November is Native American Heritage Month
November represents a time to celebrate the rich cultures and traditions as well as acknowledge the important contributions of our Native peoples. Native American Heritage Month serves to educate the general public and raise awareness about the challenges that Native people have historically faced and continue to face in the present. It is a time to recognize and honor their triumphs and conquests. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is the oldest bureau in the Department of the Interior established in 1824 and provides services to 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. There are currently 574 recognized tribes in the United States.
Historical Timeline
- The first “American Indian Day” is declared on the second Saturday of May, 1916 by New York Governor Charles S. Whitman
- President Gerald Ford declares October 10-16, 1976 “Native American Awareness Week”
- Congress issues Proclamation 5577 on November 24th, 1986 which declares November 23-30 “American Indian Week”
- In 1990 Congress pass and President George H. W. Bush sign into law a joint resolution designating the month of November as the first “National American Indian Heritage Month”
- In 2008 the language is changed to include Alaskan native
What does Native American Heritage Month mean to you?
Join us as we sit down with our very own graphic designer, Mitch Parker, who is of Native American decent as he explains what makes the month of November so special, how his culture has shaped his career, and what he thinks everyone should know about Native Americans.
