National Native American Heritage Month, otherwise referred to as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, is recognized in November to honor Native communities in their cultures and traditions while raising awareness about the unique historical and present-day struggles of Indigenous people in the US.
November was designated “National Native American Heritage Month,” in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. American Indians and Alaska Natives make up about 2 percent of the total US population, totaling approximately 6.9 million in 2019. The states with the highest populations of Indigenous persons are Arizona, California, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina, and Alaska, in that order.
