Written by HRCap, Inc.
December 1, 2022
Origins of National Native American Heritage Month
National Native American Heritage Month (NNAHM) is observed in November to honor and celebrate the cultural heritage and societal contributions of Native American and Alaskan Natives.
Its origin was in 1916 when New York declared an “American Indian Day” in the month of May. Then in 1976, President Gerald Ford proclaimed October 10-16 as “Native American Awareness Week.” Finally, in 1990, Congress and President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution, which designated the month of November as the first National American Indian Heritage Month. Congress chose November as the month to honor Native Americans because the month signals the end of their traditional harvest season.
Over the course of November, HRCap has highlighted Native American professionals that have made contributions to our society and industries. We hope that their impact on society will motivate everybody to become leaders that make a difference.
Celebrating Native American Leaders
Victoria Vasques is the Owner and Chairwoman of Tribal Tech and Cowan & Associates. As an advocate for Native Americans, she led education reform, health care, and advancing energy initiatives. She has received many awards for her company and individual achievements. Giving back to her community, she has also created a non-profit organization, the RMP Foundation.
Notah Begay III is a Native American professional golfer that has won four times on the PGA Tour. After retiring, he has served as an NBC Sports and Golf Channel analyst. To give back to his community, he founded Notah Begay III Foundation to provide health and wellness education to Native American youth.
Jo Ann Kauffman is the president and founder of Kauffman & Associates. She built her company from the ground up and has received many notable awards, such as The Gannett Freedom Forum's Free Spirit Award.
Roxie Schescke was a Native American entrepreneur that founded Indian Eyes, which provided a wide variety of services to businesses around the country. She was named the National Native Woman Business Owner of the Year and served on a board for the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Conclusion
As a global Asian American company, our ongoing mission is to bridge cultures across various generations. Through awareness months like these, we hope to grow in our understanding and appreciation of different cultures and look forward to sharing their contributions to our society.
Source: HRCap, The Library of Congress, SAMHSA, United States Senate
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