The annual observance of Native American Heritage Month each November is often perceived as a relatively recent creation of the United States Congress. However, the roots of this recognition extend far deeper, reaching back over a century and originating not in the halls of government, but within the Native American communities themselves. These communities, seeking acknowledgment and preservation of their rich cultural heritage, were the initial driving force behind the movement. They later found a significant ally in the Boy Scouts of America, whose early programming and values embraced aspects of Native American culture.
The month of November serves as a designated time to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans across the United States. The manner in which Native American Heritage Month is observed varies greatly across the nation. In regions with substantial Indigenous populations and a strong Native American political presence, the celebrations are often extensive and impactful. Government agencies, educational institutions, and historical commissions collaborate to organize a diverse array of events, including engaging exhibits, thought-provoking student projects, and informative lectures, all designed to educate and honor the heritage of Native Americans.
Conversely, in many other communities throughout the country, the significance of November in relation to Native American history and culture remains largely unknown. A lack of awareness persists, highlighting the ongoing need for increased education and outreach to ensure broader recognition and appreciation of the contributions of Indigenous peoples. This disparity underscores the importance of continued efforts to raise awareness and promote inclusivity in recognizing the history and heritage of Native Americans.
A critical piece of American history that often goes unacknowledged is the timeline of citizenship rights. The Indian Citizenship Act, passed in 1924, granted citizenship to Native Americans, a full four years after women were granted the right to vote. This legislation was a landmark moment, yet its impact was not immediately felt across the nation. While the act theoretically enfranchised all Native Americans, the reality on the ground was far more complex.
Numerous state and local governments, particularly in the Southwestern and Southeastern regions of the United States, actively resisted the implementation of the Indian Citizenship Act. These entities continued to deny Native Americans their fundamental rights, including the right to vote, own property, and participate fully in civic life. It wasn’t until the passage of the Civil Rights Act during the Lyndon Johnson Administration that these discriminatory practices began to be dismantled, ensuring that Native Americans could finally exercise their rights as citizens of the United States.
The state of Georgia provides a stark example of the systemic discrimination faced by Native Americans. Prior to the Civil Rights Act, Georgia had laws in place that explicitly prohibited Native Americans from voting, owning real estate, attending public schools, and even testifying in their own defense in court. These oppressive laws effectively marginalized and disenfranchised Native Americans, denying them basic human rights and perpetuating a cycle of inequality.
In the early 1970s, Governor Jimmy Carter took a significant step towards rectifying these injustices by pressuring the Georgia General Assembly to abolish these discriminatory statutes. While these laws were by then deemed unconstitutional, their existence on the books served as a constant reminder of the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by Native Americans in the state. Carter’s actions paved the way for a more inclusive and equitable society in Georgia.
The initial calls for Native American constitutional rights emerged in Oklahoma, fueled by the ramifications of the Dawes Act of 1895. This act led to the dissolution of tribal governments and the allotment of land parcels to individual tribal members, fundamentally altering the traditional structures of Native American societies.
Members of the Five Civilized Tribes – the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee – found themselves particularly vulnerable in the wake of the Dawes Act. While theoretically granted citizenship in the Territory of Oklahoma, they were stripped of the protections previously afforded by their tribal governments and legal systems. This created a precarious situation in which they were neither fully protected by the laws of the territory nor afforded the traditional safeguards of their tribal communities.
Historically, many Native American tribes originating in the eastern United States had long-standing traditions of women’s suffrage and property ownership. However, with the imposition of the Dawes Act and the legal framework of the Oklahoma Territory, Native women were placed in a position analogous to that of Caucasian women, facing limitations on their rights and autonomy. Both Native men and women were often subjected to abuses within the territorial court system, further exacerbating their marginalization and vulnerability.
The early 20th century saw the rise of organizations that, while not directly advocating for Native American rights, incorporated aspects of Native American culture into their activities. In 1902, the Woodcraft Indians was founded in Connecticut. This organization brought together Caucasian boys into "tribes" and "bands," teaching them woodland survival skills and artistic techniques inspired by Native American traditions.
In 1910, the Woodcraft Indians merged with several other groups to form the Boy Scouts of America. The American Boy Scout program developed a distinctive focus on "Indian and frontiersmen" themes, distinguishing it from its parent organization in the United Kingdom, which primarily prepared boys for military service and the expansion of the British Empire. The Boy Scouts’ embrace of Native American imagery and skills, while sometimes problematic in its appropriation, contributed to a growing awareness of Native American culture within American society.
In 1914, Red Fox James, a Western Blackfoot Indian, embarked on a remarkable journey, riding on horseback across much of the United States to advocate for the establishment of a national holiday honoring American Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented petitions from 24 states to President Woodrow Wilson at the White House. Despite his tireless efforts, there is no record of Wilson proclaiming such a holiday.
The Boy Scouts of America distinguished itself as the first national institution in the United States to formally recognize a day dedicated to honoring Native Americans. Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a member of the Seneca Tribe and the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, NY, played a pivotal role in this endeavor.
From the turn of the century onward, Dr. Parker tirelessly campaigned for special recognition of the many contributions of Indigenous peoples to North American civilization. His advocacy eventually led him to convince leaders of the newly formed Boy Scouts of America to designate a day for honoring the "First Americans" in 1915.
That same year, E. Urner Goodman, a 25-year-old Scoutmaster in Philadelphia, assumed the role of camp director for the Philadelphia Boy Scout Council’s Treasure Island camp on the Delaware River. Goodman incorporated Native American themes into the camp’s activities, drawing inspiration from the characters in James Fenimore Cooper’s "Last of the Mohicans."
At the conclusion of their time at the camp, the boys would vote to select a few scouts who they believed best embodied the ideals of "Scouting." Those chosen were inducted into an Indian lodge, complete with elaborate Delaware Indian rituals.
By 1921, Goodman’s special recognition program had expanded to other regions of the nation and became known as the Order of the Arrow. Initially, the Order of the Arrow functioned more as a popularity contest than a true reflection of Native American values or traits.
Notably, in its early years, the Order of the Arrow did not include any American Indian members. Nevertheless, this unique fraternity within the Boy Scouts of America has continued to honor the Indigenous heritage of North America for nearly a century.
In May of 1916, due in part to the continued advocacy of Albert C. Parker, the State of New York declared American Indian Day. Illinois legislators followed suit in 1919, also designating American Indian Day.
Subsequently, several states began to designate the fourth Friday in September as American Indian Day. While several states still observe a Native American Day, it has never attained the status of a national legal holiday.
Throughout the 20th century, the Boy Scouts of America remained the sole national institution that consistently presented Native American culture in a positive and respectful light.
As successive generations of boys participated in Scouting, this positive image of Native Americans gradually permeated American society. Former Boy Scouts went on to become leaders at the local, state, and national levels, carrying with them the values and perspectives they had gained through their involvement in Scouting.
During the 1970s, a number of Native American entertainment and sports celebrities, along with Hollywood actors such as Martin Sheen, Anthony Quinn, Jane Fonda, and Marlon Brando, began advocating for the replacement of Columbus Day with Native American Day.
While some states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, this co-designation has not achieved national legal recognition.
After more than two decades of advocacy by Native American leaders, celebrities, and members of Congress, a joint House-Senate resolution was finally passed, designating November 1990 as "National Native American Heritage Month."
The resolution was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. In 1994, a similar resolution was signed by President Bill Clinton. Since then, Congress has passed similar resolutions each year. Despite these annual proclamations, Native American Heritage Month still lacks permanent legal status within the federal government.