November is Native American Heritage Month

November commemorates Native American Heritage Day, also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, and November 24 is proclaimed Native American Heritage Day. In 1986, President Reagan proclaimed November 23-30 as American Indian Week, which would typically fall alongside Thanksgiving in the United States. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”), have been issued each year since 1994. This is a time to honor the contributions of the people who were the first inhabitants of North America. It is also a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native people.  

Despite a harrowing history marked by unjust federal policies of assimilation and termination, American Indian and Alaska Native peoples have persevered. Currently, about 6.79 million Native Americans in the United States face extraordinary challenges by all measures: social, cultural, economic, and physical. Patterns of struggle uniquely and negatively impact Native American communities and families. While it is essential to be positive and hopeful about the future of Native Americans’ life, it is also important to have a genuine and clear understanding of the challenges and struggles of Indigenous people individually and collectively. During this Indigenous heritage month and beyond, let us take the time to honor the Native American community by educating ourselves and the public about the tribes, raising awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and presently, and learning about how tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. We invite you to explore the links below and learn more about Indigenous people’s culture, life, and struggles. 

Learn more: 

https://www.ncai.org/

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ana/resource-library?f%5B0%5D=type%3Afact_sheet

https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/about/

https://www.iloveny.com/blog/post/celebrate-native-american-heritage-month-in-new-york-state/

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/native-american-heritage-month 

https://blog.nativehope.org/celebrating-native-american-heritage-month

By PAMELA JIMENEZ
PAMELA JIMENEZ Program Director for the Center for Social Justice