Today

Native American Heritage Month

By Sarah St. John

Since 1990, the idea of a National Native American Heritage Month has grown in popularity. November has become not only a month of turkey and thanks, but also a month of celebrating Indigenous Cultures in America. This month is a great opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements of Native American people. There are many Native artists, writers, and leaders in the United States and the world that deserve recognition both for their accomplishments and for their heritage. 

Anthony Kiedis, lead singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is a celebrity who’s Native ancestry may be surprising. Kiedis’ grandmother was a Mohican woman, and he has chosen to celebrate their shared culture through his many Mohican tattoos. One of his most well known tattoos, though not Mohican, is a Native (Haida) Thunderbird on his back. 

Tommy Orange is a Cheyenne and Arapaho novelist, known for his debut novel There There, the story of Indigenous Americans from Oakland. His New York Times Bestselling book challenges antiquated notions of what it means to ‘look Native’ and reminds young Indigenous people of their freedom to dress, act, and be who they are while being proud to be Native.

Marie Louise Cruz or Sacheen Littlefeather is an extremely accomplished woman. She is a well known American actress, model, and activist for the rights of Native Americans. In 1973, the Academy Award Nominee and winner, Marlon Brando, declined his prize in protest of the portrayal of Native Americans in Hollywood and to draw attention to the 1973 protests at Wounded Knee. It was Littlefeather that represented him at the Academy Awards and her speech is said to have moved thousands.

Joy Harjo, the first Native American poet laureate in U.S. history, is a renowned writer of the Muscogee (Creek) nation. She is the author of nine poetry books including Poet Warrior. She has received many honors for her poetry and has produced seven award-winning albums. She released her most recent album, her first in a decade, I Pray For My Enemies, in April of this year. In addition, Harjo, as a project as 23rd poet laureate, has created a website that can be used to discover Native Nation poets across the globe. Her website can be accessed here.

Lloyd Kiva New, a Cherokee fashion designer, is another Native creator with an impressive record. He taught painting at the Phoenix Indian School before enlisting in 1941. After World War II, he began work on his nationally acclaimed handbags, clothing, and textiles. In 1961, he was appointed the director of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), serving through his retirement in 1978.

Part of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Congressperson Sharice Davids is one of the first two Native American women to be elected to congress, alongside Congresswoman Deb Haaland. She regularly participates in campaigns to improve the lives of Indigenous Americans, and has worked to expand access to healthcare, provide resources to small business owners, and protect the rights of voters. 

Each of these individuals, and many more, are all proud Indigenous people that perfectly represent their heritage through their achievements, through their art, and through their character. They all serve as living witnesses to what is a never ending celebration of the beautiful collection of nations, cultures, and beliefs that are the Native American people of the world. They all offer unique and individual insight into what it means to be Native and they do so bravely. Many of them use their work to shed light on the hardships faced by Indigenous people in America. Important topics like the staggering number of missing or murdered Native women in the United States, a number that our government struggles to properly track. Issues like the increasing rate of Indigenous Americans affected by alcoholism and drug abuse. It is struggles like these that solidify our need to set November aside, in respect, for the Native people of America.