On August 3, 1990, President George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans in November, as do many public libraries across the nation. This year, Native American Heritage Day is celebrated on November 24.

 

Each November, the Daniel Davisson Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (based in Clarksburg) creates an informational display about Native American Heritage Month for our library’s bulletin board. The library will also often create book displays highlighting books written by or about Native Americans, or books you can read to learn more about Native American history and cultures during this month. If you are interested in learning more, we have plenty of books to start your learning journey.

 

Native American Stories for Kids: 12 Traditional Stories from Indigenous Tribes Across North America by Tom Pecore Weso will allow you to introduce your children to the rich cultures of Native Americans with a compilation of stories from multiple tribes like the Cheyenne and the Lenape. There are twelve stories from tribes around America and every story ends with a brief history of the tribe, providing context and offering a glimpse into their way of life and their traditions. It also includes a collection of fascinating facts, suggestions for additional reading, and a glossary of important words to give kids a deeper understanding and appreciation.

 

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present by Adrienne Keene celebrates the lives, stories, and contributions of Indigenous artists, activists, scientists, athletes, and other changemakers in this beautifully illustrated book. This book profiles 50 notable American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian people, from NBA star Kyrie Irving of the Standing Rock Lakota to Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

 

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard is a children’s book about a modern Native American family. It celebrates the Native American tradition of sharing fry bread during family meals, in a story about family, history, culture, and traditions, both new and old.

 

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is the first history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples. Spanning more than four hundred years, this book covers historical threads that are crucial for understanding the present. An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States won the PEN Oakland-Josephine Miles Award for Excellence in Literature.