During the month of November, we embark on the celebration of Native Americans’ rich present and past in this country. It is a month in which we honor the heritage, language, and unique storytelling of Native American and Alaskan Native people in this country. The celebration began in part because of Dr. Arthur C. Parker in 1912. 

Dr. Parker was a Seneca Indian and the director of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day to fight for recognition for Native Americans in this country. For three years, the holiday was celebrated unofficially until, in 1916, the governor of New York declared the second Saturday of every May as American Indian Day. It has since evolved into the entire month of November. The Bureau of Indian Affairs gives each Native American heritage month a theme. The theme in 2022 was “Revitalizing Indigenous Connections,” and the two dates that headlined the social media celebration were “Rock your Mocs Day” on November 15 and “Red Shawl Day,” on November 19.