Native American Heritage Month
Can you tell me more about Native American Heritage Month?
National Native American Heritage Month celebrates the culture, contributions, and heritage of Native Americans. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “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.
National Native American Heritage Month is also a time to educate the public about native American tribes, raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced, and to illuminate the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
Native American Food Sovereignty
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, join us in highlighting how Native communities are taking control over their food sources and production by revitalizing traditional, healthy, and localized food sources.
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to start your own Salvia columbariae plant and explore its cultural uses among various Native groups.
This event has multiple dates and locations throughout November. View our events list below to find the program nearest your location.
Reading Recommendations
Native American Heritage Month Book Talks
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we’re happy to recommend lots of excellent reads featuring items in our American Indian Resource Center collection.
Explore the Native American Heritage Month Book Talk Playlist on YouTube.
Activity Ideas
Yankton Dakota Artist Mary Sully
Yankton Dakota artist Mary Sully (1896-1963) was a largely self-taught artist known for her modern abstract style of symmetrical geometrical shapes. Create your own inspired artwork with tissue paper using this tutorial video. Contact your local library for related in-person programs and pick up a kit at participating locations. For adults.
Additional Activities
Native American Heritage Month Resources
Learning About Land Acknowledgements (Teens)
The American Indian Resource Center (AIRC) at Huntington Park Library was established in 1979 to address informational needs of American Indians in Los Angeles County and to make information about them available to the larger community. Help us transcribe letters from our collection that were recently digitized.
Additional Information
Native American Heritage Month
- Native American Heritage Month Playlist on Kanopy
– A collection of films celebrating and honoring Native American history and heritage. - Native American Heritage Month
– Library of Congress website includes the history of the establishment of Native American Heritage Month. - Census Facts, Native American Heritage Month 2024
- National Museum of the American Indian
– Part of the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) cares for one of the world’s largest collections of Native artifacts.
NMAI operates 3 facilities and a large outreach department that includes websites, traveling exhibitions, and community programs.
Local Resources
- LA County Land Acknowledgment
- Short Overview of California Indian History
– Written by Professor Edward D. Castillo, Cahuilla-Luiseno, for the California Native American Heritage Commission. - Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission
– The mission of Los Angeles City/County Native American Commission (NAIC) is twofold: 1. increase the acquisition and local application of federal funds and 2. represent the special interests and concerns of Native Americans in the Los Angeles City and County. Visitors to the NAIC website can connect to local tribal governments, regional Native American organizations, and various federal and state departments. - UCLA Mapping Indigenous LA
Other Resources
- Conversations: Land Acknowledgements
- Indigenous Digital Archive’s Treaties Explorer
- Native Knowledge 360°
– For teachers and students, Native Knowledge 360° incorporates Native perspectives on Native American history and cultures. - National Archives – Native American Heritage
- National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
- PBS Native American Heritage Collection
