Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. This month provides the opportunity to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
A Little History...
Native American Heritage Month has evolved from its beginnings as a week-long celebration in 1986, when President Reagan proclaimed the week of November 23-30, 1986 as "American Indian Week." In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Every President since 1995 has issued annual proclamations designating the month of November as the time to celebrate the culture, accomplishments, and contributions of people who were the first inhabitants of the United States.
The goal of our recognition month is to expand our knowledge of the history of American Indians and to also highlight accurate depictions of their lives today.
A Few Fun Facts: Did you know that?
- As of 2022, 2.09% of the U.S. population identified as American Indian or Alaska Native, which is around 6.79 million Americans.
- There are about 574 federally recognized Native American tribes in the U.S.
- There are no federally recognized Indian tribes in Pennsylvania, although the most recent census reports an American Indian population of more than 12,000. The Lenape continue to have a modern presence and are working to preserve the heritage of the Algonquian-speaking tribes of eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.
- The two largest Native American tribes are Cherokee Nation and Navajo Nation.
- Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924, when Congress enacted the Native American Citizenship Act. This is the same year Native people were given the right to vote but not in all 50 states. It was not until the Voter Rights Act of 1965 that the federal government addressed Native Americans' right to vote on a federal level.
- Rubber, corn, kayaks and mouthwash are inventions created by Native Americans. Interested in others? Check them out HERE.
- The U.S. Constitution draws inspiration from the Iroquois Confederacy's "Great Law of Peace."
Books with Authentic Images and Representations of Native Americans
- PBS- Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month
- Learn about Indigenous Cuisine and Foods from Native Chefs
- This collection of documentaries and programs explores stories of Native chefs and communities uplifting their Indigenous cultures through traditional cuisine and foodways. You can also find recipes you can try at home and discussions of why food sovereignty is key to carrying on Indigenous cultures
National Museum of American Indian - Smithsonian
History of American Indians
Why We Serve - Native Americans in the Armed Forces -National Museum of American Indian
American Indians Today
- American Indian Tribes Today: Indigenous Artistry
- One of the featured artists is Leonard Harmon, a citizen of the Lenape Tribe of New Jersey and the Nanticoke Tribe of Delaware.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving- Resources from the National Museum of the American Indian
Five Ideas to Change Teaching about Thanksgiving, in Classrooms and at Home
Native educators say Thanksgiving lessons can be accurate, respectful, and still fun—here’s how: NEA Article
American Indians Perspectives on Thanksgiving - Resources and Lesson Plan Ideas- Grades 4-8
What Educators Need to Know about Teaching Thanksgiving- NPR
Teaching Thanksgiving in a Socially Responsible Way - Learning for Justice