November is Indigenous Peoples Month in the United States. This month recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of Native peoples. Arapahoe Libraries in Colorado is inviting families and young readers to learn about Indigenous communities who have lived in the region for thousands of years, before Colorado became a state. The area is the traditional homeland of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations. Their languages, stories, and traditions continue today.
‘Indigenous’ refers to the original inhabitants of a place. In the United States, there are over 570 federally recognized tribes. Some of the larger tribes include the Navajo (Diné), Cherokee, Lakota, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Choctaw, and Hopi. Each tribe has its own culture, language, and history, adding to the diversity of the country.
Indigenous Peoples Month also highlights the challenges Indigenous communities have faced and still face. Learning about their stories, music, art, and relationship with nature can help people understand their role in American society. The month encourages people to acknowledge the past and support Indigenous communities today…