Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage month, dedicated to remembering and honoring the 500+ Native American tribes that populate this country. It is also a day to reflect on the historical, and current, injustices enacted upon these tribes.

This commemorative idea was first spearheaded by Dr. Arthur C. Parker of the Seneca Nation. He pushed for National Native American Heritage Day between 1912 and 1915. Originally called “American Indian Day,” he had hoped for it to be recognized within the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1990, President Bush signed into legislation the law put forth by Congressman Joe Baca, to assign the day after Thanksgiving as “American Indian Heritage Day.” Later, the law would be renewed as the “Native American Heritage Day Resolution” by Barack Obama. This law was supported by 184 federally recognized tribes and the National Indian Gaming Association. However, while the entire month is now viewed by many as a dedication to Native Americans, there is some concern in the community about the official, legally recognised Day landing the day after Thanksgiving. Brian Perry, of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, states:

“As a Native American, I feel slighted. The day after Thanksgiving? Almost an afterthought. With November being Native American Heritage Month, there are 28 other days to select from with of course Thanksgiving having its long established day to itself. Why must we take a backseat to Thanksgiving? Why not the day before Thanksgiving? The day after Thanksgiving is one of the most irrelevant days of the year. Most people are off work, families travel, and there is very little in the news cycle. What is the day after Thanksgiving known as in America? Black Friday—not Native American Heritage Day. It is a day when the American consumer plots out the best bargains at the best retailers at the best times to contribute to the American GDP. Not a word or mention in the mainstream media about Native American Heritage Day, just videos of adults fist fighting at 4:00 in the morning in stores over the last trendy toy in stock for this year’s season of giving. Are we, Native Americans, the Forgotten America? Our voices unheard. When a national civil holiday occurs that hardly anyone knows about…I begin to wonder.”

If you would like to celebrate the many Native American tribes of North America this month, here are some ways you can do so:

• Research the tribes that lived in your state.
• Watch documentaries about different tribes and their histories
• Watch movies and media made by Native Americans (such as Reservation Dogs, Dark Winds, and more! Check out these lists: Teen Vogue list of Native American Movies or Rotten Tomatoes list of Native American movies)
• Listen to podcasts or audiobooks by Native American authors
• Buy art or jewelry from indigenous artists

Some non-indigenous communities mistakenly feel that by learning about Native American history, especially the tragedies enacted upon them, that they’re promoting this idea that non-indigenous people should be ashamed of their collective past. But the important thing to remember is that learning about history, no matter how tragic and shameful, is that it helps us to empathize and understand how we got where we are today and how we might rectify the situation and move forward together.

 

Image from Jacksonville Public Library