Baskets & Pottery in Cultural Crossroads Celebrating Sally and Rose Coolidge, ca. 1913 National Native American Heritage Month BY: Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of American Indians and to encourage an interest in and understanding of the centrality of American Indian cultures in American History. Native American Heritage Month officially commenced in 1990 when President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution from Congress, following earlier week-long celebrations held during President Ronald Reagan’s administration. However, American Indians had been advocating for a formal commemoration since the early twentieth century. Dr. Arthur Caswell Parker, Cattaraugus Seneca, Director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York, convinced the Boy Scouts of America from 19121915 to set aside a day for “the first Americans.” In 1914, Reverend Red Fox James, Blackfeet, took a 4,000 mile horseback trek across the country to Washington D.C., advocating for the observation of a National American Indian Day. MUSELETTER NOVEMBER 2019| PG 2
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