November is Native American Heritage Month, and it’s a great time for those of us who pack up our new or used RVs and set out to explore this great nation to take an extra moment to appreciate all the ways Native Americans have influenced our shared American experience, whether it’s through food, art, music or crafts.
The President recently issued this proclamation: “This month, we celebrate and honor the many ways American Indians and Alaska Natives have enriched our Nation, and we renew our commitment to respecting each tribe’s identity while ensuring equal opportunity to pursue the American dream.”
Whether your next RV road trip takes you across the country or across the state, we found several resources to help us all learn more about the rich, varied, triumphant (although sometimes heartbreaking) history of American Indians.
Where to start:
Nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov
A number of institutions, including The Library of Congress, National Park Service and Smithsonian, have joined forces to create a one-stop info-site for events around the country, online museum exhibits, veterans’ support, audio, video and resources for teachers.
Around the country:
- The National Park Service has created a special list of park sites called “Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary: Places Reflecting America’s Diverse Cultures” not only for sites of Native American significance but all cultures of the Americas.
- The National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, DC, is not to be missed.
- You can also read about Native American Veterans from World War II to Iraq with this collection of personal stories.
In Minnesota:
- The University of Minnesota, Crookston, will host events November 16 through November 20. Check out their website for more info.
- Watch the short video “A Day in the Life of Minnesota Tribal Nations”
Did you know?
- Minnesota is a Siouan Indian word meaning “cloudy water.”
- The original inhabitants of the area that is Minnesota included: The Dakota Sioux tribe; The Ojibwe tribe.
- There are eleven federally recognized Indian tribes in Minnesota today, and they comprise the Chippewa, Ojibwe, Sioux and Dakota tribes.
