Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month, also called American Indian Heritage Month and American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, takes place each November and recognizes the achievements and contributions of Native peoples past and present.

Throughout the month and all year long, learn something new about the rich and diverse history, heritage, and culture of Native peoples through our library resources.

Events

Resources

Streaming Films

Compelling stories anywhere, anytime, on any device

Explore native american heritage month films on Kanopy.

• Apalachee Indians of the Talimali Band
• Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
• Muscogee (Creek) Nation
• Muscogee Nation of Florida 
• Lower Muscogee Creek Tribe
• Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
• Seminole Tribe of Florida

Books for Children by Native Authors

• The first strawberries: a Cherokee story / retold by Joseph Bruchac with pictures by Anna Vojtech
• Rabbit's snow dance: a traditional Iroquois story / as told by James and Joseph Bruchac with pictures by Jeff Newman
• Jingle dancer by Cynthia L. Smith with illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.

Books for Youth by Native Authors

• Hearts unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith
• Firekeeper's daughter by Angeline Boulley
• The marrow thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Books for Youth by Non-Native Authors

• A man called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad by Glennette Tilley Turner
• Osceola: Seminole Warrior by William R. Sanford
• She sang promise : the story of Betty Mae Jumper, Seminole tribal leader by Jan Godown Annino with illustrations by Lisa Desimini

Books for Adults by Native Authors

• Braiding Sweetgrass: indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• New poets of Native Nations edited by Heid E. Erdrich
• The grass dancer by Susan Power

Books for Adults by Non-Native Authors

• The Apalachee Indians and Mission San Luis by John H. Hann and Bonnie G. McEwan
• Our land before we die: the proud story of the Seminole Negro by Jeff Guinn
• Unconquered People: Florida's Seminole and Miccosukee Indians by Brent Richards Weisman

Additional Resources

Take a virtual tour of our community's history with History in Your Hands: Indigenous Peoples and Colonial Spain in Leon County Florida from Tallahassee-Leon County Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Explore the history, resilience, and ongoing stewardship of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida in From Lake Miccosukee to the Everglades: Native Voices of the Apalachee Region, a Leon County Library Lecture recording.