National Native American Month is an annual observance in the United States, honoring the heritage and culture of Native Americans. This is a month-long observance that celebrates the rich history and culture of Native Americans and the contributions they have made to the United States.
It was established on November 2, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush as part of his Native American Heritage Month Proclamation. He chose November to coincide with the National Day of Mourning, which honors those who died due to European exploration and settlement in the Americas.
Why it is Important
Native Americans played a major role in the development of the United States. For many years, they have been marginalized, and it is time to give them their due.
Native Americans have been marginalized in American society for centuries as a result of colonization and genocide. They were not given their due as an important part of the history of America. Native Americans owned the land before European settlement and colonization.
History of Native Americans
The indigenous people of the Americas are a diverse group of ethnicities, cultures, and languages. They were the first inhabitants of the Americas and made up most of the population in North America for thousands of years. The Indian tribes were often divided into two broad cultural areas: Northeastern Woodlands, Southern Woodlands, and Great Plains Tribes.
While there are many different tribes that have lived in North America over time, there are five tribes that remain today: Cherokee Nation, Navajo Nation, Sioux Nation, Chippewa Tribe of Indians and Jicarilla Apache Tribe.
Problems Indigenious women face
Historically marginalized populations have been subjected to racism and discrimination in America for centuries. This has led to a major disparity in economic standing between these groups and their non-indigenous counterparts.
The United States has a long history of marginalizing and discriminating against its indigenous people. This is reflected in the current statistics that show how the indigenous population is more likely to be poor, unemployed, incarcerated, and lack health care.
One of the major challenges faced by indigenous women is poverty. The poverty rate for this group is twice as high as it is for white women. More than 40% of Native American live in poverty, which is more than double the national average. One of the reasons behind this is that many Native Americans live in rural areas, where jobs are scarce and wages are low.
Murder is the sixth largest cause of death for Indigenous women and girls between the ages of 1 and 44 in the United States, according to the most current statistics from the Centers for Disease Control. Unfortunately, the projections of how many people are missing aren’t regarded to be accurate for a number of reasons, one of which is that not all agencies submit their information to the FBI data center.
84 percent of Alaska Native and American Indian women have experienced some type of violence in their lifetimes, ranging from psychological to sexual and physical abuse, according to startling statistics from the National Institute of Justice in the United States. Despite the seriousness of the issue, 38% of Indigenous women victims reported being unable to access legal, medical, or other services, highlighting the dire need for and lack of resources for victim support.
Due to worldwide patriarchal power, Indigenious women also face marginalization in their own communities. The women are often left out of important tribal decisions and discussions. This marginalization has led to a lack of representation in the media and in politics.
The Family Violence and Prevention Services Act (FVPSA) provides essential funding for advocacy, safe shelter, and supportive services, yet fewer than half of 574 federally recognized Indian tribes receive FVPSA funding.
How to help
Shelters and advocacy are often the only lifeline women and their families have especially when justice systems fail to protect women and hold abusers accountable.
An action plan developed by the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center that focuses on awareness, preventive, and intervention techniques that can be employed if a loved one disappears or passes away in questionable circumstances.
The Missing and Murdered Unit, part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, specializes in looking into incidents of unsolved murder and missing persons.
Discover materials and ways to contribute to the effort to put an end to violence against Indigenous women.
Call 1-833-560-2065 to leave a tip for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Call the National Sexual Assault hotline 1-800-656-4673 or visit www.rainn.org.
Strong Hearts Helpline’s number is 1-844-7NATIVE. Its website address is www.strongheartshelpline.org
https://www.csvanw.org/mmiw is the website of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
www.sovereign-bodies.org is the website of the Sovereign Bodies Institute.
Facebook page for MMIW USA: https://www.facebook.com/mmiwusa
