Native American Heritage Month

With November being Native American Heritage Month, it is especially important for us now than ever to learn more about indigenous history and issues, as well as uplift and support indigenous creators! Here are just a few ways you can honor Native American Heritage Month if you’re not of indigenous background!

1. Knowing the Land We Are On

One of the best and most crucial ways we can honor Native American Heritage Month is by learning about the land that we reside on. Long before Stockton was established, this land was home to the Yatchicumne, which is a group of the Northern Valley Yokuts that have lived here for thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans.

They had established villages alongside areas, such as Mormon Slough, the Stockton Deepwater Channel, and Bear Creek. They also built their structures on low mounds to keep their homes above floods. The Stockton Channel, located between Edison and Harrison Streets, in actuality, is originally the Yokut village called Pasasimas.

The Yokuts prospered due to the vast natural resources of their land, the Delta being one of their biggest. According to the Record, Stockton’s local newspaper, “In addition to providing fresh water, [the Delta] produced fish, which were a staple of their diet, and attracted waterfowl, which also fed them. They gathered acorns for their food and the endless supply of Tule reeds fed them — they were ground into meal — and were used in basket making and to cover their dwellings, which were built on low mounds to protect against floods.” The Valley oaks also provided Yokuts with acorn produce, which became one of the most crucial aspects of their diet.

Their numbers began to dwindle after the arrival of the Europeans. The Spanish forced many of the Yokuts to go through mission systems for religious assimilation; the white settlers started a ruthless campaign to drive the Yokuts off their land; and the United States government forced them onto reservations. Many tribal members also died from the epidemic of diseases brought by the Spanish.

Today, around 2,106 Native Americans reside in Stockton.

However, the Yokuts’ history contains more detail and richness than what can be expressed here, and with this month being Native American Heritage Month, we can and must further educate ourselves on the Yokuts’ history in order to properly acknowledge the land that we’re on. You can learn further information from numerous places, such as Stockton’s Haggin Museum (they have a detailed Native American gallery) and San Joaquin Delta College Library (they offer numerous books on the indigenous people of the San Joaquin county).

2. Learning About the History of Native Americans

During this month and thereafter, you can also explore the history of indigenous people in the Americas alongside learning about the history of the Yokuts. There are over 574 federally recognized Native American tribes in the U.S., and learning about indigenous history is critical to being an ally to the Native American community.

Films and documentaries about indigenous history:

• We Shall Remain - A PBS docuseries, these five incredibly informative episodes explore the history of Native Americans spanning from the 17th century to the 20th century and highlights events surrounding and following the Mayflower, Tecumseh’s Vision, the Trail of Tears, Geronimo, and Wounded Knee.

• How the West Was Lost - This documentary miniseries presents the westward expansion and the effects on tribal land from the perspectives of indigenous people. Educational and impactful, this docuseries is blunt and eye-opening.

• The Long Walk: Tears of the Navajo - Created by award-winning producer John Howe, this series illustrates one of the most heartbreaking stories of the Navajo Nation (told from the perspective of Navajo Elders) and reveals the horrible U.S. military’s campaign against the tribe in the early 1860s.

• In a White Man’s Image - This PBS series details the disguised cultural genocide of forced assimilation and speaks about historical government actions taken against the Native Nations (such as the removal of Native children and the boarding school experiences) and the longlasting effects that these historical events still have on Native Americans today.

• True Whispers: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers - A PBS series, this documentary informs viewers about the recruitment of young Navajo men from horrid government boarding schools to serve in the Marines during World War II.

Books about indigenous history:

• Black Elk Speaks by Black Elk and John G. Neihardt - In this book, Nicholas Black Elk, a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux, writes about his life and informs readers of the tragic history of the Sioux people.

• Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Nerburn - This book presents Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe from a new, complex angle, allowing the readers to understand the thinking behind Chief Joseph’s decision to surrender his tribe to the U.S. government.

• Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto by Vine Deloria Jr. - Written by an indigenous activist and lawyer, this book highlights the Native American struggle for sovereignty while avoiding political and social assimilation.

• Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne - This book is a vivid historical account of the forty-year battle between the Comanche tribe and white settlers for control over western land.

3. Supporting Indigenous Journalists

Throughout history, many cultures—including indigenous cultures—told their stories through oral tradition before written media. With the lack of light on Native American issues and lack of Native American representation in the mainstream media, many indigenous-orientated news platforms have been established by the Native American community to inform the public about stories and issues pertaining to the group.

Below is a list of indigenous publications to support:

• Native American Journalist Association (NAJA) - NAJA empowers Native Americans by creating journalist programs to promote diversity and shed light on indigenous issues. Their network contains over 700 indigenous writers all across this country!

• Cherokee Phoenix - The Cherokee Phoenix was the very first newspaper established by Native Americans in the U.S., and it was also the very first to print in a Native American language. The publication was the first to allow Native Americans an empowered voice in the news media.

• Indian Country Today - Founded in 1981, this publication covers news of the indigenous world and commemorates and informs the public of Native American culture and history.

• Navajo Times - Created by the Navajo Tribal Council in 1959, the Navajo Times was the first newspaper to be published and owned by a Native American Nation, and it reports on a variety of news, ranging from indigenous issues to mainstream news.

• National Native News - Often compared to NPR, National Native News offers insightful reports on indigenous people and indigenous issues across the U.S. and Canada in an audio broadcasting style.

• Native News Online - In addition to highlighting indigenous issues, news, and politics across the country, this online platform also offers a diversity of articles within the art genre, travel genre, education genre, and more!

Below is a list of indigenous journalists to support:

• Tristan Ahtone - A member of the Kiowa Tribe and a former president of the Native American Journalist Association, Ahtone reported for multiple outlets, including—but not limited to—PBS NewsHour, NPR, and National Native News. He has won multiple awards for his distinguished, quality journalist work.

• Graham Lee Brewer - A member of the Cherokee Nation and a member of the Native American Journalist, Brewer has worked for a number of news platforms, such as High Country News, New York Times, and NPR. He specializes in reports on the indigenous nations, criminal justice, and national resources.

• Shondiin Silversmith - A member of the Navajo Nation, Silversmith offers in-depth reports surrounding Native American affairs for the Arizona Republic.

4. Supporting Indigenous Influencers and Activists

Another way to uplift Native Americans is by listening to and following indigenous public figures. It is essential that we listen to indigenous figures regarding indigenous issues and causes, because they are the ones who know how to best address the subject due to their cultural experiences.

Below is a list of indigenous figures’ instagrams:

• Nikki La’es - @nikkilaes

• Kinsale Hueston - @kinsalehues

• Allen Salway - @lilnativeboy

• Autumn Peltier - @autumn.peltier

• Dallas Goldtooth - @dallasgoldtooth

• Hāwane Rios - @hawanemusic

• Winona LaDuke - @winonaladuke

Below is a list of prominent indigenous TikTok figures’ usernames:

• @kkymonn

• @indigenous_baddie

• @shinanova

• @notoriouscree

• @tiamiscihk

• @desertndn

• @giiwedinindizhinikaaz

• @lariissalynn

• @thenathan.hoffmanalt

• @nalitamurray

• @kendrarosychuk

[If you have any recommendations for these lists, or what Deadline can include for next year’s Native American Heritage Month, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via Instagram DMs (@mchsdeadline) or via email (mchsdeadline1@gmail.com)!]