November is National American Indian Heritage Month
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- November
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The big November holiday is Thanksgiving. But the month is notable for other observances. For example, November is American Diabetes Month, Child Safety and Protection Month, Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and National Adoption Month.
November also is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The first observance, called “American Indian Day,� was designated in New York in 1916. Native American Awareness Week in 1976 grew into American Indian Week in 1986, and then into National American Indian Heritage Month in 1990, according to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs, the agency charged with the administration and management of 55.7 million acres of American Indian and Alaska Native lands.
The Ramapough Lenape Indian Nation, a 3,000-member tribe living in Hillburn, as well as in Mahwah and Ringwood, N.J., is recognized by New York and New Jersey, but not by the federal government. There are plans to renew efforts to seek federal recognition.
Smaller groups of Ramapoughs live on Staten Island, as well as in Orange and Sullivan counties.
The tribe has battled marginalization and environmental pollution of its lands, and is embarking upon a platform of economic, educational and social independence.
This entry was posted
on Monday, November 19th, 2007 at 7:08 pm by Suzan Clarke.
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Another Heritage month. Yea, we are all united. Soon we’ll
need to add 12 more months to the year to celebrate all heritages. I have an Idea. Why don’t we just celebrate American heritage and it’s all done in one month. No brainer.
hey Bull dog. This is one heritage I have to agree with, um they were here first. and got royally screwed. Its the other Heritage Month’s I have issue with… there are so many cultures and only 12 months. However if any culture should have real recognition it should be the ones that were here first and got screwed and still get screwed. they are the only people still getting the short end of the stick in this country.
I favor a unified culture over all this emphasis on separate cultures.
As for the American Indians, they were treated poorly, but I also think it’s important not to over-idealize the American Indian cultures, as I have seen done.
I wonder how wise our Indian policy is at this point. We seem to be perpetuating a different culture and identity for them, not really recognizing that these things change over time even without the traumatic events that the Indians suffered.
I haven’t given the issue enough deep thought to come with any real answers, but I question the whole ‘reservation’ approach to American Indian issues. It doesn’t seem to be a healthy thing.
Steve C. and David V. I agree with both of you. We have given back to the American Indians over recent years but you
are right if anyone deserves it it’s them.
We’re obviously not all united if some people want to celebrate different cultures that make up the United States and others, for some reason, don’t think it’s necessary. We celebrate American heritage 365 days a year, including July 4th and Thanksgiving
Wow, I can guess the nationality of these people responding. If anyone deserves it. Did you know there is still over 600 million dollars in settlement never collected by the Sioux Indians because they just want their land back. All Americans, they were the Americans here before anyone and then shoved into little areas after being slaughtered. Sort of like the Palestinians who had their land taken, and are forced to live in substandard conditions and the world tries to view them as crazy. Wonder what would happen if someone showed up in your Rockland home, and told you, you now only reside in the back portion of your home and the rest is theirs. It is amazing how important and recognized immigrants through Ellis Island are, and the Holocaust. Yet there were others that didn’t choose to come here, in chains to build this country and very little recognition is ever given to them. Why do the Indians need a separate month of recognition are you serious, oh they deserve it. Let’s talk about the Shinnecock Indians that cannot and will not get Federal Recognition, because they are indigenous to a part of NY called the Hamptons, wouldn’t that displace a few multimillionaires if they received their proper land rights?
The people who came in chains have their own heritage month also in February. There will be alot more of this as time goes on. We will never see ourselves as just Americans ever
again.
It just goes to show us by your comments, that we are not all considered Americans. It sounds nice to say, we are all Americans, but until the Caucasian Man begins treating and respecting all race of people like All Americans, we will never be All Americans. Just look at what you do if other races begin moving into your communities, you move out, and build yourselves more all white communities. Thank you all for at least trying to convince yourselves that we are all American. Personally you have not proved it to me yet. The words you speak always tells your true beliefs and feelings.
God Bless you though for pretending.