enit by Wendy Red Star
National Native American Heritage Month (also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month) provides us with a great opportunity to celebrate the amazing heritage and history of Native Americans. The original inhabitants of America have rich and varied cultures dating back thousands of years. Now is the perfect time to reflect on the traditions, languages, and contributions of the indigenous peoples of North America. There are currently over 500 federally recognized tribes, representing hundreds of different cultures. Contemporary native peoples’ impressive achievements in art, literature, music, dance, sports, cuisine, agricultural practices and so many other areas, deserve recognition and appreciation. At the same time, it is also important to acknowledge the struggles and hardships experienced by Native Americans both in the past and the present. Let’s take time this month to pay tribute to the many achievements and contributions of Native Americans everywhere. Check out a selection of recent materials by or about Native Americans available from the University Libraries and listed on our WU Reads Reading Guide.
For more information, see American Indian and Alaska Native Data Links: https://www.census.gov/about/partners/cic/resources/data-links/aian.html