When I was a kid, my father would spend hours talking about his appreciation for American Indian culture. I grew up not only appreciating the many cultures of our first Americans, but revering them for their values, including respecting the sacred relationship with nature, honoring elders, and bonding in the community.
That is why I want to highlight that November is Native American Heritage Month—a good time to remember to appreciate America’s first people, reflect on our Nation’s past and make a positive impact on our shared future.
You may already know that out of the 500 treaties signed between tribes and the United States, none have ever been fully honored. Indigenous Americans place a high value on truth and integrity over wealth and success. What’s more, these cultures, native to America, value kinship between all beings.
These beliefs leave me reflecting on who we would be if we all lived by these core values. Would these values change how we lead our organizations, transform how we operate our businesses, run our schools, participate in communities, or how we govern countries?
One way is to honor our agreements with each other—to abide by the fundamental values we share, including truth, integrity, and kinship. Here are a few ways you might consider fulfilling our promise by making amends with the Indigenous People of America this month and going forward:
- Appreciate and learn about Indigenous American history and heroes through books (to name a few: The Soul of the Indian, 1491, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, Empire of the Summer Moon) and movies (to name a few: Montford the Chickasaw Rancher, Te Ata, Windwalker, The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, Trickster, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Woman Walks Ahead)
- Volunteer at an Indian reservation (to name a few: Blackfeet Indian Reservation, RedFeather, Sierra Service Project, Re-Member)
- Donate to support first Americans (to name a few: First Nations, First Peoples Fund, Cultural Survival, National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Indigenous World)
One community that holds a special place in my heart is the Oglala Lakota Nation in Lakota County, South Dakota, which is contained entirely within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation. It has the lowest per capita income ($8,768) in the country and ranks as the poorest county in the nation. Their nonprofit organization is called Re-Member and they are doing incredible work, but basic needs remain unmet (e.g., running water, indoor plumbing, books for schools, high unemployment, and minimal access to healthcare). You can read more about Re-Member here and consider volunteering or donating to make amends for past discretions of the generations who’ve walked this earth before us.
Stay true to you,
Rebecca
Rebecca A. Ward, LMFT, SEP, PCC
Founder, the Iris Institute
Published Author | Licensed Therapist | Executive Coach