November 22, 2022

Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month in the United States. It is a month to recognize and celebrate the cultures and contributions of the Indigenous peoples in what is now the US. The University of Washington occupies land that is the ancestral homeland of Coast Salish tribes, including the Duwamish (who are still denied federal recognition), Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot. UW President Cauce recently published this blog post, which cites Washington State Poet Laureate, Rena Priest (Lhaq’temish/Lummi) and lists several activities that are well-suited to celebrating and learning about Indigenous cultures.

Indigenous/Native American students looking for community can join RSOs such as First Nations @ UW (geared toward undergraduate students) and UW SACNAS Chapter (for folks in Science fields). For more, visit the UW page on Native Life and Tribal Relations and American Indian Studies department website. Additionally, folks of all peer groups may be interested in learning more about the Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies (CAIIS). Their mission is to “support American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous students, faculty, staff, and communities through scholarship, research, teaching, learning, and mentorship that strengthens and builds relationships among the UW and Tribes, First Nations, and other Indigenous peoples.”

This post from the College of Arts and Sciences has a list of books, articles, videos, and other media for those interested in learning more about Indigenous cultures and communities. The SAFS Equity and Inclusion Library (in Michael Martínez’s office in FSH 116) has over 10 books written by Indigenous authors on a range of subjects from education, history, and the environment that are available for members of SAFS to borrow. The Burke Museum has compiled a resource packet for educators and students, and members of SAFS have created two excellent guides: A Supportive Guide to Land Acknowledgements and an Indigenous Peoples’ Terminology Guide.

As is the case with every cultural/commemorative month, many people and institutions see Native American History Month as the one time of year to pay attention to Indigenous peoples. Instead of tokenizing Indigenous historical figures—or the Indigenous people you know—by only recognizing their work for one month out of the year, consider taking this month to educate yourself on the rich and complex history, and the work that is currently being done, so that you can incorporate it into your research, curriculum, personal life, and community engagement all year round.