November is Native American Heritage Month which helps present the culture, traditions, and achievements of the nation’s original inhabitants and future descendants. The importance of recognizing Native American contributions and culture is to help put to rest hostile historical stereotypes once associated with their heritage and culture.
In 1990, former President George W. Bush approved a joint resolution making November “National American Indian Heritage Month,” or as we know it today, “Native American Heritage Month.” But don’t worry. Many have been used over the past 500 years, so what is the correct terminology? “American Indian, Indian, Native American, Indigenous, or Native. All of these terms are acceptable,” the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) writes.
This month still has to share the hardship Native Americans have gone through; 200 years of land theft and forced assimilation by the government endangered the existence of many Indian nations. “The Land Acknowledgement Statement refers to more than a dozen Native groups who in the late 18th and early 19th centuries controlled the land that eventually became the state of Illinois,” Professor Emeritus T. Bassett explains. “Indeed, when Illinois became the 21st state on December 3, 1818, Indian Nations still legally owned a large part of this territory.”
Celebrating the culture, traditions, and achievements of Native American and Alaska Native communities is essential for honoring their histories and contributions. This celebration not only acknowledges the rich heritage of these communities but also provides a platform for each generation to learn and grow, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their unique stories and experiences. By recognizing and honoring their legacies, we create a more inclusive society that values diversity and promotes unity.
Many Native American words have become an everyday part of our lives. These include barbecue, caribou, chipmunk, woodchuck, hammock, toboggan, skunk, mahogany, hurricane, and moccasin, as well as towns, cities, and rivers having names of Native American origin. Native Americans developed many innovations from kayaks, protective goggles, and baby bottles to birth control, genetically modified food crops, and analgesic medications that enabled them to survive and flourish wherever they lived.
