Native American Heritage Month Explained
Learn why November honors Native American history and cultures and how the observance became official.
Native American Heritage Month is a national observance held every November in the United States. It recognizes the history, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. It is also known as National American Indian Heritage Month.
Who Was Involved in Creating Native American Heritage Month?
Native American Heritage Month grew out of efforts that began in the early 1900s to create a day honoring the first Americans.
Arthur C. Parker
Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca, was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York. He was one of the first people to push for an American Indian Day. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans," and the Boy Scouts observed the day for 3 years.
Red Fox James
Red Fox James, described by the Library of Congress as a Blackfoot Indian, rode on horseback from state to state seeking support for a day to honor American Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented endorsements from 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record that a national day was proclaimed at that time.
The American Indian Association and Rev. Sherman Coolidge
In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association, meeting in Lawrence, Kansas, approved a plan for an American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapaho, to call on the country to observe the day.
The States
The first American Indian Day in a state was declared by the governor of New York for the second Saturday in May 1916. Other states followed. Illinois, for example, enacted an American Indian Day in 1919.
Congress and the President
Congress passed a joint resolution in 1990 calling for November to be recognized as a heritage month. President George H. W. Bush signed it into law.
What Does Native American Heritage Month Recognize?
Native American Heritage Month recognizes the people, nations, and cultures that existed in what is now the United States long before the country was founded, and that continue today.
It recognizes:
- The histories of Native American and Alaska Native peoples
- Native languages, art, music, and traditions
- The contributions of Native Americans to the United States
- Tribal nations and their governments
- The military service of Native American veterans
Native American Heritage Month is not:
A federal holiday. Government offices, schools, and businesses do not close for the observance.
Why Was Native American Heritage Month Established?
Supporters wanted national recognition for the contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States.
Citizenship
Rev. Sherman Coolidge issued a proclamation on September 28, 1915, declaring the second Saturday of each May as American Indian Day. According to the Library of Congress, the proclamation contained the first formal appeal for the recognition of Indians as citizens.
From a Day to a Month
For decades, recognition came mainly through state observances on different dates. The 1990 law created a national observance covering the entire month of November.
When Did Native American Heritage Month Become Official?
On August 3, 1990, Public Law 101-343 asked the President to proclaim November 1990, and every November after that, as a month honoring Native Americans. President George H. W. Bush approved the resolution designating November 1990 as "National American Indian Heritage Month."
Presidents issued similar proclamations every year from 1994 through 2024, using different versions of the name, including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month." In 2025, the White House issued a "Presidential Message on National Native American Heritage Month" on November 4 instead of a formal proclamation. As of November 1, 2026, no 2026 proclamation had been published in the Federal Register.
Native American Heritage Day
On June 26, 2009, the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 designated the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day. In 2026, that day is Friday, November 27.
How Is Native American Heritage Month Observed?
Native American Heritage Month is observed by government agencies, tribal nations, schools, museums, and communities.
Federal Government
Presidents have usually recognized the month with a proclamation or message. Federal institutions, including the Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, share exhibits, events, and educational resources.
Museums
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian hosts events and shares resources about Native history and cultures during the month.
Schools and Communities
Schools, libraries, and community groups hold lessons, events, and programs about Native history, cultures, and current issues.
Tribal Nations
Tribal nations and Native organizations hold their own cultural events, which may include traditional food, music, dance, art, and storytelling.
Native American Heritage Month began as a call for a single day of recognition more than a century ago and is now observed every November across the United States.
Disclaimer
This content was researched and organized with the assistance of Super Intelligence (SI) and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, information may change over time. Readers are encouraged to verify important information using official sources and consult qualified professionals when making legal, financial, medical, or other important decisions.
