Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, an observation honoring the contributions of the first Americans. Chandler Public Library is taking part in this observation with activities and opportunities. Read on to learn more.

Library Events

Craft After Dark: Dreamcatcher
Monday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
Chandler Downtown Library
Learn about the cultural significance of dreamcatchers within Native American traditions while crafting a beautiful, personalized piece to take home. For ages 9 to adult.

Our Stories: Navajo Code Talkers Speak
Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m.
Basha Library
Author and Navajo Nation Poet Laureate Laura Tohe presents the story of the Navajo Marines who developed an unbreakable code during World War II.

Gratitude Poetry Zines Workshop
Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Basha Library
Lakota storyteller Taté Walker leads a fun-filled workshop using writing prompts to express gratitude through the art of independent magazine making. For ages 9-17. Please register.

More Library Resources

Looking for books by and about Native Americans? Check out this list of recent fiction and nonfiction for adults, or search our catalog for a variety of children’s books.

Culture Pass is a cooperative program between Arizona public libraries and participating arts and cultural institutions. Library cardholders can check out a Culture Pass for free admission for two people.* Indigenous sites and Native American museums include The Heard Museum, Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park in Globe, and the Verde Valley Archaeology Center in the Sedona area.
* Please check the catalog for your local library’s availability. First come, first served. One pass at a time per family, two per month, please.

More content by and about Native Americans can be found in Kanopy, our streaming video service. Browse documentaries on Native American heritage and watch award-winning films from the American Indian Film Festival. Create a free account using your library card and receive 30 viewing "tickets" per month (see details on each video for ticket cost).

Native American Heritage Month was first declared by President George H.W. Bush in November 1990, the culmination of nearly a century of work by Native activists to gain recognition and citizenship for Native Americans. People such as Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, and Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, appealed to state governments and the Boy Scouts of America to establish an American Indian Day in the 1910s. Native American Heritage Month has been declared each November since 1994. Read more at nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov.