Native American Heritage Month

 This November, the United States is celebrating National Native American Heritage Month. We recognize the contributions of Native Americans and honor their Tribal sovereignty. President Joe Biden made his proclamation declaring this month's celebration, stating: 

"Today, Native Americans are essential to the fabric of the United States...They continue to steward so many of our great lands. Their contributions to science, humanities, arts, public service, and more have brought prosperity for all of us. Their diverse cultures and communities continue to thrive and lead us forward."

Learn more about the origin and celebrations regarding Native American Heritage Month below!

Origin of Native American Heritage Month

The history of Native American Heritage Month stems back to American Indian Day. Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a director of the Museum of Arts and Science in New York, was one of the major proponents of this day. Dr. Parker began this mission through helping create "First Americans" day through the Boy Scouts of America, which they declared for three years. In 1915, the Congress of the American Indian Association approved a plan for American Indian Day, and they directed their president to call "upon the country" to observe this day. 

The first American Indian Day celebrated in a state was in May 1916 in New York; several states followed. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush designated November 1990 as National Native American Heritage Month. Similar proclamations have been made since 1994. 

The Native American Heritage Month site is a collaborative project with:

• Library of Congress
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Gallery of Art
• National Park Service
• Smithsonian Institution
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

Exhibits & Collections

There are numerous exhibits and collections regarding Native American Heritage Month in federal various agencies and departments. Read below for some highlights.

• Featured Content - Library of  Congress

• Social Media Blogs
• "American Folklife Center"
• "Unfolding History"
• "Picture This"
• National Archives
• Acknowledging the Ancestral Lands on which National Archives stand
• "Meet Black Bull: A Story of Blackfeet Genealogy"
• National Park Service
• American Indian Heritage Gateway
• Sexual and Gender Diversity in Native America and the Pacific Islands 
• Tribal Preservation Program 

Another collection and resource is the Indigenous Digital Archive's Treaties Portal from the National Archives. It provides access to copies of ratified Indian Treaties, as does the Tribal Treaties Database at OSU.

Educator Resources

To provide educational materials and resources, the Native American Heritage Month site offers various resources and guides. The resources include:

• Celebrating Native American Veterans with Oral Histories and Primary Sources
• American Indians - Primary Sources and Ready-to-Use Teaching Activities
• Interactive Lesson: A Cheyenne Odyssey
• Teaching with Historic Places
• Trail of Tears: Music of the American Indian Diaspora

Extra Resources

Native American Heritage Month Events

White House Native American Heritage Month Proclamation

_________________________________________________________

Eager to know more? Start here.

Government Information Online is produced by the staff at the Oklahoma State University Libraries Government Documents Department, a regional depository for U.S. Government and Oklahoma state government documents. We are located on the 5th floor of the Edmon Low Library. Our department website can be reached at www.info.library.okstate.edu/government-documents.