Native American History
We observe Native American Heritage Month in November to recognize the achievements and contributions of Native Americans. 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.
The National Archives holds hundreds of thousands of U.S. Government records relating to Native Americans, from as early as 1774 through the mid-1990s. These include every treaty signed with Native Americans, records from the Indian Schools, Indian Census Rolls, and Bureau of Indian Affairs records.
Indigenous Digital Archive’s Treaties Portal
NARA collaborated with the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) to launch the Indigenous Digital Archive’s Treaties Portal. This website provides public access to digital copies of NARA’s series of ratified Indian Treaties. The award-winning project was made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor and with the support of the National Archives Foundation, a nonprofit partner of the National Archives. Read more on the Archivist's blog and in the news release.
National Historical Publications and Records Commission
NHPRC-Mellon Start-Up Grants in Native American History: Support for collaborative Native American history projects including:
- Native Narratives: The Representation of Native Americans in Public Broadcasting, a digital exhibit exploring how mainstream American public media and media produced by Native Americans depict and document Native peoples.
- Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center, includes teaching kit for use in schools, libraries, and other educational institutions in the United States.