Talent Citizen celebrates and honors Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) this November. This month’s learning resources invited us to think critically about initiatives and organizations that are supporting and working with Native American communities. The articles and information we found celebrate NAHM while uplifting Indigenous voices and initiatives and they inspired conversations and reflections within our team, helping to inform our work and practice as we partner with mission-driven organizations across the U.S.
Resources we are finding especially relevant and informative this month are:
Wayne State University, a Talent Citizen client, is celebrating NAHM by honoring the cultural contributions of Native American, Alaskan Native, and affiliated Island communities through events and educational programming. The university supports Indigenous-focused programs, such as the Native Development Network and Native American Student Organization. Organizations and programs like these create spaces for cultural expression, policy advocacy, and ceremonial practices on campus.
Since April 2023, twelve totem poles were added to Juneau’s waterfront as part of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí Totem Pole Trail, a project led by the Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) to celebrate Indigenous culture and history. Supported by the Mellon Foundation, another Talent Citizen client, the trail will ultimately feature thirty poles, each representing clan heritage and crafted in collaboration with Indigenous artists. SHI is also developing educational resources to teach visitors and students about the poles’ cultural significance—efforts that require funding for the trail’s completion and future preservation efforts. Visit the SHI website if you would like to contribute to these efforts.
As head of the Department of the Interior during the Biden-Harris administration, Deb Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a U.S. cabinet secretary. In her role, Haaland has worked to address historical injustices against Indigenous communities. She recently concluded a national tour focused on the trauma caused by federal boarding schools—a dark historical legacy of forced assimilation for Indigenous children, including her own grandmother. Haaland has also expanded tribal co-management of public lands and made strides to include Indigenous voices in land stewardship and policy decisions, actions she hopes will set a precedent for future leadership. Although her efforts have faced complex challenges, her work symbolizes a commitment to honoring Indigenous histories and rights at the federal level, which will continue requiring a cross-sectorial, multi-pronged effort as a new administration takes over the executive branch next year.
Oregon State University has partnered with the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon to establish a facility dedicated to the repatriation of Native American ancestors and cultural items currently under OSU’s stewardship. This initiative not only advances the university’s obligations under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), but it is aimed at fostering reconciliation and respect through collaboration and partnership. The facility, which was created in consultation with tribal leaders, will host repatriation activities, ceremonies, and consultations, facilitating a respectful and culturally aligned process. It could serve as a national model for academic institutions seeking to honor Indigenous rights and histories in NAGPRA-related efforts.
