Written by Megan Mead.
November is Native American Heritage Month, and we are celebrating the diverse cultures, histories and the contributions of Indigenous communities. The UNC Greensboro campus is located on land that has long served as an area of exchanges and meetings among a number of Indigenous peoples, for instance, the Keyauwee and Saura Indians.
But Greensboro is not the only place that has been home to Indigenous peoples. Currently, North Carolina recognizes eight tribes, including the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Haliwa Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Saponi, Sappony and Waccamaw.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name, including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month,” have been issued each year since 1994.
This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people in the United States to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance and ways and concepts of life.
If you would like to learn more, visit our resource page for Native American Heritage Month. It was created in partnership with UNCG’s Native American Student Association. You can also access more resources by visiting the Office of Intercultural Engagement at UNCG.