CJ Harris
Welcome to West Side Story's newest article! Within this article I will cover everything Native American, from moments in history to the declaration of National Native American Heritage Month! It is not well known that November is National Native American Heritage Month. During this month people celebrate the fact they have Native American heritage. I especially celbrate this month because I com from a Cherokee tribe. It is also a recognition for the contributions Americans made to establishment and growth in the US.
Anna Keith Sullivan
One of the advocates of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the “First Americans” and for 3 years they adopted this day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting formally approved a plan concerning the national holiday. On September 28, 1915, declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day. The year before the proclamation was issued, Red Fox James rode horseback from state to state seeking approval to honor a day for Indians. On December 14, 1915 he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at The White House. There is no record of this however. The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush approved a resolution designating November 1990 “National Native American Heritage Month”.
For more information on National Native American Heritage Month check out the National Native American Heritage Month website!