Honoring Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month. A critical time for our community to move beyond reflection and actively center the enduring contributions, brilliance, and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples who have cared for these lands for generations. The path to this month-long observance has a deep history of its own. After decades of advocacy by Indigenous leaders, such as Dr. Arthur C. Parker (Seneca) and Red Fox James (Blackfeet), Congress designated November as National Native American Heritage Month in 1990.

UMBC is situated on the ancestral lands of the Piscataway and Susquehannock peoples. While we honor the historical significance of this land, we must also recognize that citizens of countless Indigenous nations continue to live, work, and lead in this region and across the nation today. This month, we invite our community to honor not just the past, but the vital and ongoing presence, diverse perspectives, and unwavering voices of all Native and Indigenous peoples. To learn, engage, and listen that honors and supports Native communities. 

Native and Indigenous communities are not a single entity; they encompass a rich diversity of over 574 federally recognized nations (and many more state-recognized and unrecognized), hundreds of distinct languages, and millennia of unique cultures. The contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples are foundational and deeply rooted in this country, yet they are routinely unrecognized, underappreciated, and erased. This erasure from history books, media, and public consciousness is not accidental; it is a profound injustice that continues to limit the visibility and influence of Native individuals and communities today.

We must actively work to restore the visibility and respect that Native and Indigenous peoples deserve by acknowledging their profound impact in areas such as environmental stewardship. For generations, Indigenous science and ecological knowledge, such as controlled burns, sustainable companion planting, and sophisticated watershed management, have sustained these lands and continue to inform modern environmentalism and conservation practices.

It is essential to understand that Native nations and peoples are still fighting to be fully seen and to have their inherent rights respected. Their struggles for tribal sovereignty, land rights, healthcare, and resource protection often remain on the political margins.

This month and every day, let us commit to celebrating and elevating the beauty and untold stories of Native peoples, ensuring their crucial contributions and needs are never unseen.

Interested in learning more and engaging at UMBC?

Follow the Indigenous Peoples Union (IPU) and check out one of their events. The IPU is hosting a Beading Workshop on December 1st from 5 PM - 7 PM in PAHB 216. “Beading has been a traditional practice and form of expression globally and is especially seen throughout Turtle Island/Abiayala. The beads and the pieces crafted carry an rooted spiritual significance in addition to its long history, in which we'll be introducing the workshop with. No RSVP needed but supplies will be first-come first-served, please feel welcomed to bring any supplies you may have.” 

The IPU will also be heading to the BAIC's 50th Annual Powwow at the Timonium Fairgrounds on Saturday, November 21st, from 11 AM to 6 PM. While seats were limited to ride with the IPU, tickets for this event can be found here. 

Follow IPU’s Instagram page for more events and information. 

The Dresher Center for Humanities is also hosting "Indians on Indian Lands: Intersections of Race, Caste, and Indigeneity" on Thursday, November 5th. "This talk explores stories of everyday proximity and intimacy between Indigenous and South Asian communities and how to hold Indian diasporas accountable for acts of violence within a colonial settler nation." Check out their myUMBC post for more information. 

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Looking to engage locally? The Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC) has a museum where guests can learn more about local history, view exhibitions, and enroll in classes/programs. 

DC’s American Indian Museum is also hosting an array of events throughout the month of November. Click here to learn more.

Looking to learn more about Maryland's Native and Indigenous resources, click here for the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs.