Videos to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage month is celebrated in November to honor the culture, history, and achievements of Native Americans. This November, we’re celebrating by sharing educational videos narrated by Native Americans to share their own stories. These stories highlight everything from the struggles of forced Anglo-American assimilation to the close-knit cultural bonds of present-day reservation life.

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Zitkala-Ša: Advocate for the Rights of Native People

Learn about Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, aka Zitkala-Sa, who fought against the US government as it forced Native Americans to assimilate into Anglo-American culture. Zitkala-Sa was a young girl when she was forced into boarding school when assimilation was imposed on Native Americans by the US government in the early 20th century.

The challenges faced by Native American students in government-funded boarding schools are a harrowing tale. In “Zitkala-Sa: Advocate for the Rights of Native People,” find out about the role of activists like Gertrude Simmons Bonnen in resisting assimilation and advocating for Native American rights and the importance of preserving and valuing indigenous cultures and voices in society.

Tara Houska: The Standing Rock Resistance and Our Fight for Indigenous Rights

Still invisible and often an afterthought, indigenous peoples are uniting to protect the world's water, lands and history -- while trying to heal from genocide and ongoing inequality. In “Tara Houka: The Standing Rock Resistance and Our Fight for Indigenous Rights,” tribal attorney and Couchiching First Nation citizen, Tara Houska chronicles the history of attempts by government and industry to eradicate the legitimacy of indigenous peoples' land and culture, including the months-long standoff at Standing Rock which rallied thousands around the world. 

Native American Boarding Schools: Forced Separation of Families

For over a hundred years, the US government used education as a tool to assimilate Native American children into American society. By systematically erasing their history, culture, and language, the impact of the US government's assimilation program on Native American children has been limitless.

“Native American Boarding Schools: Forced Separation of Families,” dives into the erasure of cultural identity and sovereignty faced by indigenous children in federally run boarding schools. It discusses the methods used to assimilate Native American children, such as changing names, enforcing English, and prohibiting native languages. Learn about the lasting mental and physical effects on survivors and their descendants from the assimilation program, and about the role of the US government in acknowledging historical injustices and the need for reparations.

The Tragic History of Indigenous Land Removal in the United States

“The Tragic History of Indigenous Land Removal in the United States” provides a comprehensive overview of the forced removal of indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands in North America. Narrated by Rainy Fields, a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and of Cherokee descent, it delves into the European settlers' disregard for indigenous lives, the US government's policy of Indian removal, and the devastating Trail of Tears. 

Moreover, get a deep sense of belonging indigenous peoples have to their ancestral lands and fully realize the impact of European colonization on the indigenous societies in North America. Learn about the violent policy of Indian removal by the United States government and the motivations behind the forced removal of indigenous peoples.

The Iroquois Confederacy - America's First Democracy

The Iroquois Confederacy, or Haudenosaunee, is believed to be the one of the world’s oldest participatory democracies and the oldest democratic form of government on the American continent. Originally made from five Native American tribes: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca, they were later joined by the Tuscarora. 

The confederacy’s constitution is the Great Law of Peace. According to tradition, the Iroquois people came together to live in peace and harmony after Hiawatha, a mourning Onondaga chief, joined a man who was known as the Peacemaker in pursuing unity among the Iroquois. In “The Iroquois Confederacy - America’s First Democracy,” find out about how the history and policies of the oldest democracy in America was built on the pursuit of peace.

What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Native America

Why aren’t Native people– and their stories – ever the crux of your favorite films? From films used as a tool of genocide propaganda, to award-winning indigenous stories in Hollywood, how far has indigenous media representation come and where is it headed? In “What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Native America,” Tai Leclaire and experts track indigenous entertainment, share insights about well-known Native American films, and get into detail about Hollywood’s misinformation and representation in film. 

Native American Foods of the Old West

The creativity with which Native American groups brought ingredients together reflected an awareness of and respect for the environment. When it comes to what kind of foods Native Americans ate in the past, their meals were often about both sustenance and ceremony.

“Native American Foods of the West,” highlights the importance of ceremony in indigenous American meals. Learn about the creative use of local ingredients in indigenous American cuisine and nutrient-rich traditional recipes of Native American tribes. 

The Native American Culture

Want to learn more broadly about Native American culture? In “The Native American Culture,” learn about the diversity of tribes and their different ways of life, including agricultural and nomadic Native American cultures. Get a better understanding of the impact of the introduction of horses on Native American tribes, particularly those living on the Great Plains.

Storytelling remains a significant way of preserving the history and culture of Native Americans. Find out about the development of a written language by the Cherokee tribe and its significance in communication and preserving their culture.

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