According to The Library of Congress, the month of November was officially designated “National Native American Heritage Month” since the early 1990s after the name was changed a few times prior. But formal recognition of Native Americans in the United States, their contributions as the first Americans, the establishment of the country, and the sacrifices they made actually started in the early 1900s.
Read more from NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov
In 1990, the first federal joint resolution was issued by President George H.W. Bush designating November as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Prior to that designation, some states individually recognized the contributions of Native Americans including New York and Illinois, according The Library of Congress.
In 2022, President Joe Biden issued A Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is also recognized in the fall on the second Monday of every October.