Native American Heritage Month 2023

Native American Heritage Month 2023 campaign artwork features a Navajo design and prevalent Native American symbols from the recognized tribes such as the Bear, Sun, Turtle, Eagle, Cactus, and Buffalo, each symbolizing the strength, courage, and resiliency of the Native American community.

A Message from the Strategist

Native American Heritage Month, established in 1990, celebrates the rich, cultural contributions of Native Americans to society. This year’s NIH theme, “Indigenous Resilience and Cultural Revitalization,” aims to increase awareness of and foster dialogue on equity, opportunity, and justice for American Indian communities.

There is much to commemorate and even more to learn from one another as we highlight the diversity that strengthens our workplace. Demonstrate allyship by embracing our theme; engage in conversations with your colleagues about the important matters of fairness and justice for this community within our shared space.

I hope you will find time to explore the featured blogs and participate in the events we feature for the month. Let November serve as a reminder of the importance of cultural understanding as we continue to build a more inclusive and harmonious society.

Clarissa Alexander

Clarissa Alexander
Native American Employment
Portfolio Strategist

A Message from Leadership

Dear Colleagues,

This month we celebrate Native American Heritage Month (NAHM). This year’s theme, “Indigenous Resilience and Cultural Revitalization,” highlights the culture, traditions, and achievements of the Nation’s original inhabitants and their descendants. This is an opportune time for us to educate ourselves about the history, culture, perseverance, and issues facing Native American communities.

In addition, we are excited to share the establishment of the Indigenous at NIH Employee Resource Group (ERG), a new ERG dedicated to improving cultural competency, enhancing recruitment efforts, and identifying funding opportunities for Tribal Colleges and Universities. The concept for this group was derived from the Native American Listening Session held in August of 2022. If you are interested in joining the Indigenous at NIH Employee Resource Group, please contact edi.native@mail.nih.gov.

On Tuesday, November 7, we invite you to attend Dr. Karina L. Walters’ presentation, Beyond Survivance: Thrivance Among American Indian and Alaska Native Cancer Survivors. Dr. Walters is the Director of NIH Tribal Health Research Office, in the Office of the Director’s Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives. Explore our campaign page this month to learn about key moments and figures that shaped Native American history; discover hand talk, an endangered common language among Native American tribes; and increase your understanding of cultural appropriation and appreciation.

Our organization thrives on diversity, which brings a variety of perspectives, experiences, and talents to the table. NAHM reminds us that we are part of a larger tapestry, beautifully woven with different cultures, each contributing to the overall strength and resilience of our community.

Please visit EDI’s website, explore the blog posts, follow the office on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), and watch EDI’s YouTube channel to stay informed on the exciting things that are happening this month.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tabak

Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Acting Director NIH

Kevin D. Williams, Esq.

Kevin D. Williams, Esq.
Director, EDI

Featured Blogs

Native American Sign Language: Image of hand diagrams in Plains Indian Sign language

The Cultural Relevance of Hand Talk: Native American Sign Language

A young Native American woman wearing traditional clothing smiles.

Appropriation and Appreciation: What’s the Difference?

Events

Beyond Survivance: Thrivance Among American Indian and Alaska Native Cancer Survivors

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT

Join the NCI Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS) for an OCS Director’s Series webinar on November 7. Dr. Karina L. Walters will present Beyond Survivance: Thrivance Among American Indian and Alaska Native Cancer Survivors.

This webinar is intended for researchers, advocates, clinicians, and policy makers with an interest in the health of tribal communities, oncology, or cancer survivorship. Individuals who need reasonable accommodations to participate in this event should contact Crystal Reed at crystal.reed@nih.gov. Requests should be made at least five business days in advance of the event.

Learn More

Native American Arts Exhibit

Thomas Jefferson Building - Great Hall - 2nd Floor (LJ200-E) 10 1st Street SE, Washington, DC 20540

This small, curated display for National Native American Heritage Month honors creative work by Indigenous artists from various tribal nations. It highlights work promoted by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board in association with Native galleries and museums in 1970, and Plains Indian and Pacific Northwest painting and drawing, featuring the tradition of Ledger Art and the work of women artists.

Additional dates and times are available through November.

Learn More

About the Artwork

Navajo Indian blanket from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA.

The artwork for our 2023 Native American Heritage Month observance displays a patterned design inspired by a Navajo blanket made between 1900 and 1920. There are currently 573 federally recognized tribes across the United States, each with their own languages, customs, traditions, and art forms. The artwork depicts several Native American symbols from the recognized tribes such as the Bear, Sun, Turtle, Eagle, Cactus, and Buffalo, each symbolizing the strength, courage, and resiliency of the Native American community.

Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division