|
It’s a time dedicated to celebrating the rich histories, diverse cultures and important contributions of our nation’s first people! If you're looking for information to share around the Thanksgiving table, here are some interesting facts about Native American Heritage Month and the people it’s meant to celebrate.
American Indian Day started in the early 1900s
In 1916, Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, rode horseback to gather endorsements from 24 state governments to establish a day to honor American Indians. This resulted in the very first American Indian Day. It took place the second Saturday in May 1916 in New York.
Tribal lands occupy a huge swath of the U.S.
There are approximately 326 Indian land areas in the U.S. administered as federal Indian reservations, covering more than 56 million acres. Currently, there are 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages.
Native people have many unique languages
There are approximately 175 Indigenous languages spoken in the United States today. The most popular of these languages is Navajo, with about 170,000 speakers.
Navajo people were crucial during the WWII effort
During World War II, the United States government enlisted the help of skilled Native Americans, known as code talkers, who used the Navajo language to transmit top-secret information to allied forces. Much of this information was classified until 2002 when congress passed the Code Talkers Recognition Act. Overall, some tribes had as much as 70% participation in the war effort.
We owe lots of things to Native innovation
Things that we might take for granted, like rubber, popcorn, kayaks, modern-day farming and even mouth wash, all find their roots in Native American design.Even the sport of hockey originated with the Saux, Foxes, and Assiniboine people. They were among the Native American tribes who played a game called “shinny,” where a ball was hit down a field (and in the winter, over ice) using a curved stick.
28 states and many cities, rivers and lakes have names derived from Native American heritage
Ohio got its name from the Iroquois word, “O-Y-O,” which means “great river.” The nickname, the “Buckeye State,” refers to the local buckeye tree, whose fruit was believed by early native Americans to bear a striking resemblance to the eye of male deer. Find out how every state got its name here.
We owe the Iroquois our Constitution
Historians believe that the U.S. Constitution was modeled after the “The Great Law of Peace,” that governed the Iroquois Confederacy. Benjamin Franklin was said to have studied it in detail as inspiration for the Constitution that we adhere to today.
Standing Bear v. Crook was a landmark Native American civil rights case
Decided in 1879, the decision in the case was the first time a Native American was recognized – not as a ward of the government – but as a person under the law who has inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. After the legal proceeding ended, he claimed his humanity, saying: “I am a man.” His bravery and brief, but eloquent speech established him in the constellation of early civil rights heroes and allies. Standing Bear is believed to be the first Native American to speak in open court.
•••
While celebration and joy are important, we cannot forget the history of rape and violence against Indigenous people. It has resulted in generational and historical trauma that they still endure and experience even today. Due to the conflict between reservation governments and the national government, many crimes against Indigenous people go unreported and not prosecuted. Until recently, Indian nations were unable to prosecute sexual abuse crimes against Indigenous people by non-Indians. This allowed for perpetrators to get away with their crimes and continue to victimize because they were not being held responsible. Luckily, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized in 2022 by President Biden which has restored tribal jurisdiction and allows tribes to hold non-native perpetrators accountable.
Still, this is an epidemic among Indigenous people. So, what can you do? The suggestions below are courtesy of PAVE, Peers Advocating for Violence Education, at the University of Dayton.
- Continue to educate yourself about Indigenous issues and challenges.
- Listen to stories from Indigenous people.
-
Personal stories from Indigenous people about sexual assault:
-
Restoration Magazine from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
- Remove harmful stereotypes and language about Indigenous people from your vocabulary.
- Contact StrongHearts Native Hotline (1-844-762-8483) if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused.
- Donate to organizations that help Indigenous people:
- StrongHearts Native Helpline
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
References:
DoDEA. “National Native American Heritage Month.” https://www.dodea.edu/dodeacelebrates/american-indian-heritage-month.cfm.
“Indian Tribes and Resources for Native Americans” Indian Tribes and Resources for Native Americans | USAGov, https://www.usa.gov/tribes.
“Iroquois Constitution: A Forerunner to Colonists' Democratic Principles.” The New York Times, 28 June 1987, https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/28/us/iroquois-constitution-a-forerunner-to-colonists-democratic-principles.html
“Native American Heritage Month.” United States Courts, https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/annual-observances/native-american-heritage-month.
| 
