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Native American Heritage Day: Ways to Celebrate

Today, November 27, is 2020's Native American Heritage Day, a holiday worth celebrating and broadcasting. 

What is Native American Heritage Day?

When President Barack Obama signed this holiday into being in 2009, he said, "“I encourage every American to join me in observing Native American Heritage Day ... It is also important for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition, and history of Native Americans and their status today, and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made and will continue to make to our Nation.”[Source: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/597.html]

How can we honor or celebrate this day?

Buy Native, Read Native, Listen Native, View Native!

There are many Native bloggers, authors, artists, and entrepreneurs who you can check out and feature in your work on this day and throughout the year. 

Here is a link (http://www.nativeninetypercent.com/native-authored-blogs.html) to some Native-authored blogs and podcasts.

Here is a link (https://www.rakuten.com/blog/9-native-owned-etsy-stores-shop-native-american-day/) to some Native-owned Etsy shops.

Here is a link (http://www.beyondbuckskin.com/p/buy-native.html) to a more comprehensive Buy Native! list compiled by a native person containing products, art, music, comics, and more. 

Donate to Native Nations and Causes Where You Are!

I'm just going to list causes near me and/or close to my heart or heritage. Do some research to find out whose land you are on and how to support nations near you. 

The Cherokee Nation is a sovereign tribal government that takes care of its people and its culture. "The Cherokee Nation is committed to protecting our inherent sovereignty, preserving and promoting Cherokee culture, language and values, and improving the quality of life for the next seven generations of Cherokee Nation citizens." To learn more, visit this link (https://www.cherokee.org/). To donate, visit this link (https://www.cherokee.org/about-the-nation/donations/). 

The Cherokee Nation Foundation provides college preparatory help and college scholarships to Cherokee Nation members. To learn more, visit this link (https://www.cherokeenationfoundation.org/about-us?). To donate, visit this link (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=VBXTYHN67T9LL).

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian has a mission “To  preserve  and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee people”. To learn more, click this link (https://www.cherokeemuseum.org/contact/about). To donate, click this link (https://www.cherokeemuseum.org/contact/donate?)

Get Involved in Native Activism!

The main issues facing Native communities are not those of mascots and brand names, although those issues should also be addressed. They are issues of health, voting rights, educational equity, tribal sovereignty, disproportionate poverty, police brutality, disproportionate incarceration, human trafficking, and other similar issues. When you see Native people fighting for or against things that impact them, stand with them, but do things their way and use your ears more than your mouth.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, well... I don't really know what to say. I have a lot of feelings of being "not native enough" this year. So, I think I'll just leave it at that. Lift up the Native Americans around you this year, and please, give them money, too, lol.


 


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