National Native American Heritage Month: One Step on a Fruitful Journey
Ed Bourgeois, Advancing Indigenous Performance Program Manager
Since 1915 there have been nationwide calls for proclamations honoring the First Peoples of the lands that today make up the United States. Through advocates' efforts in the early 20th century, various states recognized some version of American Indian Day over the next 75 years. Since then, the month has been referred to by different names; today, we recognize November as National Native American Heritage Month.
The Continental U.S. showing the original locations and names of Native American tribes. Map image courtesy of Aaron Carapella. To view other maps and to purchase your own, visit Tribal Nations Maps.
For many presenters in our field, National Native American Heritage month is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on Indigenous performers. Many organizations have begun programming Native artists into their seasons in November. For the artists and communities, this is a big step out of invisibility.
Artists are grateful to be engaged, and hiring a Native performer in November is a significant action. Like a Land Acknowledgment statement, it opens a door and sets your organization on a path of relationship building – with artists, with communities, and with audiences.
Build on Your Land Acknowledgement Statement
If you have crafted a Land Acknowledgment Statement, kudos to you, but don't stop there. Land Acknowledgment is a decisive step towards equity, but don't let it be your last. Equity is additive. It's not a switch you can flip, but a process, which builds transformation with every step you take.
These next steps might include building long-term relationships in the Native community around you. Seek counsel from that community about your statement's accuracy and completeness and how best you might serve that community's specific needs. This might include providing Native artists access to your space, supporting a Native Arts Market, or improving accommodations for elders.
Consider digging further into your Land Acknowledgment and sharing research on the people you are tipping your hat to. Connecting a story or historical fact to your statement will help your audience develop a deeper understanding of the lands upon which your community stands. This process, done sensitively, can lead to more authentic engagement than merely reciting a curtain speech Land Acknowledgment.
Similarly, seeking deeper connections with artists – beyond just their Native identity – helps develop an appreciation for their work in a richer context. That understanding may lead curators to include Indigenous work throughout the season, not just in November. The work of diversity, equity, and inclusion is about more than ticking a box on a checklist. It's about reaching out, building real relationships, and empowering others.
Be Comfortable with Discomfort
It may be uncomfortable for you to take this leap into the unknown. That's OK. Comfort is a symptom of privilege. Discomfort is a normal state for people of color. Embrace your discomfort; it will help keep your ego in check as you do this work. And don't worry about asking stupid questions. There are none.
Like, "So what is the right term: Indigenous, Native, American Indian, or … ?" This is an excellent question. Everyone wants to be called by the right name. So … American Indian is no longer in favor – real Indians are South Asian. Native, First Nations, or Indigenous – each is more popular depending on whether you're in the US, Canada, or Australia, but you are safe using them interchangeably. Your best bet is to ask each Native artist how they identify.
Build Your Resource Library
There isn't room here to list all the resources you might avail yourself of on this journey. But a couple to get you started are:
Native Land - to help you identify the First Peoples of the land you are on;
The AIP Artist Profiles - for information on the Indigenous performers of WAA's Advancing Indigenous Performance (AIP) Native Launchpad;
Follow the AIP Facebook page - where we post relevant articles and information;
Tribal Nations Maps - consider purchasing one to hang in your home or office to familiarize yourself with the how the continental U.S. looked before European contact.
So, happy National Native American Heritage Month. Learn something new about a Native artist or community this month and use this as a reminder to keep moving forward. You'll be glad you did.
Please feel free to reach out to me at ebourgeois@westarts.org.