By Melissa Chapman
Cataloging Supervisor

Native American Heritage Day is a civil holiday observed on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States.

In fact, November is also Native American Heritage Month. Native American Heritage Day celebrates the vibrant cultures, traditions, and heritages while recognizing the many contributions Native Americans have made.

Native American Heritage Day and Month provide a national platform for indigenous people to shed light on their communities by leading discussions about culture and tradition, educating the public about tribal communities.

Celebrating the month is also a great time to inform the general public about tribes, to raise an awareness about the unique challenges indigenous people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

What can you do to celebrate Native American Heritage Day and Month? Read a story about or by a Native American. Visit one of many Native American museums, heritage centers, or historical sights. Try a delicious Native American recipe. Participate in or watch a game of lacrosse. Attend one of many seminars, performances or events honoring Native American culture across the country. Watch a movie or documentary about Native Americans and their history. The Warsaw Community Public Library has several films available as well as books, audiobooks and eBooks.

Celebrations for Native American Heritage Month vary across the United States, but some of the national celebrations include the “Rock Your Mocs” campaign and Red Shawl Day.

Rock Your Mocs events are a positive opportunity to celebrate tribal individuality by wearing moccasins. Red Shawl Day is observed on Nov. 19. This day encourages people to wear red in honor of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

Social media is also a huge driver for indigenous people when it comes to educating the public about indigenous communities or providing insight into culture and traditions.

In an effort to highlight the indigenous communities, TikTok is working to bring more attention to indigenous peoples and stories on its platform.

Perhaps the best way to honor indigenous people this and all months is to rethink and question go-to history books, to shine a light on truth, acknowledging painful history and aspiring for a society that seeks to lift, not erase, the lives, traditions and cultures of the people who were here first.

Remember to use #NativeAmericanHeritageDay to post on social media.