November is National American Indian Heritage Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.
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National Park Service

America is a vast land of many cultures dating back thousands of years to the original inhabitants of the land. History, heritage, or culture of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are part of every national park and communities across the country today. Every November during Native American Heritage Month and throughout the year, the National Park Service and our partners share history and the continuing culture of America's indigenous peoples.

Explore the Site »

Image credit: Arrival of the canoes to the dedication of the Xunaa Shuká Hít, or Huna Tribal House, at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Courtesy of the National Park Service.

Joy Harjo Appointed to Third Term as U.S. Poet Laureate, Launches Signature Project--Living Nations, Living Words

For her third term, Harjo will focus on her signature project, "Living Nations, Living Words," which gathers works by contemporary Native poets from across the United States. This digital project features Joy Harjo, Louise Erdrich, Natalie Diaz, Ray Young Bear, Craig Santos Perez, Sherwin Bitsui and Layli Long Soldier. An interactive Story Map connects all 47 contemporary Native American poets to a new online audio collection developed by Harjo, featuring the participating poets reading and discussing an original poem.

Explore Living Nations, Living Words »

Learn more about the Poet Laureate »

American Indian Records in the National Archives

Among the billions of historical records housed at the National Archives throughout the country, researchers can find information relating to American Indians from as early as 1774 through the mid-1990s.

Research Native American records »

Image Credit: Caption: "Native Americans from Southeastern Idaho, ca. 1897" National Archives Identifier: 519208

Indigenous Law Web Archive

This ongoing collection by the Law Library of Congress preserves primary law sources of indigenous nations, which are sovereign governments by treaty with the United States, and how tribes communicate their law online. Included are the constitutions of a number of sovereign nations, including Navajo Nation, Muscogee Nation, Cherokee Nation, Comanche Nation, and the Hopi Tribe.

View the Archive »

Image Credit: Map of the Judicial Districts of the Navajo Nation May 6, 2013.

Americans

American Indian images, names, and stories infuse American history and contemporary life. Pervasive, powerful, at times demeaning, the images, names, and stories reveal the deep connection between Americans and American Indians as well as how Indians have been embedded in unexpected ways in the history, pop culture, and identity of the United States.

Explore the online exhibition »

Image credit: The central gallery of the "Americans" exhibition includes nearly 350 representations of Americans Indians in pop culture at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Photo by Paul Morigi, 2018.

Native American Veterans

American Indians have eagerly served a government which did not always keep its word to their ancestors. They have volunteered to serve in conflicts from World War II to Iraq. Few encountered any overt prejudice while in uniform, but for all American Indian veterans, the honor of defending their country overrode all other considerations.

Veterans History Project »

Image credit: (Dan Akee (2004), Veteran's History Project)

For Teachers

Put the power of primary sources to work in the classroom. Browse lesson plans, student activities, collection guides and research aids from the nation's premier cultural heritage preservation institutions.

National Endowment for the Humanities Teacher's Guide to American Indian History and Heritage »

Additional Resources for Teachers »

Image Credit: A segment of Sequoia's Cherokee alphabet (National Endowment of the Humanities)

2020 Event Highlights

Webinar

November 12

Conversation with “Why We Serve” Co-Author Alexandra Harris
Join museum senior editor Alexandra Harris, co-author of “Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces,” virtually for a discussion about identity and the warrior stereotype of Native people serving in the military, as well as actual—and remarkable—traditions of peace and war within American Indian communities.

(National Museum of the American Indian)

Webinar

November 18

Native Communities and the Vote: Teaching about American Indian Voting Rights through Documents
Join us in this webinar for educators and learn how to incorporate primary sources related to American Indian voting rights into your lessons. We will share activities and resources from the National Archives, and explore how to include discussions of evolving rights over time as relating to Native Communities and the right to participate in federal elections.
Register for the Webinar

(National Archives and Records Administration)

Films, Online Events

Nov. 18-27

Native Cinema Showcase
The National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Cinema Showcase is an annual celebration of the best in Native film. This year, for the 20th-anniversary showcase, the museum presents the full program online, streaming new films, fan favorite classics, and conversations with filmmakers. The showcase provides a unique forum for engagement with Native filmmakers and stories from Indigenous communities throughout the Western Hemisphere and Arctic.

(National Museum of the American Indian)

Webcast

November 19

Smithsonian Social Studies Online: Native American Heritage Month
Join the National Museum of American History for an online exploration into key social studies topics, featuring museum resources from the Smithsonian. This episode will focus on Native American Heritage Month.

(National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution)

Webinar

November 19

Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future—Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Today many young people are returning to traditional food sources and sustainable ways of living through political action and sustainable practice. This November, join us in a conversation with young Native foodies working to decolonize their diets and restore balance in their bodies and communities.

(National Museum of the American Indian)