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Native American Heritage Month: A Resource Guide

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Graphic says Native American Heritage Month

#overview

Overview

November is National Native American Heritage Month. This celebratory heritage month, recognized under other appellations, including American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, offers an opportunity for the public to explore the history and culture of Indigenous peoples with ties to the land now occupied by the United States. With respect for the diverse cultures, ancestry, histories, and sovereignty Indigenous people in our community, in North America, and throughout the world, the library aims to integrate topics related to Indigenous peoples into programming throughout the year, and this heritage month serves as a chance to focus our efforts. A number of programs and initiatives this month emphasize Indigenous peoples and their cultures for this reason.

Indigenous peoples—specifically, the Lenape (also called the Leni Lenape, Lenni Lenape, or Delaware)—resided on the land now known as New Jersey long before Europeans arrived. Three state-recognized tribes continue to live in New Jersey: the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation, Powhatan Renape Nation, and Ramapough Lenape Nation. In addition, many people in New Jersey identify as inter-tribal or members of other Indigenous nations. As of 2020, more than 53,000 people in New Jersey identify as American Indian or Alaska Native. There are also several federally recognized tribes, displaced and now based elsewhere in North America, for whom present-day New Jersey is an ancestral homeland. These include the Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, and Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians.

A note on terminology: While both “Native American” and “American Indian” remain widely accepted terms, it is generally preferred to use the specific tribal nation when referring to Indigenous people. “Indigenous” or “Indigenous American” can also be adopted as general terms with increasingly more currency today. To learn more, see the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian’s statement on terminology from their FAQ page.

#programs

2024 Programs

A complete list of library programs for National Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) can be compiled by searching on the library calendar for “Native American Heritage Month” through the tag field.

The Library initiates this year’s celebration of NAHM on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. with the Fourth Annual Munsee Language & History Symposium with this year’s theme being “Widening the Circle: Lunaape Land, Language, and History” by hosting a panel discussion with the title “Treaty Agreements and Responsibilities.” Panelists John Moses (Kanyen’kehaka and Delaware, Six Nations / Canadian Museum of History), Mary Jane Logan McCallum (Munsee-Delaware Nation / University of Winnipeg), and Jo Ann Gardner Schedler (Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians) will speak on the significance of the Wampum Belt, which has often stood historically as a cultural object that marked political rights, especially treaty agreements between Indigenous tribes. This symposium will provide an opportunity for interested attendees to understand and appreciate the ancestral traditions, long lasting legacy, and keen relationships that continue to exist between Lunaapeewak (Lunaape people) from Munsee-speaking tribal nations. A livestream is also available for registered participants. This event is sponsored by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Princeton; Land, Language, and Art: A Humanities Council Global Initiative; the Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship; the Princeton Public Library, and the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study.

For children, the Youth Services Department has scheduled two storytimes “celebrating Native American Heritage Month” on Nov. 9 and Nov. 23. These interactive, in-person story times features books, songs, rhymes, fingerplays and movement for children 2 years and up, accompanied by an adult.

On Saturday, Nov. 16, a Take & Make watercolor kit inspired by “We Are Water Protectors,” written by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade, is available at the third floor’s pop-up programming area. Read “We Are Water Protectors” or watch this edition of Storytime Shorts and be inspired to create your own watercolor artwork using the supplies in the kit.

Native American Heritage Month events beyond the library include a virtual conversation presented by Mercer County Library on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m., in which Navajo Ranger Stanley Milford Jr. discusses his memoir of his investigations into cases of the paranormal and the unexplained in Navajoland. In “The Paranormal Ranger,” Milford brings his experience as a law enforcement officer to bear upon these cases. No card is needed to register.

The Tulpehaking Nature Center is hosting “In the Footsteps of the Lenape” Saturday, Nov. 30, from 2-4 p.m. This event is free and offers an opportunity to learn about the Lenape, their culture and their art. Participants are then invited to create land art inspired by the Lenape in the Watson Woods. Registration required.

#watch

Watch

You can view more than two dozens films that highlight Indigenous perspectives, voices, and themes via the library’s subscription to Kanopy (available to library cardholders for free), which provides access to a video streaming service that offers a broad selection of quality documentaries, feature films and training videos.

Additionally, Access Video on Demand (also available to library cardholders for free) has several videos particularly of interest, including Untold Art that Changed America: Indigenous North American Tattoos; Southwest American Indian Art: World Indigenous Art; Columbus in America; Oren Lyons the Faithkeeper; and Songcatchers: The Gathering.

Younger viewers and their caregivers can find archived storytimes in the Virtual Story Room, which celebrate and share books created by Native American authors and illustrators in a series of nine Storytime Shorts that can be viewed on the library’s YouTube channel.

#read

Read about Indigenous History and Culture

See below for a list of nonfiction resources about Native American history and culture. You’ll find scholarship, memoirs, and reference books.

Below is a list of fiction geared toward adults, including novels and poetry, related to Native American history and culture.

And for teens and kids, you’ll find lists of books that highlight Native American history, culture and experiences.

#learn

Learn

There are also a number of online sources related to Native American heritage. These include:

#educators

Resources for Educators

See the materials below for potential starting points for engaging learners. You’ll find lesson plans, digital tools, maps, guides on best practices and terminology and more.

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