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Heritage Month is Here: Get Involved!

   By Helen Oliff

Besides Thanksgiving, November brings a chance to unite around something unique and long-lasting: Native American culture and tradition. Many states recognized the importance of this even before Native American Heritage Month was established. Former President George W. Bush first declared Heritage Month for November 1990, and every President since has honored it. Native Americans have made so many contributions to the United States, yet few people even realize this, so Heritage Month is a great time to become more NativeAware®.

The Medicine Wheel, Wisdom for the Ages

Even today, we increasingly turn to Native wisdom for issues like climate change and wildfires. This Heritage Month, we’re also reminded of the ancient Medicine Wheel. Also known as the Sacred Hoop, the four colors – red, yellow, black, and white – embody the Four Directions or stages of life: birth, growth, death, and rebirth. Tribes use the wheel to remember the cycle of life, to remember the connection to Earth, Spirit, and ancestors, and to bring balance and harmony to the people.

One way Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) brings harmony is by honoring the self-determination of each tribe. They know best what is needed and what will work for the people. Virtually all our services are designed to work within the cultural norms of remote Tribal communities. This has allowed us to partner with up to 50 tribes for more than 30 years, during Heritage Month and year-round.

Many organizations are interested in working with Tribal communities but lack the cultural knowledge or connections to do so. PWNA serves as an intermediary in this regard, connecting the tribes to new outside resources. We also provide training to help these groups understand cultural norms and protocols for working with tribes. Last month alone, we conducted training with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, PPREP, and the Salvation Army. All of them are focused on disaster response, including support for Tribal areas.

How to Become More NativeAware

This Heritage Month month, we have four public education engagements scheduled with workplaces, DEI teams, and colleges. If you or your group wants to become more NativeAware, there are many ways to do it: Reach out to book a virtual event with us. Try out the Native land app to see whose land you live on. Take advantage of our free downloads like these:

In the meantime, keep coming back all month to participate in PWNA’s Heritage Month activities. You can enter giveaway contests, catch a powerful new video launch, and learn about other ways to get involved. Each week, we’ll be adding new elements for a different color in the Medicine Wheel.