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National American Indian Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month event in Dallas (2024)
Also called	Native American Heritage Month
Observed by	United States
Date	November
Frequency	Annual
First time	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. 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".

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

• 101st United States Congress – Pub. L. 101–343, 104 Stat. 391 November 1990 National American Indian Heritage Month

Previous designations

• 101st Congress – Pub. L. 101–188, 103 Stat. 1351 December 3–9, 1989 (American Indian Week)
• 100th United States Congress – Pub. L. 100–450, 102 Stat. 1899, September 23–30, 1988 (American Indian Week)
• 100th Congress – Pub. L. 100–171, 101 Stat. 915, November 22–28, 1987 (American Indian Week)
• 99th United States Congress – Pub. L. 99–471, 100 Stat. 1199, November 23–30, 1986 (American Indian Week)
• 97th United States Congress – Pub. L. 97–445, 96 Stat. 2328, May 13, 1983 (American Indian Day)

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, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 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 and 2018 and 2019 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 Pub. L. 94–103, 89 Stat. 486 (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.

National American History and Founders Month

On October 31, 2019, President Donald Trump declared November as National American History and Founders Month to celebrate the first European founders and settlers of America.

See also

• Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Native American Day
• Native American Heritage Day

References

1. "What To Watch: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month 2020". PBS.
2. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2012). "Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2012". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via National Archives.
3. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2013). "President Barack Obama Proclaims November 2013 as National Native American Heritage Month". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 6, 2017 – via National Archives.
4. "National Native American Heritage Month, 2013". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. October 31, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017. Alt URL
5. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2014). "Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2014". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via National Archives.
6. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2015). "Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2015". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via National Archives.
7. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2016). "Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2016". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via National Archives.
8. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2017). "President Donald J. Trump Proclaims November 2017 as National Native American Heritage Month". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 6, 2017 – via National Archives.
9. Scott, Eugene (November 3, 2017). "Trump's 'Pocahontas' jab at Elizabeth Warren draws the ire of Native Americans". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Nash Holdings LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
10. "National Native American Heritage Month, 2017". Federal Register. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. October 31, 2017. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017. Alt URL
11. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2018). "Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2018". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via National Archives.
12. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2019). "Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2019". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 6, 2019 – via National Archives.
13. "Proclamation 4468—Native American Awareness Week, 1976". University of California, Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara, California: University of California. October 8, 1976. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
14. Office of the Press Secretary (October 31, 2019). "Presidential Proclamation on National American History and Founders Month, 2019". whitehouse.gov. Washington, D.C. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via National Archives.

External links

• "National Native American Heritage Month". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
• "Presidential Proclamation--National Native American Heritage Month (2010)". whitehouse.gov. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-22 – via National Archives.
• Presidential Proclamation -- National Native American Heritage Month, 2011
• Native American Heritage Month: Fact Sheet Congressional Research Service
• "Native American Heritage Month in the Classroom". Lesson Planet. November 22, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
• Presidential Proclamation - National Native American Heritage Month 2013

• Month-long observances
• Native American culture
• Observances in the United States
• November observances
• Commemorative months