Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month

For generations, Native Nations have lived in relationship with this land, sustaining vibrant communities grounded in respect, reciprocity and care. Today, more than 575 federally recognized Tribal Nations continue to uphold their sovereignty and traditions while investing in the promise of the next generation who carry forward the teachings of their ancestors. What began in 1976 as a weeklong celebration was formally established as a month of recognition in 1990, when President George H. W. Bush approved the first national proclamation of Native American Heritage Month. Each November, we honor Native American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the histories, cultures and continuing contributions of Native peoples.

Theme: Honoring Our Roots, Renewing Our Future

This year’s theme, “Honoring Our Roots, Renewing Our Future,” recognizes the strength of our ancestors, the resilience of our communities, and the responsibility we share in supporting future generations.

For Indigenous communities, honoring our roots means recognizing the original peoples of this land, respecting Tribal sovereignty, and acknowledging the histories, traditions, languages, and knowledge systems that continue to shape our communities today. It also means recognizing the ongoing impacts of colonization while celebrating the strength, leadership, and cultural revitalization of Indigenous peoples.

Renewing our future calls us to build meaningful relationships, create opportunities for Indigenous students to thrive, and ensure that Native voices, perspectives, and knowledge are valued across our campus and beyond. At San Diego State University, we have an opportunity to foster a learning environment that recognizes Indigenous peoples not only through our histories, but also through our continued presence, leadership, innovation and contributions to the future.

Events will be centered around activism, art, stories, histories and so much more:

To learn about all the events taking place, please visit: 

NAHM Event Information will be on the NRC website page
NRC Instagram: @sdsunrc
NRC Facebook: @NRCSDSU

In solidarity,

Chris Manning 
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity

Chris Medellin
Director for the Native Resource Center

Jacob Alvarado Waipuk
Chair for Tribal Relations, Tribal Liaison 

David Kamper, Ph.D. 
Chair for American Indian Studies