November – Native American Heritage Month 

National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. This November and every month, we celebrate the culture and heritage of these remarkable Americans who deeply enrich the quality and character of our Nation. We celebrate Indian Country with its remarkable diversity of American Indian and Alaska Native cultures and peoples while remembering and honoring our veterans who have sacrificed so much to defend our Nation. (bia.gov)

How to Observe National Native American Heritage Month

Learn about the Native Americans

Native American Heritage Month is an excellent way to learn about the history of American Indians. You can teach your children about the country’s past and how Native Americans have helped America.

Native American  |  Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History  |  Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress  |  Library of Congress

Visit museums

You can visit or take your kids to a museum or virtually visit it to show them artifacts and exhibits of the Native Americans’ jewelry, customs, and culture.

Native Footsteps | Visit CT (ctvisit.com)

Travel virtually to see other cultures

There are many cultural videos that you can watch on native culture like “Living Earth Festival”. If you or your kids are interested in learning about the Native American culture find a documentary or movie about it and watch it.

Five Astounding Facts About Native American Heritage

1. The last Indian
   Ishi was the last known surviving member of the Native American Yahi tribe.
2. The Sequoia tree
   The Sequoia tree is named in the honor of Cherokee leader Sequoyah.
3. American Natives referred to as Indians
   Although it has been 500 years, Native Americans are still often referred to as Indians.
4. The origin of the term ‘Indians’
   Christopher Columbus came up with the word ‘Indian’.
5. Names of the U.S. states
    The names of many U.S. states are derived from Amerindian words, such as Connecticut, Kentucky, and Arizona.

Trace Indian Ancestry

To determine if you are eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe, contact the tribe, or tribes, you claim ancestry from. It is the individual tribes who set tribal enrollment requirements. Additional information on tracing American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry can be found below:

Trace Indian Ancestry | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov)