National American Indian Heritage Month Explained

Holiday Name:National American Indian Heritage Month
Observedby:United States
Nickname:Native American Heritage Month
Frequency:Annual
Date:November
Firsttime:November 1990

On August 3, 1990, President of the United States George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month, also referred to as Native American Heritage Month. The bill read in part that "The President has authorized and requested to call upon Federal, State and local Governments, groups and organizations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities". This landmark bill honoring America's tribal people represented a major step in the establishment of this celebration which began in 1976 when a Cherokee/Osage Indian named Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle authored Native American Awareness Week legislation the first historical week of recognition in the nation for native peoples. This led to 1986 with then President Ronald Reagan proclaiming November 23–30, 1986, as "American Indian Week".[1]

This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people in the United States of America to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways and concepts of life. This gives Native people the opportunity to express to their community, both city, county and state officials their concerns and solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in their local area. Federal Agencies are encouraged to provide educational programs for their employees regarding Native American history, rights, culture and contemporary issues, to better assist them in their jobs and for overall awareness.

History of public observances for American Indians

Current designation

Previous designations

Proclamations

In 1976, a Cherokee Indian named J.C. Elliott-High Eagle authored the historic first week of awareness and recognition for native American Indian and Alaska natives. The week of ceremonies and activities were held in October. In 2012,[2] 2013,[3] [4] 2014,[5] 2015[6] and 2016[7] President Barack Obama made a Presidential proclamation on the 31st of October of each year that each respective November would be National Native American Heritage Month.

In 2017[8] [9] [10] and 2018[11] and 2019[12] President Donald Trump made a Presidential proclamation on the 31st of October of each year that each respective November would be National Native American Heritage Month.

Legislation

A Cherokee American Indian, J.C. Elliott-High Eagle, authored (S.J. Res. 209) for American Indian Awareness Week, October 10–16, 1976, signed by President Gerald R. Ford. This became the first official week of national recognition for the American Indian (Proclamation 4468) since the founding of the nation.[13]

Controversy

On October 31, 2019, President Donald Trump also proclaimed November as National American History and Founders Month[14] to celebrate the first European founders and settlers of America. Some journalists suggested National American History and Founders Month is an attempt to subvert attention from National Native American Heritage Month[15] and stifle the indigenous voice[16] by announcing a celebration that can be viewed as opposing and contradictory to what National Native American Heritage Month is supposed to highlight and honor.[17] [18]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What To Watch: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month 2020. PBS.
  2. News: Office of the Press Secretary. Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2012. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2012. November 5, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  3. News: Office of the Press Secretary. President Barack Obama Proclaims November 2013 as National Native American Heritage Month. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2013. November 6, 2017. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  4. News: National Native American Heritage Month, 2013. Federal Register. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2013. November 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107113450/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/11/05/2013-26677/national-native-american-heritage-month-2013. November 7, 2017. Alt URL
  5. News: Office of the Press Secretary. Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2014. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2014. November 5, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  6. News: Office of the Press Secretary. Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2015. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2015. November 5, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  7. News: Office of the Press Secretary. Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2016. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2016. November 5, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  8. News: Office of the Press Secretary. President Donald J. Trump Proclaims November 2017 as National Native American Heritage Month. Washington, D.C.. en. October 31, 2017. November 6, 2017. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  9. News: Trump's 'Pocahontas' jab at Elizabeth Warren draws the ire of Native Americans. Eugene. Scott. The Washington Post. Nash Holdings LLC. Washington, D.C.. November 3, 2017. November 6, 2017.
  10. News: National Native American Heritage Month, 2017. Federal Register. National Archives and Records Administration. Washington, D.C.. October 31, 2017. November 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107112809/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/06/2017-24295/national-native-american-heritage-month-2017. November 7, 2017. Alt URL
  11. News: Office of the Press Secretary. Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2018. Washington, D.C.. en. October 31, 2018. November 5, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  12. News: Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2019. Office of the Press Secretary. October 31, 2019. November 6, 2019. Washington, D.C.. en. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  13. Web site: Proclamation 4468—Native American Awareness Week, 1976. University of California, Santa Barbara. University of California. Santa Barbara, California. October 8, 1976. November 6, 2017.
  14. News: Office of the Press Secretary. Presidential Proclamation on National American History and Founders Month, 2019. Washington, D.C.. en. October 31, 2019. November 5, 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. White House Office of the Press Secretary.
  15. News: Armus. Teo. November is Native American Heritage Month. Critics say Trump is subverting it with a new celebration of the Founding Fathers.. Washington Post. en. November 5, 2019. November 6, 2019.
  16. News: The Associated Press. Trump Honors Native Americans, US Founders in Same Month. The New York Times. New York, New York. en. November 5, 2019. November 6, 2019. The Associated Press.
  17. News: Connor. Jay. Trump Gives National American Indian Heritage Month an All Lives Matter Makeover That Nobody Is Here For. theroot.com. The Root. en. November 5, 2019. November 6, 2019.
  18. News: Lennard. Natasha. Trump Says Native Americans' Heritage Month Is Also for the White Men Who Stole Their Land. theintercept.com. The Intercept. en. November 6, 2019. November 6, 2019.

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