Native American Heritage Month
Published on November 01, 2023
Diverse indigenous communities have been an integral part of the American story for thousands of years, and November has been designated Native American Heritage Month to call attention to the culture, traditions, and achievements of our nation’s original inhabitants and their descendants.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, there are 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages, each with its unique culture, traditions and languages, along with their own distinct histories and governance systems. In the 2020 Census, the American Indian and Alaska Native population alone (3.7 million) accounted for 1.1% of all people living in the United States, however those who identified solely as one or in combination with another group comprised of 9.7 million people (2.9% of the total population).
The City of Lakewood joins communities around the nation in not only celebrating Native Americans, but honoring their resilience in dealing with a long history of oppression and marginalization. In celebrating Native American traditions, language and art, we help support the preservation and revitalization of these aspects of our full American heritage.
A key element of Lakewood's award-winning Community Dialogue on Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is celebrating the diversity of people and cultures that Lakewood is proud to have as part of our community.
On behalf of the Lakewood City Council, Mayor Ariel Pe recently signed a proclamation(PDF, 618KB) declaring November as “Native American Heritage Month” in Lakewood.
Resources to learn more
See a special Lakewood CityTV video that highlights the Native American people who lived in the Lakewood-Long Beach area, including the Tongva people.
Native American Festival 2017 from CityTVLakewoodCA on Vimeo.
Explore the Los Angeles County Library’s website for Native American Heritage Month.
Check the Lakewood library webpages for activities and resources you can read, watch and participate in:
Angelo Iacaboni Library
George Nye Jr. Library
NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov is a comprehensive portal provided by the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, Smithsonian Institution and other federal institutions that pays tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.
A multitude of resources await, filled with audio, video, exhibits, collections and discussions about the indigenous peoples of the United States.