In 1990, George H.W. Bush created something very important to my culture.
He created National American Indian Heritage Month (sometimes referred to as Native American Heritage Month) to recognize and remember Native Americans all over the U.S.
Native American Heritage Month, the month of November, is so much more than just recognizing that Native Americans lived here. It is honoring Native Americans. It is to remember the struggles that they endured in their lives. It is to remind people that we are still here.
Our heritage didn't die out over the years or in boarding schools or through colonization.
November is an amazing month to me. I think it's incredibly special that my birthday happens to fall during such an exciting month. My ancestors walked on the Trail of Death, which led from Twin Lakes, Indiana, to Osawatomie, Kansas. They arrived in Kansas--notice the special month--on November 4, 1838.
November isn't just a cold, fall month. It's so much more.
November is my time to show the world the pride I take in knowing my heritage.
For the entire month of November, I am going to show my pride by wearing different items that remind me of my heritage. It's not often that I am able to talk about my heritage all day every day. By wearing my moccasins, my beaded earrings, my Native Pride shirts, and my beaded bows, I am hoping to create a great conversation starter.
I am so proud of my family and all that they have accomplished. They suffered on the long, cold walk to Kansas and continued to suffer once they arrived. They were abused, taken advantage of, and lied to.
My great-granduncle (my great-grandma's brother) attended one of the Catholic boarding schools and ran away because of the horrible treatment he received there. He was one of hundreds of thousands of people who suffered at the hands of the boarding schools. Not only were the boarding schools often far from these children's homes, but they were also abusive, physically, verbally, and sexually.
In boarding schools, children were underfed, beaten for speaking their language, transformed into American children (only permitted to speak English, dress like an American, only wear hair in an American style, etc), and forced to accept Catholicism--many claimed to accept Catholicism but for their own safety.
My hope is that by wearing pieces of my regalia each day this month, I will be asked about my heritage. I get so excited to tell my story, and I love being able to teach people in a way that teachers and professors cannot. My culture is so different from any other, and I love being able to embrace that every day.
My people are strong, and they always have been.
This doesn't just apply to my ancestors. This applies to my family and me. Native American Heritage Month is everything to me because it's a reminder to everyone that we are still here. We're not merely an ancient minority that has since died out. That's why I am celebrating Native American Heritage Month this month. I am celebrating my ancestors' strength, their lives, and our culture!
