Native American Heritage Month is celebrated in November to showcase the rich culture of the native people of this land as well as honor the American Indians who have suffered injustices. It was initially celebrated in 1916 by the state of New York and was not until 1990 that President George H.W. Bush established it as a month-long festival.
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University of Iowa Native American Heritage Month Events
Native American Health
The Indian Health Services notes that "The American Indian and Alaska Native people have long experienced lower health status when compared with other Americans. Lower life expectancy and the disproportionate disease burden exist perhaps because of inadequate education, disproportionate poverty, discrimination in the delivery of health services, and cultural differences. These are broad quality of life issues rooted in economic adversity and poor social conditions."
The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health notes that "according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted American Indian/Alaska Native populations across the country, with infection rates over 3.5 times higher than non-Hispanic whites. Additionally, American Indian/Alaska Native communities are more likely to develop chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and have a higher prevalence of obesity. These underlying health conditions can put people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19."
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