The University of Dayton Libraries celebrates Native American Heritage Month in November to honor Indigenous peoples in the United States, including Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and people from Island communities. Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and affiliated Island communities.
New York became the first state to recognize an “American Indian Day” in 1916. In 1976, October 10-16 was designated “Native American Awareness Week.” In 1990, Congress passed and President George H.W. Bush signed a joint resolution that designated November as the first National American Indian Heritage Month. Presidents have issued proclamations marking the heritage month every year since, changing its name in 2009 to National Native American Heritage Month.
Resources in the Libraries can help you learn and research about the dynamic culture and history of Native Americans. Use the links below if you’re at UD; if not, inquire at your local library.
Recent Acquisitions
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The book COVID-19 in Indian Country: Native American Memories and Experiences of the Pandemic documents the experience of Native American communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting Indigenous perspectives in scholarly and creative pieces.
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The book American Indian Women of Proud Nations: Essays on History, Language, Healing, and Education offers reflections on the history of the American Indian Women of Proud Nations Organization. The second edition includes updated research on language revitalization; adolescents and their parental caregivers; Indigenous issues in higher education; and new work on matrilineality, the Missing and Murdered People crisis and the continuation of healing traditions in a contemporary context.
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Indigenous Journeys, Transatlantic Perspectives: Relational Worlds in Contemporary Native American Literature considers the relational place-worlds crafted by the Native American authors Louise Erdrich, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Gordon Henry Jr., Louis Owens, James Welch, Heid E. Erdrich, Ofelia Zepeda, and Simon J. Ortiz.
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The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History explores 500 years of Native and non-Native history, demonstrating the essential role of Indigenous peoples in the history of the United States.
Other Sources
Books
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Encyclopedia of the American Indian Movement tells the story of the American Indian Movement, which organized for Native fishing rights and land rights and resisted coal and uranium mining on tribal land.
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American Indian Literary Nationalism offers commentary on the theory of hybridity and the “nationalist” perspective in Native American literature and criticism, which the authors view as crucial to supporting Native national sovereignty and self-determination.
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That the People Might Live: Native American Literatures and Native American Community explores Native American literature from 1768 to the present and the themes of loyalty to community present in these works.
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Research, Education, and American Indian Partnerships at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center tells the center’s history and its accomplishments in research, education and Native American initiatives.
Journals
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American Indian Quarterly is a premier journal in Native American studies, committed to the sovereignty and continuance of Native nations and cultures. Issues from 1974 to 2024 are available online.
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American Indian Culture and Research Journal publishes original scholarship, commentaries and book reviews on history, anthropology, geography, sociology, political science, health, literature, law, education and the arts. Issues from 1974 to 2025 are available online.
Audiovisual Materials
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Creation’s Journey: Native American Music includes recordings of ceremonial, social and contemporary music of Native Americans from the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bolivia.
— Stephanie Shreffler is an associate professor and religious collections librarian/archivist in the Marian Library.