National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH

RESOURCE TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES

National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month is celebrated every November to recognize the diverse cultures and to educate the public about the heritage, history, art, and traditions of the American Indian and Alaska Native people.

LESSON PLANS

Teacher Resources from U.S. government and partner institutions

  • Educator resources from Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, and the Smithsonian Institution

Native Knowledge 360: Framework for Essential Understanding about American Indians

  • A National Education Initiative between Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and Native communities and educators

WHAT IS NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH?

November is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. November is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native American people. It is also a time to acknowledge the important contributions they have made to the United States.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, in 2022, there were 574 federally recognized Indian Tribes or Nations in the United States. These indigenous people have lived in the Americas for thousands of years. You can learn more facts about Native Americans from the U.S. Census Bureau.

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS

Film: Our Fires Still Burn

  • Film is free on Kanopy (through e-LibraryUSA)
  • 1 hour – Documentary invites viewers into the lives of contemporary Native American role models living in the midwestern United States

Film: Smoke Signals*

  • Movie is covered under MPLC agreement; PG-13; Post will need to procure film on own
  • 1 hour 29 mins – The film is unique as an all-Native American production, where two American Indian teenagers go on a journey and learn more about their cultural identity.
  • Movie Programming Kit

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND RESOURCES

Many U.S. universities offer Native American Studies Programs.  Connect interested students with EducationUSA to help them find out more about these programs and institutions!

*Post will need to procure this film. The Office of American Spaces does not endorse all movies as they may not be appropriate for all audiences. Coordinators should screen the films ahead of showing them. Here’s a link with more information on showing movies at American Spaces.

The views expressed in these links and resources do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. government.

Updated May 2024