November was officially designated as a heritage month in 1990 to recognize America’s original inhabitants and celebrate their rich culture and contributions, then referred to as National American Indian Heritage Month. However, efforts to pay tribute to Indigenous people started long before.
Red Fox James, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, rode horseback across the U.S. seeking approval for a day to honor Native Americans. In 1915, he presented an endorsement from 24 states to the White House. The first official American Indian Day was declared by the New York state governor in May 1916. President Joe Biden’s 2024 proclamation for this heritage month makes a commitment to work with Native communities to “write a new and better chapter in American history.”
There are 574 federally recognized nations, tribes, and pueblos within the U.S. comprising about 9 million people who identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native American, and Indigenous. Self-governance is at the heart of Native people’s ability to protect and enhance the health, safety, and welfare of their communities.
Red Fox James, one of the early proponents of a federal holiday honoring Indigenous people within the U.S. (Library of Congress)
How to Celebrate in Las Vegas
📚 The Clark County Library District has events, readings, book recommendations, streaming content, and other activities in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
☀️ The CSN Henderson Student Union celebrates Native American Heritage Month Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
✍️ UNLV has a variety of resources for researching and understanding the history and legacy of Native American tribes in Southern Nevada.
🪶 Learn about the history and current-day businesses of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe.
🛍️ The NuWu Art Gallery and Community Center hosts the 4th Annual Native American Heritage Day Market and Celebration, Friday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a great place to shop for holiday gifts.
🏜️ The Lost City Museum in Overton has exhibits that celebrate and preserve the artifacts, art, and architecture of Indigenous tribes, just outside Valley of Fire State Park, home to ancient petroglyphs carved in sandstone.
🌱 The Springs Preserve is preparing to open the Nuwu Pahsats, a garden to explore the relationship between plants and Indigenous tribes.
