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November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of Native peoples who continue to live and prosper today. It’s a time to spark or re-energize learning, reflection, and action that can be carried out through the entire year. 

We are often asked to share resources that can support this kind of a journey into learning and action. With over 574 federally recognized tribes and numerous other tribal entities on these lands, no simple collection of resources can capture the diversity of Indigenous experiences and perspectives. With that in mind, we offer the following resources that we hope might support your journey into learning about Native American Heritage and taking action to address harms. 

Learn

Learn About Native American Culture

A powerful starting point for learning by focusing on the knowledge, power, cultures, and resilience of Indigenous people. The National Native American Heritage Month website offers resources for exploring Native American history and culture. You also may be interested to learn about the significant contributions of Native Americans to our nation’s history. What was the impact of Native American systems of governance on the design of the U.S. Constitution? How is TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) impacting science and practice today? 

Among the many opportunities for learning throughout this post, the National Museum of the American Indian provides interactive virtual, print, and onsite opportunities for learning dedicated to “acting] as a resource for the hemisphere’s Native communities and to serving the greater public as an honest and thoughtful conduit to Native cultures—present and past—in all their richness, depth, and diversity” (About the Museum).

Learn About the History of Native Peoples on Your Land

Did you know the very place you are standing on has nurtured generations of Native people? Native-land.ca is a useful resource to determine the tribal people whose lands we are on and the treaties that have impacted Native sovereignty. 

Learn About Colonization

While often a more difficult learning journey, there are significant issues you can explore about the legacy of colonization, such as the roles played by the Doctrine of Discovery and Manifest Destiny, the practice and impact of Indian boarding schools, the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and current movements for Land Back and Rematriation. 

Learn from Local Tribes and Communities

Engaging directly with Native communities allows you to hear firsthand accounts, learn from their experiences, and acknowledge their resiliency. After taking time to learn on your own about the history of both their peoples and of the ways that federal Indian law historically and currently impacts their sovereignty, participate in events and educational programs hosted by tribes and Native organizations throughout the year, especially during Native American Heritage Month. Visit your local museums, cultural centers, universities, and galleries for events such as lectures, workshops, and exhibitions. 

Take Action

Learning about Native American heritage and current events can be an important and fulfilling process. It is our hope that you also find ways to take action in support of Indigenous peoples. 

Share What You Have Learned

Help to educate those around you by sharing what you’ve learned with your peers, friends and family, and encourage them to explore Native American Heritage Month resources. By spreading awareness, we can foster a greater understanding and respect for Native cultures and histories.

Support Indigenous Businesses

Another meaningful way to support Native communities is by purchasing from Native-owned businesses. Whether it’s buying handmade jewelry, artwork, or traditional foods, your support helps sustain these enterprises and keeps cultural traditions alive. Many non-Native owned businesses sell “Native inspired” items without ever working directly with Native people. Try engaging with businesses that include inspired Natives, not those who are Native inspired.

Create an Action Plan

Many individuals and organizations have started their efforts by adopting the practice of land acknowledgements at the beginning of events. While this can be a genuine expression of concern and responsibility and it can help participants in their learning journeys, land acknowledgements should not be the only action an individual or an organization takes. This resource offers insights into how to undertake land acknowledgements with intentionality–A guide to Indigenous land acknowledgment–while this short video–Beyond Land Acknowledgement–and this guide–Beyond Land Acknowledgment: A Guide–explains how we can do more by creating and carrying out an action plan. 

Ask How Your Local Schools Teach about Indigeneity

Schools remain a key conveyor of information to Native and non-Native youth and families. Look into the curriculum and activities offered by your schools. The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was formed by Native educators in 1969 to encourage a national discourse on Native education; their site provides insights into issues you can look into in your schools. 

As you look into the curriculum, this blog remains a favorite place to find analyses of Indigenous peoples in children’s and young adult books–American Indians in Children’s Literature. The Smithsonian’s Museum National Museum of the American Indian has an impressive Native Knowledge 360° Education Initiative full of classroom resources, interactive collections, and teacher professional development opportunities.

It is especially important to know that, instead of Thanksgiving, many Native American and Indigenous people and allies have been observing a National Day of Mourning since 1970 to honor the many lives lost due to forced relocation, boarding schools, and abuses of the land and its people. However, many schools continue to teach harmful myths about Thanksgiving and ask students to celebrate the holiday in offensive ways. Ask how schools engage with the traditional Thanksgiving holiday and offer resources they can use to replace harmful lessons with more truthful lessons. Write letters to your superintendents and school boards, such as this letter by the Marion Alliance for Racial Equity asking for action and sharing resources, including the following:

• Native educators say Thanksgiving lessons can be accurate, respectful, and still fun—here’s how
• Teaching Thanksgiving in a Socially Responsible Way
• Teacher Toolkit by Plimoth Patuxet Museums, including Unit 5, Giving Thanks. 

Advocate for Native American Rights

Taking action means not only educating yourself but also advocating for Native American rights and sovereignty. Get involved in campaigns that support Indigenous rights developed by Indigenous people. Support legislation that benefits Native communities and stay informed about current issues affecting Native peoples. The following campaigns and organizations not only support your learning but provide opportunities to take action: 

• National Indian Education Association
  • In addition to providing background information on key issues, the NIEA also has a section of their site dedicated to federal policy advocacy about education. 
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 
  • The NCAI Policy Issues pages provide updates on policy and opportunities for advocacy.
• First Nations Development Institute
  • While their entire site is instructive, their Knowledge Center allows you to search by keywords and topics in order to focus your actions.  
• National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
  • The NIWRC “Take Action” page provides updates on opportunities for advocacy and a form you can complete to have updates sent via email and optionally via text message. 

Support Native-led Organizing

In addition to the organizations linked above, you can support Native-led organizing by donating to, showing up at, and participating in calls to action by Indigenous organizers. 

• Great Plains Action Society
  • The Great Plains Action Society is a Native-led organization working to address social, political, and environmental issues impacting Indigenous communities in the Great Plains region.
• IllumiNative
  • Dedicated to increasing the visibility of Native peoples, IllumiNative works to challenge harmful stereotypes and elevate Native voices through educational campaigns and cultural celebrations.
• InterTribal Buffalo Council
  • The InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC) is a Native-led organization dedicated to restoring buffalo to Tribal lands to promote cultural and ecological revitalization.
• Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
  • A premier legal organization advancing Native rights in areas such as voting rights, tribal sovereignty, and natural resource protection. 
• Native Organizers Alliance (NOA)
  • A Native-women-led network focusing on grassroots organizing and advocacy for Indigenous communities. They emphasize Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.
• Redbud Resource Group 
  • The Redbud Resource Group is a Native-led nonprofit that focuses on improving public health outcomes for Indigenous communities through education and partnerships.

Pay Voluntary Land Taxes

As part of your action plan, you can Voluntary Land Taxes or Honor Taxes directly to Native nations and/or organizations. 

 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month is a chance to honor the past, acknowledge the present, and look forward to a more inclusive and Indigenous future. Let’s commit to learning, supporting, and advocating alongside Native communities, not just in November, but throughout the year.