National Native American Heritage Month

Man-on-the-Hill and Wife, Sioux

November is National Native American Heritage Month, a period for focusing on the history and cultures of America's indigenous people. ACC Library Services has many resources to help you appreciate and explore our country's many native peoples.

Interested in finding books and e-books? Try the following catalog search:

Indians of North America

An especially good series of books are the volumes of the Handbook of North American Indians, published by the Smithsonian Institution. Each volume covers native groups in specific areas of the country (Plains, Southeast, Great Basin, Northeast, etc.) and goes into a great deal of detail.

We also have an excellent database full of information about native people, American Indian Histories and Cultures. This resource contains chronologies, maps, timelines, photographs, drawings, primary resources, thematic areas, essays, online exhibitions and more. It's a great starting place for learning about different groups, especially with its emphasis on visual resources. The portrait at the top of this post come from this database.

 

In addition to books and document databases, we also have access to documentaries and dramatic films through our Kanopy streaming video services. This month, they are featuring over 200 films related to Native American Heritage month, free for you to watch whenever you want. 

 

And finally, check out the many online exhibits from federal government agencies which highlight Native American history and life. Created by offices like the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service, there's a wealth of good information to explore. Some examples:

• Omaha Indian Music (Library of Congress) 
• American Indian Records in the National Archives (National Archives & Records Administration)  
• George Catlin Painting of Native Americans (National Gallery of Art)
• Chaco Culture National Historic Park (National Park Service)
• White Dog Song, Blackfoot Tribe (Library of Congress)

There's so much information available about our country's Native American heritage. Let ACC Library Services help you find it!