Native American Heritage Day facts for kids

Native American Heritage Day is a civil holiday observed on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States.

History

Native American Heritage Day is a civil holiday that is celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving also known as "Black Friday". According to SAMHSA "As of 2021, there are 574 federally recognized Tribes in the United States. However, numerous others are still advocating for recognition" Many tribes have not been recognized yet, and a lot of this comes from lack of history. There has been a lot of struggles and fighting for this holiday to even be recognized by some and for the Native American Culture to be seen.

Early 1900s

One of the first fights for an Native American Day came from Dr. Arthur C.Parker. Dr Arthur was a Seneca Indian who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He was able to persuade the Boy Scouts of America to take a day to commemorate the Native American culture. For three years this day stood in place and was celebrated. Then in 1915 the annual Congress of American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kansas, formally approved a plan with Native American day. The president Sherman Coolidge, an Arapaho, called upon the county to observe the day. Coolidge made a proclamation on Sept 28, 1915, which made the second Saturday of May as the first official Native American Heritage day and it was the first appeal that recognized the American Indians as citizens. This was the first time the Native Americans culture had been celebrated and recognized for their role in the US and importance to the country. The First Native American day that was declared in a state was declared on the second Saturday of May in 1916, by the governor of New York. Several States during this time however chose the fourth Friday in September to celebrate the day, and in Illinois legislators enacted such a day in 1919. The fourth Friday was chosen as this was Columbus day and several states chose that day to also recognize Native Americans since they were there when Columbus arrived in America. In 1924 Congress passed the Indian Citizenship act, which allowed citizenship to all U.S. born American Indians who were not already covered by treaties or any other agreements from the government that granted them that title. Indian Americans were the last minority group to gain this role and the early 1900s is when their culture finally began to come around in the nation and was celebrated through the nationally appointed days for them and through new agreements from the government. The early 1900s was a big time period for the culture and life of Native Americans. While they were fighting for their culture to be recognized and commemorated they were also fighting for their own civil and equal rights in the US nation that had been minimally given to them. Native Americans were such a big part of our Nation's history and the upbringing of the US that to see their culture go unrecognized and underground would be unfair to those who helped start this nation.

Late 1900s

Long after we saw the first National Native American day, there was another surge of recognizing Native Americans for their shaping of the nation. In 1986 Congress passed a law requesting that President Ronald Reagan declare the week of November 23, "American Indian week". President Reagan honored the request and issued the "President Proclamation 5577". In this Proclamation Reagan exclaims the contributions of American and Native Indians to this Nation. Reagan states "They are lasting reminders of the presence and the significance of American Indians not just in our geography but throughout the whole of American history." Reagan recognized their importance of upbringing to the nation and honored a week for them Shortly after "Native American Week" in 1990 Congress requested that the whole of November be declared "National Native American Heritage Month" so that Americans could be reminded of Native Americans shaping our country and celebrate them. President Bush accepted this request and made "Presidential Proclamation 6230". In Bushes Proclamation he recognizes the great wealth of their culture, community and family, knowledge, and great wisdom that the Native Americans represented. Bush states "Unbeknownst to their fellowman halfway around the world, these Native peoples had developed rich, thriving cultures, as well as their own systems of social order. They also possessed a wealth of acquired wisdom and skills in hunting, tracking, and farming—knowledge and skills that would one day prove to be invaluable to traders and settlers from Europe." Bush also recognizes the future and opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the Nation and Native Americans he says "Today we reaffirm our support for increased Indian control over tribal government affairs, and we look forward to still greater economic independence and self-sufficiency for Native Americans." Bush addressed everything from the importance of their culture inspiring the nation and the Europeans who came there to how they will continue to impact the future and create better relationships with the Nation.

2000s

In the 2000s we still saw President Clinton, Obama, Bush, and Trump continuing the annual proclamation that designated November as National Native American Heritage month. However, in 2008 Congress passed a law signed by President Bush that made the Friday after Thanksgiving or "Black Friday" the National Native American Heritage Day". This was the first nationally appointed day for Native Americans and was huge for their culture. Donald Trump in 2020 made an annual proclamation for Native American Heritage Month. Trump addressed the importance of recognizing their culture and maintaining a strong relationship with their leaders and preserving this day and their heritage in the future. Trump states " During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor the storied legacy of American Indians and Alaska Natives in our Nation. Their cherished legacy, rich cultures, and heroic history of military service inspire us all. This month, as we recommit to supporting Native American Tribes and people, we resolve to work side-by-side with their leaders to secure stronger, safer communities and preserve their sacred heritage for future generations." (Trump, proclamation 10113). To this day the month and day are still celebrated and their heritage is recognized.

National legislative history

President George W. Bush signed into law legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Calif.), to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day. The Native American Heritage Day Bill was supported by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) and 184 federally recognized tribes, and designates Friday, November 28, 2008, as a day to pay tribute to Native Americans for their many contributions to the United States.

The Native American Heritage Day Bill encourages Americans of all backgrounds to observe the day after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day, through appropriate ceremonies and activities. It also encourages public elementary and secondary schools to enhance student understanding of Native Americans by providing classroom instructions focusing on their history, achievements, and contributions.

The United States House of Representatives originally passed H.J. Res. 62 on November 13, 2007. The bill was passed with technical adjustments by unanimous consent in the United States Senate on September 22, 2008. Then, on September 26, 2008, the House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass the legislation again, this time including the adjustments from the Senate. The legislation was signed into public law by the President on October 8, 2008.

Some individual states have also taken legislative action to recognize this day. For example, Maryland established this day in 2008 under the name American Indian Heritage Day. Further, the State House of Washington approved this measure in 2013.

See also

• Columbus Day
• Native American Day
• Native American Indian Heritage Month
• Opposition to Columbus celebrations
• Indigenous Peoples' Day