Native American Heritage Month

Each November we celebrate Native American Heritage Month. This month provides a wonderful opportunity to honor and appreciate the rich, diverse, and enduring cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples throughout the United States. It is important to reflect on ways we honor and celebrate Native Americans, as well as ways we may unintentionally harm them. Language plays a critical role in how we interact and build relationships and it’s important to understand how the following phrases may harm Native communities.

‘Our Native Americans’: It's important to recognize that Indigenous peoples are distinct and diverse groups with their own unique cultures, languages, histories, and identities. Referring to them as "our" Native Americans may inadvertently perpetuate the idea of ownership or the assumption of shared identity.

Rain Dance: The term "rain dance" is rooted in stereotypes and misconceptions about Indigenous cultures, particularly in North America. It is important to avoid using this term because it perpetuates these stereotypes and can be culturally insensitive and disrespectful.

Pow-wows: The term "powwow" originates from the traditions of Indigenous peoples in North America and holds significant cultural and spiritual importance for many tribes and nations. Using the term to describe a non-Indigenous meeting appropriates Indigenous culture.

Low Man on the Totem Pole: The phrase "low man on the totem pole" is a common idiom used to describe someone in a subordinate or disadvantaged position within an organization or hierarchy. Totem poles are a significant and sacred part of the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples in North America, particularly among the Native American and First Nations communities of the Pacific Northwest. Using the phrase misrepresents the cultural significance and complexity of totem poles.

Circling the Wagons: The phrase is associated with a historical context where settlers were often in conflict with Indigenous peoples. It perpetuates a narrative that portrays Indigenous peoples as aggressors or threats, reinforcing negative stereotypes. The phrase "circle the wagons" is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a defensive or protective stance. However, its historical context and associations may be insensitive to the experiences of Indigenous peoples.

Nation of Immigrants: Referring to the United States as a "nation of immigrants" can gloss over the fact that the land was inhabited by Native Americans long before European settlers arrived. The phrase may inadvertently erase the Indigenous peoples' history and presence. Many Native Americans were forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands, faced violence, disease, and loss of cultural heritage as a result of European colonization. Describing the United States as solely a "nation of immigrants" may overlook this history of dispossession and suffering experienced by Indigenous peoples.

Going off the reservation: The phrase is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is acting in an unconventional or rebellious manner. This usage diminishes the historical context and trauma associated with the term. The phrase has its origins in the history of the United States when Native Americans were forcibly relocated to reservations by the U.S. government. Referring to "going off the reservation" can be seen as insensitive because it invokes a painful and dark chapter in Indigenous history, which includes the forced removal from their ancestral lands and the loss of their traditional ways of life.

Language is a powerful tool, and using it in a way that is respectful and sensitive to the experiences and histories of different communities is essential!