History of Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month honors the contributions, culture, and modern community of the first peoples of our land. Native American Heritage Month began as Native American History Week in the 1980s and in 1990, President George H.W. Bush designated November “National American Indian Heritage Month”. The month is known by variations of this name, including Native American History Month. For more information, visit https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/

The Tongva / Gabrielino Tribes

In Palos Verdes, our land was inhabited by the Tongva, later known as the Gabrielino Indians after the arrival of Spanish Missionaries. One of the Peninsula’s original settlements, Chowigna, was located near present-day Malaga Cove and existed for over 7,000 years. Artifacts from this settlement can be seen at the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Redondo Beach Historical Museum. While the Gabrieleño tribes are not currently federally recognized, the descendents of these tribal members keep their history and culture alive throughout Los Angeles County and beyond.

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Read

Kids

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Noble Maillard (Book, Hoopla eAudiobook, Hoopla eVideo)
Look, Grandma! Ni, Elisi! by Art Coulson (Book, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eBook)
Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck (Book, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eBook)
Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley (Book, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eBook)
Keepunumuk : Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer (Book , Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eBook)
We Are Still Here! : Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell (Book, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eAudiobook)
Classified : The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell (Book, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eReadalong)
Sharice’s Big Voice : A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman by Sharice Davids (Book, Hoopla eBook)
Ancestor Approved : Intertribal Stories for Kids (Book, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eAudiobook)

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Teens

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver (Book, Hoopla eBook, Hoopla eAudioBook)
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (Book, Hoopla eBook, Hoopla eAudioBook, Overdrive eBook)
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley (Book, eBook, Hoopla eAudioBook)
An Indigenous People's HIstory of the United States for Young People by Debbie Reese (Book)
Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth (Book, Hoopla eAudioBook)
Fire Song by Adam Garnet Jones (Hoopla eBook)
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (Book)
Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices by Various (Book, Hoopla eBook)
My Name is Not Easy by Debby Edwardson (Book)
Looks Like Daylight: Voices of Indigenous Kids by Deborah Ellis (Book, Hoopla eBook)

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Adults

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline (Book)
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko (Book)
Braiding sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Book, Hoopla eBook, Hoopla eAudiobook)
Trail of lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (Book)
New poets of Native Nations (Book)
Native American Food by Melissa Raé Shofner (Hoopla eBook)
Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford (Book, Hoopla eBook)
Native American DNA by Kim TallBear (Hoopla eAudiobook)
There, There by Tommy Orange (Book, Audiobook on CD, Overdrive eBook, Overdrive eAudiobook)
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich (Book, Audiobook on CD, Overdrive eBook, Overdrive eAudiobook)