November 24th is Native American Heritage Day. November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. We pause to acknowledge and celebrate the rich and diverse Native American cultures, and the significant contributions of American Indian and Alaska Natives to American society.
The theme for 2023 is “Celebrating Tribal Sovereignty and Identity.” The U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs notes that: “Tribal sovereignty ensures that any decisions about Tribes with regard to their property and citizens are made with their participation and consent.” See the Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month here: Presidential Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month.
Encouragement and Exhortation
The struggle for sovereignty is evident in our world. As a Christian community, we affirm the dignity and tribal sovereignty of our Native American brothers and sisters, and all attempts at human flourishing. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. argued that “no one is free until we are all free.” This acknowledgement is rooted in the centrality of the concept of “neighbor.” In response to a query about which commandment is the most important, Jesus declared the second most important commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31. As we celebrate Native American Heritage Day/Month, let us renew our commitment to be a community constantly engaged in an ongoing process of honest self-reflection — self-reflection guided by our faith, our ability to reason well, and our commitment to justice.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly,
affects all indirectly.”
- “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We invite you to explore this detailed guide about how you can celebrate Native American Heritage Month.
Shalom! Shalom!
Randolph Walters, Psy.D, LPC, CCTP, CSAM
Special Assistant to the President for Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
