;s mayor because it was the month of Smart's birth.

The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Father's Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

How Many Fathers?

70.1 million

Estimated number of fathers across the nation.

24.7 million

Number of fathers who were part of married-couple families with children younger than 18 in 2011.

21 percent were raising three or more children younger than 18, among married-couple family households only

3 percent lived in someone else's home

1.7 million

Number of single fathers in 2011; 15 percent of single parents were men.

10 percent were raising three or more children younger than 18.

About 45 percent were divorced, 31 percent were never married, 19 percent were separated, and 5 percent were widowed.

38 percent had an annual family income of $50,000 or more.

posted June 16, 2012 9:20 am edt