November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. Many of us are only aware of a few of the dozens of Tribal nations living within our borders. Some of them have existed on this continent for over 10,000 years. We invite you to use this month to explore with your family the vast and multi-faceted world of Indian Country.
Social media has seen a wave of recent Native American content creators. James Vukelich, who presents the Ojibwe Word of the Day, weaves language with ancient wisdom and modern life. Check out these other indigenous film and television creators and Native American influencers and artists.
Right here in Wisconsin, you and your family may enjoy the past and present in the Native American community at one of these Tribal cultural museums or centers:
- Cultural Center, Library, & Museum – Forest County Potawatomi
- Ho-Chunk Nation Museum and Cultural Center – Ho-Chunk Nation
- George W. Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum & Cultural Center – Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
- Menominee Cultural Museum – Menominee Nation
- Oneida Nation Museum – Oneida Nation
Your child may also be a source of information for you about Wisconsin indigenous culture. Wisconsin Act 31 provides instruction on Native American culture and history in our school system. Educators use the Wisconsin First Nations map to learn about those First Nations closest to their schools.
Whether online or in person, you and your children have many opportunities to learn about the rich native traditions and the not-so-easy-to-absorb history of our First Nations peoples.
Recommended Resources
From the Lending Library
- Whose Child Is This? (DVD)
- Two Worlds: Lost Children of the Indian Adoption Projects, by Traci L. Hentz
- Native American Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories, by Rita J. Simon and Sarah Hernandez
Coalition Resource
Additional Resources
- Native American Heritage Month
- U.S. Department of the Interior: Celebrating Native American Heritage Month 2022
- UW-Stevens Point Marks Native American Heritage Month
- Native News Online (reports on a variety of topics about Native Americans)
- For example, find more than 150 stories and special live stream video events on Indian Boarding Schools
- Native Wisconsin: A Guide to Experiencing & Honoring Native American Culture
