November is both Native American Heritage Month and National American Indian & Alaska Native Month. We’re going to explore this subject and give honor and well-deserved respect to the Indigenous Peoples of North America.
As an introduction, here is a quote from the Bureau of Indian Affairs [LINK]: “National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.”
This is certainly a well-deserved commemoration and we join with the BIA in gratitude for the fact that the Indigenous Peoples of North America have been able to retain some of their traditions, languages and histories so vital to the human experience. The article continues: “This November and every month, we celebrate the culture and heritage of these remarkable Americans who deeply enrich the quality and character of our Nation. We celebrate Indian Country with its remarkable diversity of American Indian and Alaska Native cultures and peoples while remembering and honoring our veterans who have sacrificed so much to defend our Nation.”
To Commemorate is to Remember
Many times we have talked about our gratitude for the evolution of the human spirit. European colonization of North America brought much pain and loss to many Native Americans. We have realized the inhumanity of it, and we are working on making it right. Reparations were made to Native Americans after WW2, and the desire exists to see them fully restored. By dedicating the month of November to honor America’s Indigenous Peoples we move closer to restoration and respect.
Two of the Citizenship Heroes
Also from the BIA website we read about some of the early leaders and inspirations:
“After 1900, one of the earliest proponents of a day honoring American Indians was Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker (b. 1881, d. 1955), a Cattaraugus Seneca and the director of the Rochester Museum in New York (now the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences). Dr. Parker (Gawasco Waneh) was a noted anthropologist, historian, and author whose great-uncle was Brigadier General Ely S. Parker, secretary to General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War and the first American Indian to serve as Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior. Dr. Parker also served as the first president of the Society for American Archaeology (1935-36).”
Dr. Parker went on to found Indian rights organizations including the National Congress of American Indians in 1944. Through his organizations he advocated for Native Americans to be given US citizenship. The article goes on to introduce another advocate.
“In the spring of 1914, another Indian rights advocate, the Reverend Red Fox James (b. 1890-95, d. ?), also known as Red Fox Skiukusha, whose tribal identity is undetermined, began a 4,000-mile trek on horseback to Washington, D.C., to petition the President for an “Indian Day.” The following year, on horseback, he traveled from state to state seeking gubernatorial support for U.S. citizenship to be extended to American Indians.”
We searched for the date when Native Americans were granted citizenship, and the BIA website offers the answer: “In 1924, Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, extending citizenship to all U.S.-born American Indians not already covered by treaties or other federal agreements that granted such status. The act was later amended to include Alaska Natives.”
The Value of Studying the History
It is a great benefit to us to study the history and understand the experience of Indigenous Peoples, so to be an advocate for the full restoration of their culture, peace and prosperity. The Indigenous Peoples include the Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives. The experiences of the many tribes and families is different and all of them have worked to regain and retain their true cultural wisdom. We thank them for sharing their wisdom and knowledge with us.
Many of our readers know that AMS is a B Corporation. Knowing how on point the B Corp members are, we checked to see what has been published at some of our favorite B Corp websites. At the website “Indigenous Pact” we found an excellent, informative article about building health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Just click the [LINK] to visit that website.
Another excellent article can be found at this B Corp [LINK]. The title, “Weaving Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Communities into Work” leads to an interesting article that aligns with our message. Here is a brief quote regarding Canadian B Corps: “When organizations open themselves to acknowledge the impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples’ cultures, economies, and well-being, the task of reconciliation may seem overwhelming. But all organizations and businesses, no matter their realm of work, can turn to reconciliation resources and frameworks to redress the harms of colonization on Indigenous peoples.”
Finally, please enjoy a brief YouTube video entitled “Six Stories Celebrating Native American History and Culture.” The video follows a native chef and we are able to see some of the foods, farming and cooking traditions. It also goes into art created by Native People that gives the message of “We’re alive and we’re Thriving.” The video continues with several more interesting stories readers may enjoy [LINK].
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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.
