The month of November is nationally recognized as Native American Heritage Month; a time to celebrate the culture, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans, and to recognize the hardships they have endured historically.
Native American Heritage Month came about in 1990, when President Geroge H.W. Bush signed a joint resolution recognizing November as the time to remember and celebrate these amazing people.
The joint resolution outlines some of the positive contributions Native Americans made in the U.S., with a goal of providing pride in young Native Americans.
Along with the whole month of November, Native American heritage is celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving every year.
This year, Native American Heritage Day falls on Friday, November 26.
Although celebrated by people all over the world, Thanksgiving is a sad time for those of Native American descent.
According to nativehope.org, “It’s important to know that for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest since it commemorates the arrival of settlers in North America and the centuries of oppression and genocide that followed after.”
Therefore, use Native American Heritage Month/Day as an opportunity to research and appreciate the beautiful Native American culture, and learn about all of the challenges they have had to face in the past and present, especially as Thanksgiving comes closer.
