November is the month in the United States that is set aside to bring special attention to all Native American heritage and cultures. This is an opportunity to honor the many tribes of Native Americans who live in the United States. This is an opportunity to seek truth instead of the inaccurate stereotypes that tend to surround Indigenous people.

Should we as a society be doing this all year long? We absolutely should be. Let’s use November as a reminder to keep learning about the rich Native traditions, the languages, and the contributions of the people from the past and in the present.

European colonists and later the United States have worked to erase Native cultures and people from this land for hundreds for years. Admitting that genocide has occurred on American soil to Native people, and not getting defensive about it, is a good place to start for non-Native Americans. Another positive step is to acknowledge and honor Native Americans. The people who have enriched all our lives in the past and in the present day.

Pay attention to the quarters jiggling in your pocket. The 2023 American Women Quarter Series has just released another quarter. You will soon be seeing America’s first prima ballerina on a quarter, Maria Tallchief.

Tallchief was an extremely successful ballerina and dancer. She lived from 1925 - 2013. Despite being told that she would have to change her name to something more Russian sounding to be successful in ballet, Tallchief kept her name. She was proud to be a member of the Osage Nation.

On the quarter you will see her Osage name which translates in English to Two Standards. According to a Native News Online article (https://nativenewsonline. net/currents/us-mint-releases- maria- tallchief- osage- quarter? utm_ source=Native+News+Online&utm_ campaign= 84385c3876- EMAIL_ CAMPAIGN_2021_11_24_ COPY_ 01&utm_ medium=email&utm_ term=0_dfd2540337- 84385c3876-1386109508) Tallchief, as a member of the Osage Nation, she lived and represented beautifully in the dance world and in the Osage Nation.

Tallchief broke down barriers for all American women in the world of dance.

We need to amplify Native American voices instead of silencing them. November 19 is a day we should all be aware of. It is known as Red Shawl Day. It is an annual national effort to bring attention to the acts of violence committed against Indigenous people. According to the Department of Justice, American Indian and Alaska Native women are missing and murdered at a rate more than 10 times the national average. This is not an Indian problem, this is a United States problem.

As Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has stated, “The missing and murdered Indigenous peoples crisis is centuries in the making and will take a focused effort and time to unravel the many threads that contribute to the alarming rates of these cases.”

We, as a society, need to listen to each other to understand where others are suffering. There are many unhealed scars on this land and in the people. The oppressed and oppressors are both impacted.

This November (and all year long) let’s acknowledge, be aware, and learn truthful Native American history and contemporary issues.

“Learn about Indigenous brilliance and success as much as you learn about Indigenous suffering and trauma.” -Megan Tipler