As a B Corporation, AMS Fulfillment takes pleasure in recognizing the commemorative “History Months” where the focus is to learn more about the histories of Hispanic-Latino Americans (in September), Native Americans (in November), Black or African Americans (in February), and Women (in March.) Our focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would be remiss if we fail to acknowledge that the people who make up this great country have stories that, for many of us, are largely untold. When the stories are told from the mouths of the people, they become real to us all, and highly valuable.
November is Native American Heritage Month, and November 26 is Native American Heritage Day. This year’s theme is, “Rising Above Adversity: Bringing Native Voices to the Forefront.” It centers on the history and journey of Native Americans as sovereign Nations with distinct cultures, Nations that have made many meaningful contributions to American society.
A good place to enter into the history and heritage is the website, NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.Gov. At this website, visitors can see an online exhibition called “Why We Serve,” which honors the generations of Native Americans who have served in the armed forces of the United States since the American Revolution. Another section on the website contains a library of 18,000 photographs from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). There is also a video featuring interviews with cultural leaders and a guide for educators with information from a number of sources.
The following quote is from the “About Native American Heritage Month” page:
“One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the “First Americans” and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.”
Finally, there is a very comprehensive timeline worth studying on the History.com website. It begins with an entry from 1492 about Christopher Columbus. It says, “Believing at first that he had reached the East Indies, he describes the natives he meets as “Indians.” On his first day, he orders six natives to be seized as servants.”
The final entry in the timeline tells us just how much the culture has changed: “March 15, 2021: Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico is confirmed as Secretary of the Interior, making her the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency.“
AMS Fulfillment benefits greatly from its focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. When the workforce is diverse, the opportunities are equal and everyone’s story is included, the workplace culture is vibrant and engaged in our B Corp purpose.
This link will take you to an enjoyable video by some representatives of today’s Native American youth.