Nat'l American Indian Heritage Month

Don't let your yesterdays eat too much of today

November is National American Heritage Month in the US, aka Native American Heritage Month, which began in with Bush in 1990.

"The President [of the USA] has authorized and requested to call upon Federal, State and local Governments, groups and organizations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities."

The landmark bill tribal people represented a major step in establishing this celebration.

Kachina dolls of the Hopi tribe

That struggle began in 1976 when a Cherokee/Osage Indian named Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle authored Native American Awareness Week legislation, the first historical week of recognition in the nation for Native peoples.

This led to Pres. Reagan in 1986 proclaiming November 23–30, 1986, as "American Indian Week" [1].

This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people living in the United States of America to share their:

• culture,
• traditions,
• music,
• crafts,
• dances,
• and ways and concepts of life.

LA, what say you about the White Man's oppression?

It is meant to give Native people the opportunity to resuscitate their languages and spiritual practices, natural medicines and rituals to express to the community in cities, counties, and states so that officials become aware of their concerns. In this way solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in local areas can be fostered.

Indians of the Valley, Tataviam, have a center

Federal agencies are encouraged to provide educational programs for their employees regarding American Indian history, rights, culture, and contemporary issues to better assist people affiliated with surviving tribe in their jobs and for overall awareness. More

I have a vision

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Southern California, and Los Angeles in particular, has the highest concentration of Indigenous people in the country. Yet, we have no "reservation," no remainder of our land not stolen by treaty and war by the Federal government. There are, however, public lands.

What if those who wanted to revive the Old Ways, keep them alive as mixed with the modern, were to have a place to live as before? I imagine somewhere in the forest above the city, in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles Forest and monument.

The invaders almost made us forget

What if Natives and allies could come together to fashion a better society within the society. Now we're all spoiled and do not want to relinquish the benefits of modernity. But we do not want to be deprived of our traditions, identities, and customs.

The knowledge, language, and culture taken from us can be restored. If everyone were given title and deed to a homestead on Catalina Island, it would soon be full, our own "Hawaiian kingdom" with a queen representing us. Soon all the Channel Islands would be full of canoes and catamarans, traversing the waters of Santa Monica Bay.

If elders guide us, we might all live in peace.

What if we could all receive secure housing within the county, no need to be placed on desolate land and isolated. What if Indians got recognition?

Los Angeles is Tongva (Kizh, Gabrieleno) land, and that could be to everyone's benefit. Even Bruce's Beach eventually got recognition. We'll have to assemble in community to find a consensus.

• Xochitl, Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit