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November is National Native
American Heritage Month
National Native American Month started off as an effort to In 1915, a plan concerning American Indian Day was formal-
get a day of appreciation and acknowledgment for the unique ly approved in the annual Congress of the American Indian
contributions made by the first Americans for the growth Association meeting. The president of the American Indian
and establishment of the United States. The effort has now Association, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, called upon the country
resulted in a whole month being celebrated for that purpose. to observe this day.
Dr. Arthur C. Parker was one of the first supporters of hav- The first time American Indian Day was declared was in May
ing an American Indian Day. He was a Seneca Indian and 1916. In 1990, a joint resolution was approved by George
the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, H.W. Bush, which called for November to be named National
New York. He was also the one to convince the Boy Scouts of American Heritage Month. Declarations like these have been
America to create a day for the Native Americans — the Boy issued since 1994, such as Native American Heritage Month
Scouts adopted this day for three days. and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage
Month.
Robeson Living ~ Fall 2021 Page 65
