Native American Heritage Month
After nearly a century of advocacy, November was recognized as National American Indian Heritage Month through a Joint Resolution by Congress in 1990.
Today, November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Native American Heritage Month is a special opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of American Indian women from hundreds of diverse nations and tribes within the United States. Since 1925, Native Americans have held dual citizenship as citizens of their nation or tribe and US citizenship. Too often the story of Native Americans is told only in the past tense. Often it is a distorted story told from the viewpoint of prejudice and ignorance.
The National Women’s History Project invites you to move past the stereotype of Pocahontas and learn about the extraordinary work of women like Mary Brant, an Iroquois leader during colonial times, the LaFleshe sisters of the Omaha nation, Sarah Winnemucca of the Paiute nation, and countless other Native women who became cultural bridges in helping their people survive conquest. Or contemporary American Indian women like La Donna Harris, who is the President and Founder of Americans for Indian Opportunity, a national inter-tribal organization devoted to developing the economic opportunities and resources of Indians. We also remember the late Ada Deer, who led the movement for the Menomonee nation to regain their tribal lands and to overturn termination.
Twelve Women to Know for Native American Heritage Month
Indigenous People’s Day is October 9
Although it is not a federal holiday, 17 states — including Washington, South Dakota and Maine — as well as Washington, D.C., have holidays honoring Native Americans, some of which are on the second Monday in October (Columbus Day), according to the Pew Research Center. From Alcatraz Island to a park in New York City, Native American people celebrate their centuries-long history of resilience with ceremonies, dances and speeches. “When we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day in place of Columbus Day, it shows a victory for Indigenous people.”
Things to know about Indigenous People’s Day