Wednesday, November 2, 2022
November is Native American Heritage Month! This month and throughout the year, celebrate and honor the accomplishments, cultures, histories, and perseverance of Native nations. Read more about ways to celebrate Native American peoples.
Start your day, meeting, or gathering with a Land Acknowledgement. Many government agencies and other organizations have developed land acknowledgments to show respect for the Native groups who once occupied the lands where our modern cities are located. If you are in Milwaukee, use the Milwaukee Public Schools land acknowledgement.
We acknowledge that Milwaukee lies on traditional Menominee, Potawatomi, and Ho-Chunk homeland along the southwest shores of Lake Michigan, part of North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes. On this site, the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic rivers meet, and the people of Wisconsin’s Menominee, Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, Oneida, and Mohican sovereign nations remain present to this day.
Visit the MPS First Nations Studies page for more information about land acknowledgements.
Honor Native American Veterans. Native Americans have consistently enlisted in the Armed Forces at higher rates per capita than any other racial group. The National Museum of the American Indian has information about how Native Americans have served in all major wars in our country’s history, along with anecdotes and photographs from veterans. The Library of Congress has recorded audio and video interviews with Native American veterans about their experiences serving in the U.S. military.
Read books by Native American authors. The American Indian Library Association publishes lists of recommended books by Native American authors. Additionally, the American Indians in Children’s Literature website by Dr. Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese includes an annual list of recommended books. Their site contains detailed reviews of books about Native Americans that evaluate accuracy and authenticity.
Learn about First Nations of Wisconsin. Wisconsin is home to 11 federally recognized tribes and one tribe seeking federal recognition. Watch the Tribal Histories series by PBS Wisconsin to hear tribal storytellers sharing the culture and oral traditions that have shaped their communities across generations. View articles, maps, and videos with stories about culture and language from Native communities around the Great Lakes on The Ways.
For additional information and resource recommendations, contact First Nations Studies in MPS by emailing 997@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or by calling 414-902-7312.