Highlighting Indigenous Peoples and Cultures in Honor of Native American Heritage Month

This Native American Heritage Month, we’re celebrating all aspects of Indigenous identity. Whether it be food, clothing, housing, traditions, body art, and spirituality, representations of Indigenous life are diverse and a display of pride.

This month, we thank the Native community for their contributions to American society and celebrate their cultures. With that, we also understand the importance of acknowledging the United States’ immensely flawed history and the ways in which our country has harmed Indigenous communities. We acknowledge that persecution of Native communities still persists today, and that our historical genocides have contributed to the eradication of far too many Indigenous peoples.

At JCI, we are committed to educating ourselves about how America came to be. In doing so, we will also work to uplift the voices of Indigenous people. This month, we would like to use our platform to share the following Indigenous businesses and people:

• Indigenous Heritage Museums and Resources:

  • Bowers Museum (Santa Ana, CA)

  • Kuruvugna Springs Cultural Center and Museum (Los Angeles, CA)

  • Wishtoyo Chumash Discovery Village (Malibu, CA)

  • Chumash Indian Museum (Thousand Oaks, CA)

  • Puvungna at Rancho Los Alamitos (Long Beach, CA)

  • Antelope Valley Indian Museum (​​Lancaster, CA)

  • American Indian Heritage Foundation (online)

  • Indian Law Resource Center (Helena, MT and Washington, DC)

  • Native Museum of the American Indian (Washington, DC and New York, NY)

  • Turtle Island Institute (Canada)

• Indigenous Health Programs:

  • American Indian Health & Services Corporation (Santa Barbara, CA)

  • Bakersfield American Indian Health Project (Bakersfield CA)

  • Desert Sage Youth Wellness Center (Hemet, CA)

  • Indian Health Service (Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives)

• Authors:

  • Tommy Orange

  • Louise Erdrich

  • Stephen Graham Jones

  • Joy Harjo

• Influencers:

  • Quannah Chasinghorse (@quannah.rose on Instagram)

  • Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (@xiuhtezcatl on Instagram)

  • Charlie Amáyá Scott (@dineaesthetics on Instagram)

  • Haatepah Clearbear (@haatepah on Instagram)

  • Patrick Willie (@patrickisanavajo on Tik Tok, patrickisanavajo on YouTube)

  • Shina Novalinga (@shinanova on Tik Tok)

  • James Jones (@notoriouscree on Tik Tok)

  • Tia Wood (@tiamiscihk on Tik Tok)

  • Theland Kicknosway (@the_land on Tik Tok)

  • Čanté Zephier (@dakotawinyan on Tik Tok)

  • Patuk Glenn (@patukglenn on Tik Tok)

  • Lance Tsosie (@modern_warrior_ on Tik Tok)

• Public Media Organizations Serving Native Populations:

  • Native Public Media

  • Native Voice One

  • KCUK

  • KIDE

  • KNBA

  • KSUT Tribal Radio

  • KUYI

  • KWSO

• Podcast Episodes Featuring Indigenous Artists:

  • Code Switch: Blood Quantum - SOON

  • Code Switch: Indigenous Authors- 11/17

  • TED Radio Hour: Sean Sherman: What Can We Learn From Indigenous Culinary Traditions?

  • Code Switch: Thank You, Next

  • Code Switch: Indian Boarding Schools' Traumatic Legacy, And The Fight To Get Native Ancestors Back

  • Fresh Air: 'Poet Warrior' Joy Harjo Wants Native Peoples To Be Seen As Human

We would also like to highlight several interviews conducted by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles:

• “An Interview with Alan Salazar,” Chumash and Tataviam elder, about his relationship to nature in L.A. Read about his adventures on land and sea here.

• The “Beyond Gender: Indigenous Perspectives” series. Read the limited series on some of the world's third gender Indigenous people at the links below.

  • Muxe

  • Mapuche

  • Fa’afafine and Fa’afatama

• The “Indigenous L.A.” interview series for Native American History Month. Listen to Indigenous locals discuss their community at the links below.

  • Thriving and Vibrant

  • Cross-Cultural Connections

  • Cultural Revitalization

JCI acknowledges our presence on Tongva and Tataviam tribal land.