Honoring Indigenous people and land

Every November, Native American Heritage Month celebrates the rich histories and diverse cultures of Indigenous Peoples and communities. In the United States, there are over 500 unique and distinct tribal nations as well as approximately 167 different Indigenous languages spoken across the country. It’s important to honor the realities and histories of Indigenous Peoples during this time, and year-round. 

The following is a sampling of resources that recognize Indigenous Peoples and their histories, culture, land, Knowledge and activism. Please add to this list and share your ideas in the comments below or in an email to editor@childrenandnature.org.

Native American Heritage Month and Indigenous histories

• Native American Heritage Month: A roundup of educational resources about Indigenous peoples, Native Americans in Philanthropy
• Native American Heritage Month, National Park Service 
• Native American Heritage Month official website
• What to watch: Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, PBS

Land acknowledgments, land back and beyond

• Whose land are you on? Interactive Native land map and teacher’s guide, Native-Land.ca 
• Going Beyond Land Acknowledgments training and resources, Redbud Resource Group
• Steps to land back: Land access and cultural revitalization, Redbud Resource Group 
• Learn more about rematriation and land back, Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
• Learn about and support American Indian nations and people in the recovery and control of their rightful homelands, Indian Land Tenure Foundation
• Finding Nature News: When buried water sees the light of day, communities thrive, Children & Nature Network
• Finding Nature News: A common thread: Indigenous-led foundation weaves together activism and art, climate and community, Children & Nature Network
• Video: The Rights of Nature with Samantha Skenandore of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Children & Nature Network

Resources for organizations

• Native American Heritage Month Communications Toolkit, Native Americans in Philanthropy
• Land Reparations & Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit
• Research Digest: The healing power of nature for Indigenous children and youth, Children & Nature Network
• Research Digest: Indigenous studies for Native American Heritage Month, Children & Nature Network
• Research Digest: Translating Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Children & Nature Network

Resources for educators

• Seeing our Native students: A guide for educators, Redbud Resource Group
• Five ways to indigenize your curricula, Redbud Resource Group
• Indigenous knowledge is often overlooked in education. But it has a lot to teach us, EdSurge
• Giving Thanks: Telling a more complete narrative in your classroom, from the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
• Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving, National Museum of the American Indian
• Native American Literature in Your Classroom, National Museum of the American Indian

Learn about inspirational Indigenous youth and groups

• 7 young Indigenous activists standing up for their communities, DoSomething.org
• Nine Indigenous climate activists you should know about, Arcadia
• 13 young Indigenous rights activists, United Nations 
• Diversify your feed: 6 more Indigenous environmental organizations you should follow, Native Americans in Philanthropy
• The resilience of Indigenous youth, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Let us be heard: Indigenous youth speak on climate justice, Cultural Survival

Other ways to think about and observe Thanksgiving

• A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving, Center for Racial Justice
• Finding Nature News: Gathering in gratitude, Children & Nature Network
• 55th Annual National Day of Mourning, Thursday, November 28, 2024, United American Indians of New England
• Thanksgiving: What to share with kids beyond food and festivity, an interview with Traci Sorrell, WBUR
• Things every non-native should do on Thanksgiving, HuffPost
• ThanksTaking or ThanksGiving?, All My Relations Podcast
• Should America Keep Celebrating Thanksgiving?, by Sean Sherman and Chase Iron Eyes, The Nation

Organizations and programs to support

• Center for Native American Youth — education and advocacy organization that works alongside Native youth to improve their health, safety and well-being
• Redbud Resource Group —  helps improve public health outcomes for Native American communities through education, research and community partnership
• NAYA Family Center — provides culturally specific programs and services that guide Native youth and families in the direction of personal success and balance through cultural empowerment
• International Indigenous Youth Council — organize youth through education, spiritual practices and civic engagement to create positive change for sustainability and environmental protection
• Native Youth Climate Adaptation Leadership Congress — aims to support future conservation leaders with the tools and skills needed to address environmental change and conservation challenges through an annual training event
• Her Many Voices Foundation — provides resources and practical education for women, children and Mother Earth, with a focus on Indigenous communities
• IllumiNative — a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of — and challenging the narrative about — Native peoples
• Indigenous Climate Action: Youth Leadership — Indigenous-led organization investing in Indigenous Youth for a sustainable future for humanity and the Earth
• Cultural Survival: Indigenous Youth Fellowships — supports young Indigenous leaders in developing media skills to champion self-governance, restore ecosystems and steward cultural heritage
• Earth Guardians: Indigenous Youth Initiative — provides Indigenous youth with virtual & in-person training on practical applications of youth leadership models in environmental justice and Indigenous rights, held by youth-centered environmental activist organization
• Native Voices Rising –– a research, donor, education, re-granting and capacity-building collaborative created to support organizing, advocacy and civic engagement in Indigenous communities
• Indigenous Environmental Network — advocates for the inherent rights of Native peoples to practice cultural and spiritual ways of life and to stop the destruction of Native waters, lands and territories

Editor’s note: This resource was originally published in November 2022. It is updated and republished annually with new resources.