Intro:
Since 1990, the United States recognizes November as Native American Heritage Month. People and communities all around the country come together to celebrate the culture of Native Americans and recognize the true history of native tribes in the US. By celebrating Native American Heritage Month, people are helping to raise awareness about the everyday struggles faced by Native Americans.
History:
Native American History Month is celebrated every November to honor the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. It was created to ensure that Native Americans’ stories are told accurately and that their significant role in the country is recognized.In the past, Native American history was often ignored or taught incorrectly in schools, many people learned only part of the story causing misunderstandings about Native communities. The Bureau of Indian Affairs states that this month is intended to celebrate “the traditions, languages, and stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities” and to acknowledge that their past, present, and future are all interconnected.
Even before the month became official, Native leaders worked hard to gain the recognition they deserve. In the early 1900s, Arthur C. Parker, a part-Seneca, advocated for honoring Native Americans with a special day. Around the same time, the Society of American Indians also supported efforts to raise awareness about Native peoples. Many states started their own celebrations, but it took years for the entire country to have an official observance. The National Congress of American Indians explains that Native nations have long advocated for their voices to be heard in education, government, and society. National recognition officially occurred in 1990 when Congress passed a resolution and the president signed it, designating November as the first National American Indian Heritage Month. The Library of Congress notes that this recognition came after decades of work by Native leaders and organizations to preserve and share their cultures. Today, schools, libraries, museums, tribes, and communities host events such as storytelling, art exhibits, music performances, and lessons about Native American leaders and achievements. The BIA also emphasizes that it is a time to remember challenges Native Americans have faced, including forced relocation, broken treaties, and attempts to erase Native cultures.
Throughout the month, it is essential to recognize that Native Americans are not a homogeneous group. There are over 570 federally recognized tribes, each with its unique language, traditions, and history. The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians note that this month increases visibility of tribal issues in schools, media, and public institutions. Many tribes maintain websites and programs to share their cultures directly with young people and learners.
Native American History Month also reminds everyone that Native Americans are a living part of today’s world. Native scientists, artists, teachers, soldiers, writers, and leaders continue to shape the country while preserving their heritage. The NCAI emphasizes that tribes are actively working to protect their rights and cultures in governance, education, and healthcare.
Simple actions, such as reading a book by a Native author, visiting a tribal museum, or learning about local tribal history, can help people gain a deeper understanding and greater respect for Native communities. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian encourages the use of correct terms and the recognition of each tribe individually, rather than grouping all Native Americans.
Native American History Month is a powerful reminder that learning about the first peoples of this land helps everyone become more informed, respectful, and connected to their history. It is a time to celebrate traditions, understand achievements and challenges, and recognize that Native communities are strong, vibrant, and essential to the nation’s past, present, and future. By listening, learning, and honoring Native voices, people can demonstrate respect and help preserve these crucial cultures for future generations.
Importance:
Native American History Month is an important time to recognize and learn about Native peoples and their long history in the United States. Many Native leaders explain that recognition is not just a simple idea—it’s something communities have struggled to receive for many years. Will Funmaker said, “I think it’s important that Natives are recognized, especially the historical aspects that have happened to tribes and tribal persons throughout the years, because without that recognition, people forget who we are and what we have gone through.” Funmaker continues “I’m not sure if I’m so concerned about one month. What I’m more concerned about is the state recognizing that tribes are here, and tribes need to be listened to and respected all year.” In places like Wisconsin, where tribes make up only a small part of the population, Funmaker add, “If tribes make up two to three percent of the whole population, you can get forgotten.” This month helps prevent that from happening.
Learning is one of the biggest goals of Native American History Month. Many people grow up without knowing even basic facts about the tribes around them. Native leaders say, “Know what the tribes are. Understand the historical places those tribes really came from. Learn their origins, their names, their locations, their population sizes.” When people understand these details, they gain a clearer picture of who their Native neighbors are and how long they have been connected to the land.
Native American History Month also helps people learn about the historical events that shaped Native communities. This includes the difficult truths, as one leader explained, “We’re talking about the historical context, including the forced relocation of different tribes throughout the region, and how those moves changed their lives.” These events have affected families, nations, and entire homelands. The month brings these topics forward again and reminds people, “These months put our history back in the forefront and say, ‘Here’s your obligation to remember, whether you’re part of the state or the federal government,’” said Funmaker.
Another issue is that many people do not get accurate information about Native history. Funmaker explained, “Where are you going to learn? Likely TV, maybe someone on the internet. But likely it’s not going to be accurate, and likely it’s going to be romanticized.” Because of this, people often grow up with the wrong ideas. Native American History Month encourages people to look for the real story instead of the made-up ones, this includes learning about harder topics, such as “the real story behind what we would say are genocidal aspects, what happened during contact with the Western European area,” which many schools never fully teach. These truths matter because they help people understand why some Native communities face challenges today.
This month also highlights the strength and presence of Native communities right now—not just in the past. Many Native people want the world to remember, “We’re still here. We’re not forgotten.” Celebrating this month helps show modern Native cultures, achievements, and traditions, it also helps Native youth feel proud and seen. For people who are not Native, it builds respect and helps them understand their Native neighbors in a more real way.
Another important part of this month is how it affects the future. Today’s students will someday be community leaders, teachers, lawmakers, or workers in important jobs. Some Natives explain, “These people will be future leaders. And maybe the little discussion I have about tribes today, when they’re the head of a department or working for the state or federal government, they might remember this discussion about tribal persons.” Even small lessons can influence how future leaders treat Native communities.
In the end, Native American History Month may seem like only a small step, but it is still a meaningful one. As one Native leader put it, “A month is a baby step. Hopefully, we’re able to regain a lot of sense of purpose.” While one month cannot fix every misunderstanding or repair every part of the past, it opens the door to better learning, deeper respect, and more honest conversations. By understanding both the history and the present-day lives of Native people, we help make sure their stories and identities are never forgotten.
