The month of November is annually dedicated to celebrating National Native American Heritage in the United States. During this month, Indigenous people and communities are honored and celebrated for their rich and varied cultures, traditions, histories and societal contributions. November has, therefore, become an opportunity to increase our knowledge of the unique challenges faced by this population and to understand how historical and current issues have impacted Indigenous peoples.
Dating back to as early as 1916, when New York became the first state to declare an “American Indian Day,” efforts have been made to acknowledge the many contributions and achievements of Native peoples. Most recently, in 2022, the Department of the Interior committed to revitalizing Indigenous connections and celebrate Indigenous cultures by undertaking a historic renaming effort. Taking the time to recognize the essential and unique contributions made by Native Americans to the United States and the world at large is one way of honoring the past and paying tribute to the journey and developments.
