Four Meaningful Ways to Honor Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month, and many workplaces struggle to move beyond the surface-level emails and standard lunch-and-learns. If you're looking to create meaningful change and genuine connections with Indigenous communities through your work, here are four concrete ways to make a lasting impact.
Build Year-Round Partnerships with Indigenous Organizations
Don't limit your support to November. Research Indigenous-led organizations working on critical issues like land preservation, language revival, and cultural education. Start a corporate matching program for employee donations to tribal colleges. Connect with Native-led environmental initiatives. These groups often run on shoestring budgets while doing incredible work to strengthen their communities.
Quick tip: Before jumping into partnerships, do your homework. Look for organizations with strong tribal community ties and clear reporting on their impact. This ensures your company's support actually reaches the people doing the real work, not just well-meaning middlemen.
2. Bring Contemporary Indigenous Voices into Your Workplace
Indigenous cultures aren't museum pieces - they're vibrant, evolving communities shaping today's world. Transform your company's perspective by following Native journalists, artists, and activists on your corporate channels. Stock your office library with Indigenous-owned publications. When planning corporate events or speakers, prioritize contemporary Native voices.
Make it real: Start by connecting with tribes local to your office locations. Their perspectives often get overlooked in broader conversations, but they're essential to understanding the full picture of your community's history and present.
3. Get Specific About Tribal Nations in Your Corporate Learning
Drop the generic "Native Americans" language in your communications. Instead, learn about specific tribes, especially those indigenous to your company's locations. Start an employee resource group focused on Indigenous cultures. Learn how to properly pronounce tribal names. Include real information about tribal sovereignty in your diversity training.
When planning events or writing policies, resist the urge to generalize. Each nation has its own distinct practices and traditions. Acknowledging these differences shows respect and helps break down stereotypes that lump all Indigenous peoples together.
4. Put Indigenous Voices at the Decision-Making Table
Look around your next big meeting. Are Native voices present when decisions are being made? Transform your approach by:
Creating dedicated tribal liaison positions
Developing vendor policies that prioritize Indigenous-owned businesses
Establishing clear processes for tribal consultation on projects affecting Native lands
Updating your land acknowledgments to include specific commitments to action
Here's what makes the difference: When Native communities speak up about issues affecting them, amplify their voices instead of talking over them. Use your company's influence to create space for Indigenous perspectives while respecting tribal sovereignty.