John, November is Native American Heritage Month.
Native American Heritage Month came about through a joint resolution approved by President George H.W. Bush in 1990.
1990 was just 32 years ago.
So, for this relatively new month that honors all Indigenous people, we must do more than just recognize their achievements and contributions. We must commit ourselves to learning and educating about Native American history, present, and future.
A great way to do that is to support the #LandBack movement – which demands the return of Native land to Native groups and is an overall anti-colonial, anti-white supremacist fight.
It's on us to work toward the preservation of what is left of sacred land and culture. We must be in solidarity with all Indigenous people, as well as commit to understanding how the intersectionality of Blackness and Indigenous cultures are intertwined.
Thousands of people in the United States identify as Black-Indigenous or Afro-Indigenous. This community often faces issues like colorism and the erasure of their identities.
Black Indigenous people have long struggled to obtain their tribal membership. During the Indian Removal Act of 1830, freed and enslaved Black people voluntarily traveled west with their native counterparts along the Trail of Tears, but lacked the proper documentation. This resulted in unclear or lack of documentation on ancestral origins.
It was only last year in 2021 that the Cherokee Nation, America's 2nd largest Indian Tribe, re-established citizenship for descendants of Black people once enslaved by members of the nation. This is just one of the most recent events that highlight the constant, intersectional struggle that Black Indigenous people have been forced to face.
Blackness is not a monolith, and the Black Indigenous community is no exception.
As we celebrate and uplift the importance of this month, we must not forget that ALL Black Lives Matter – that Black Indigenous Lives Matter.
Together, John, let's recommit ourselves to opening our minds, letting go of ignorance, and understanding the complexities of Black Indigenous Culture. To learn more, you can visit the
Indigenous Foundation and
Native Americans in Philanthropy.
In love and solidarity,
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
