This week, as students across the nation take time to spend with their families, PESA has ventured to recognize the importance of Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day. The month of November and the day after Thanksgiving were chosen as times to honor and celebrate Native Americans' vibrant cultures, traditions, and heritage while recognizing their many contributions to our past, present and future.
PESA’s National Native American Heritage Month program guides students through the history of Native culture in the United States, helping them grasp vital moments of the past such as The Battle of Little Bighorn and the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Students also learn about how Native Americans contribute to society daily whether that is through art, government, military or the medical field. The presentation concludes with a discussion of different ways everyone can celebrate Native American Heritage Month, such as taking time to educate the public about Native tribes and raising awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced historically and in the present day.