Celebration/Education:
For Native American communities around Wisconsin and the United States, Native American Heritage Month serves as an opportunity to educate non-Native communities on the history of Native American tribes and bring awareness to the issues currently being faced by the tribes.
Under Wisconsin Education Act 31, all public schools in the state are required to provide instruction regarding “…the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian nations of Wisconsin.”
Wisconsin is home to 11 tribal nations and hundreds of organizations and non-profits that work to provide adequate resources to Native American families in need. Along with that, many also work with communities around the state to educate non-native people on the history of Native Americans.
One of these organizations in particular is First Nations Outreach, Inc. The mission of First Nations, as listed on their website, is “to provide resources to our American Indian and Alaskan Native families. To be a voice to advocate for our Indigenous Youth. To build a community, through developing a network that offers educational, cultural, social, and economic programs.”
According to Barbara Wisneski, the founder of First Nations Outreach Inc., “We give time to share our stories, our culture, and our traditions. We are here to support one another.”
Native American Heritage Month serves as a vital time for education on issues faced by Native communities, not only in Wisconsin but also nationally. First Nations Outreach, Inc. works closely with school districts to provide them with resources to use in the classroom.
“We design an educational program to their specific request… be it history, cultural, traditions, music, dance or covering current issues of Indigenous people.” Wisneski said.
Education on Indigenous history is not only important for non-Native communities, but also for indigenous people themselves. Just because someone identifies as Native American does not mean they know their history or their story.
“Due to the separation of families during the boarding school era, foster care, and adoption many Native individuals do not know their culture, tradition, language and sometimes even family.” Wisneski said.
For First Nations Outreach, Inc., Native American Heritage Month gives them an opportunity to talk and bring awareness to Native communities and educate the general public on issues that the communities face.
“It is a time when our voices may be heard, and indeed the fact that we are still here, and sadly to say we are still fighting the system.” Wisneski said.
When considering the importance of education about Native Americans, it is important to talk about more than the past. The issues that are currently faced by Native Americans also deserve to be addressed. Often times, there is a lot of misinformation regarding native communities, especially about their presence today.
“When you have a teacher comment in a classroom there are no Native Americans alive today there is definitely a need to educate the non native community about our history, not only from the past but bring it forward to issues we deal with today.” Wisneski said.
Other organizations that help assist in proper educational resources are Wisconsin First Nations, Wisconsin Indian Education Association and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Office of Tribal Relations.
Wisconsin First Nations works to provide educators with the resources needed to correspond with Act 31. The organization provides resources for all of Wisconsin’s tribal nations and for a variety of grade levels ranging from preschool to high school. Most of these resources can be accessed through their website.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Tribal Relations works closely with the tribal nations of Wisconsin to foster a strong connection between them and the university. The office provides resources for Native American students, professors, and other community members.
Educating the general public on Native American history, culture, and current issues is extremely important to maintaining the relationship between tribal nations and communities.
Collaboration:
For tribal communities around the state of Wisconsin, one of the most important factors about Native American Heritage month is collaboration with communities and the state government. During an address to the state legislature, Thomas Fowler, the chairman of the St.Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, talked about the importance of collaboration between the tribes and communities.
“My grandparents, great-grandparents and ancestors knew that a positive relationship between tribes and the state and federal governments could only strengthen our communities,” Fowler said.
At the moment, the tribal nations of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin state government work closely together to provide tribal nations and their people with the resources they need under the State-Tribal Consultation Initiative.
The Initiative, issued in 2004 and affirmed in 2019, recognized the government-to-government relationship between state and tribal governments and required the strengthening of the working between the two. As a result, policies that established a framework for interactions between the two were made with input from representatives from all of Wisconsin’s tribal nations. The initiative also ensures that any issues the tribal governments have with the state are addressed properly and thoroughly.
In Fowler’s address to the state legislature, he urged assembly members to advocate for more to be done about the missing and murdered indigenous women, among many other things including voting on bills that would allow native children to wear traditional regalia to graduation ceremonies, helping the environment, and others.
Another important aspect of collaboration with tribal nations is with communities. Many businesses, especially museums, theatres, and non-profits, around Wisconsin have special recognition for Native American Heritage Month. Whether this is through special exhibits, art pieces, or land acknowledgements.
The Milwaukee Public Museum has a featured exhibit: A Tribute to Survival. According to their website, “This exhibit’s overarching message is that Native Americans are still here and have survived and thrived against many attempts to eradicate and assimilate them into the dominant society.”
This is just one example of how communities are coming together to support Native American Heritage Month. While not exclusive to the month of November, many businesses, specifically in the greater Madison area, are starting to include or advertise land acknowledgements.
The Overture Center for the Arts in Madison started including a land acknowledgement statement prior to their shows and in their programs before the start of the pandemic. The statement reads, “Acknowledging Ho-Chunk Nation’s ancestral lands, Overture Center for the Arts celebrates the rich traditions, heritage and culture that thrived long before our arrival. Overture respectfully recognizes this Ho-Chunk land and affirms that we are better when we stand together.”
Statements like these are one of several ways communities have started to recognize the impact and history of the Native land that most of Wisconsin is built on. These statements have also furthered the collaboration between tribal nations and communities because it shows that businesses are welcoming of Native history.
The collaboration between Indigenous nations and communities and the state governments is essential to continue to bring awareness to Native communities and their history, culture and current issues.
Conclusion:
Native American Heritage Month serves as a time to recognize the history of Native Americans in the United States and celebrate their culture. Despite the historical conflicts between the United States and Indigenous people, tribal nations work closely with the federal and state governments to ensure their people are receiving all the resources they need.
