November was officially designated as a heritage month in 1990 to recognize America’s original inhabitants and celebrate their rich culture and contributions, referred to then as National American Indian Heritage Month. However, efforts to pay tribute to Indigenous people started long before.
Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, rode horseback across the U.S. seeking approval for a day to honor Native Americans. In 1915, he presented an endorsement from 24 states to the White House. The first official American Indian Day was declared by the New York state governor in May 1916. President Joe Biden’s 2024 proclamation on this heritage month makes a commitment to work with Native communities to “write a new and better chapter in American history.”
There are 574 federally recognized nations, tribes, and pueblos within the U.S. comprising about 9 million people who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native American, and Indigenous. Self-governance is at the heart of Native people’s ability to protect and enhance the health, safety, and welfare of their communities.
How to Pay Tribute in Houston This Month:
- Check out the 34th Annual Native American Pow Wow, where you can shop from more than 1,000 vendors, enjoy amusement park rides, and tasty bites on Nov. 9 and 10.
- Learn about Native American traditions still practiced today during a lecture at the West University Branch Library on Nov. 11.
- Children’s Museum Houston’s celebration will include art workshops, songs and drums, storytime, and other activities on Nov. 16.
- Enjoy dance, music, and history from the American Indian Alliance at the Barbara Bush Branch Library in Spring on Nov. 22.
