Native American Heritage Month is celebrated in November to honor the culture, traditions, and achievements of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island communities.
What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.
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 Amertican Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kansas, 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.
The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.
The first Amertican Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national holiday.
In 1990 President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 "National American Indian Heritage Month." Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month") have been issued each year since 1994.
Information obtained from The Library of Congress
Interesting Facts:
The number of federally recognized Indian tribes in 2023 were 574
The 3 largest American Indian tribal groupings are Navajo, Cherokee and Mexican American Indian
3 largest Alaska Native tribal groupings are Yup'ik, Inupiat and Alaskan Athabascan
The Trail of Tears was part of a series of forced displacements of approximately 60,000 Native Americans between 1830 and 1850. Nearly 4,000 people died of disease, exposure and malnutrition during that time. To recognize, remember, and pay tribute to their lives, you can walk parts of the Trail of Tears in Springfield, Missouri.
Chipmunk, pecan, skunk and other common words come from an Algonquian language.
The first newspaper in a Native American language was published in 1828.
In 2016, it was estimated that as much as 60 percent of what we eat today was originally domesticated by Native Americans. For instance, corn was cultivated and farmed first by indigenous tribes in Mexico. By the time Europeans arrived in the Americas, Native Americans had been growing corn for thousands of years.
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Indiana Capitol Tour Office |
Washington County, Indiana (October 29, 2024) – This week, we celebrate Red Ribbon Week and raise awareness for drug prevention during the final days of Substance Abuse Prevention Month.
Substance abuse has a devastating impact on our communities, affecting everyone from adults to children and youth. Drug abuse not only damages the health of individuals but also causes disruption in families, trauma for children, and a decline in our community’s well-being. Prevention efforts like Red Ribbon Week and Substance Abuse Prevention Month are key to halting the drug epidemic and fostering better health for our families and fellow citizens.
Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign aimed at keeping kids in our country drug-free. Started by the National Family Partnership in 1985, this initiative raises awareness by mobilizing communities and schools to educate youth and promote drug prevention activities. During Red Ribbon Week, we highlight the importance of living a drug-free life and reinforce drug-free messages for children and students.
Alongside Red Ribbon Week, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month provides an opportunity for communities to partner in the prevention of drug use. By raising awareness for these causes, we advocate for the prevention of substance abuse and its associated harms to individual well-being and community health.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration encourages citizens to “Tell the prevention story” by sharing how prevention is improving lives, demonstrating that prevention works, and showcasing its positive effects nationwide.
“Preventing drug abuse in people of all ages is critical to stopping use before it becomes a problem,” said Washington County Prosecutor Tara Coats Hunt. “If we can prevent drug use and abuse early on, we can avoid many of the negative consequences for individuals and improve outcomes for our families and communities.”
To celebrate Red Ribbon Week and Substance Abuse Prevention Month this October, consider talking to a friend, family member, or child about the dangers of drug use and encourage activities that lead to a safer community and better health for all.
All Medigap Plans available open for those under 65 with Medicare.
A new bill, SEA 215 was introduced and passed in Indiana in Spring of 2024. Beginning January 1, 2025,
there will be guaranteed issue into medigap plans for people under 65. What does this mean? This means
that after December 31, 2024, any Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) that is available to those with
Medicare will also have to provide that same plan, or an equivalent, available for those with Medicare due to
disability or ESRD.
Anyone on Medicare under the age of 65 prior to January 1, 2025 will have a six month window to sign up for
a Medigap Plan, guaranteed. This would be January 1 – June 30, 2025.
Anyone enrolling into Medicare under the age of 65 AFTER January 1, 2025 will be granted their own six
month guaranteed enrollment window starting from the first day of the month their Medicare begins.
Beginning January 1, 2025, the following rules will apply to health insurance providers:
• Issuers may not deny or condition issuance of Medicare supplement policy because of health status,
claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition of an individual.
• Issuers may not charge a premium rate for Plans A, B, or D that exceeds the premium rate an issuer
charges to those age 65 for same Medicare supplement policy.
• Issuers may not charge a premium rate for any other standardized letter Medicare supplement policy
that exceeds 200% of premium charged to those age 65 for the same Medicare supplement policy.
• Issuers may not issue policy that contains a waiting period or preexisting condition limitation or
exclusion.
If you have questions about the SEA 215 bill or anything else related to Medicare, contact SHIP for free,
impartial assistance.
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a free and impartial health insurance counseling
program for people with Medicare. SHIP does not sell insurance. SHIP is provided by the Administration for
Community Living and the Indiana Department of Insurance. We are part of a federal network of State Health
Insurance Assistance Programs located in every state. All of their services are free.
In response to an article from the Indiana State Police on "Safe Driving Tips," a reader shared updated data that there were actually 1.8 million deer/vehicle accidents from July 2022 to June 2023.
Patricia Gomez, Assistant Outreach Manager of the World Animal Foundation, an animal advocacy group, shared a link to the organization's website, which covers a variety of topics pertaining to deer. Data provided covers all of the United States, with some information from Canada and Asia, as well.
Readers may access the website at: https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/deer-accidents-statistics/.
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