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Native American Heritage Month is an observance in November dedicated to celebrating the cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native Americans. It serves as a time to raise awareness about the challenges faced by these communities and to honor their rich history and ongoing influence.
DID YOU KNOW?
There are 575 federally recognized tribes in the US today,with diverse languages, traditions, and systems of governance. We live on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples, a broad culture group that includes the Duwamish, Suquamish, Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Tulalip, and Puyallup tribes. Seattle’s name itself honors Chief Si’ahl (Seattle), who led both the Duwamish and Suquamish peoples and was known for his diplomacy and wisdom in the mid‑1800s.
EVENTS
A Frybread Story Workshop
Friday, November 6, 2026, 2:00–3:00 PM
Redmond Library 15990 NE 85th Street, Redmond, WA 98052
Join Snoqualmie Tribal member Bethany Fackrell to learn about making frybread and explore its history, cultural significance, and her personal experiences. Intended for adults. Seating is first come, first served.
Peter Ali: A Musical Journey with Native & Mesoamerican Flutes
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 4:00–5:30 PM
Fall City Library 33415 SE 42nd Place, Fall City, WA 98024
Explore Native American, Mesoamerican, and other flute traditions through music and storytelling, followed by a hands-on workshop using cedar flutes. No musical experience is required. Intended for tweens, teens, and adults. Seating is first come, first served.
Living Voices: Native Vision
Monday, November 9, 2026, 4:30–5:30 PM
Kirkland Library 308 Kirkland Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033
A solo performance combined with archival film explores Native American boarding schools and the World War II Navajo Code Talkers. For ages 9 and up.
EASTSIDE
Westside
Living Voices: Native Vision
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 5:30–6:30 PM and 6:30–7:30 PM
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) 860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
Explore Native American boarding schools and the World War II Navajo Code Talkers through the story of a Navajo woman. Developed with Chinle Unified School District and Navajo Nation community advisors. Two separate performances are offered. Admission is free.
Native Veterans Gourd Dance and Powwow
Saturday, November 7, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM
Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center 5011 Bernie Whitebear Way, Seattle, WA 98199
Honor Native veterans through a day of song, dance, and community. Activities include a Veterans Gourd Dance, Grand Entry, intertribal dancing, supper, and an evening powwow. Community members, families, and veterans are welcome. Check with the organizer for the closing time, as the posted flyer and calendar differ.
Unrecognized Duwamish Film Screening
Thursday, November 12, 2026, 7:00–9:00 PM
Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) 860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
Join filmmaker BJ Bullert and Duwamish Tribe Council Member Ken Workman for a screening and conversation about the Duwamish Tribe’s ongoing struggle for federal recognition and visibility. Visit the event page for current pricing and registration details.
From Awe to Action: In Right and Respectful Relations
Friday, November 13, 2026, 7:30 PM
The Wyncote NW Forum at Town Hall Seattle 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101; entrance off Seneca Street Explore how Indigenous knowledge, science, and cultural traditions shape conservation with photographer Kiliii Yüyan and Lummi leader Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Tickets are 10–35 on a sliding scale, with possible additional fees. A livestream option is available.
Daybreak Star Community 5K Run & Walk
Sunday, November 15, 2026, 10:00–11:30 AM
Powwow Grounds at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center
5011 Bernie Whitebear Way, Seattle, WA 98199
Run, jog, or walk with community members through Discovery Park. All fitness levels are welcome, including families. Participation is free, and no registration is required.
November Native Art Market
Saturday and Sunday, November 21–22, 2026, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM each day
Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center 5011 Bernie Whitebear Way, Seattle, WA 98199
online resources
Native American Heritage Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian This resource includes online exhibitions, searchable collections, videos, and Native Knowledge 360° educational materials
culture organizations
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Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center (West Seattle)
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Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center (West Seattle)
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Native Art at the Burke Museum (University District)
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Native Art at the Seattle Art Museum (Downtown Seattle)
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Suquamish Museum (6861 NE South Street, Suquamish, WA 98392)
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Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve (Tulalip)
native owned RESTAURANTS
Recommended
Reading
Books for Children and Teens
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
Written by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Frané Lessac
Suggested ages: 3–7
Follow a contemporary Cherokee community through a year of celebrations, challenges, and expressions of gratitude. This picture book introduces young readers to Cherokee life and traditions while encouraging appreciation for family and community.
We Are Water Protectors
Written by Carole Lindstrom; illustrated by Michaela Goade
Suggested ages: 3–6
Inspired by Indigenous-led movements to protect water, this award-winning picture book follows a young water protector standing up for her community and the natural world. It offers families a starting point for discussing environmental responsibility and collective action.
Books for Older Children and Tweens
The Sea in Winter
Written by Christine Day
Suggested ages: 8–12
After an injury interrupts her ballet training, Maisie struggles with disappointment and uncertainty. Family connections and a trip to the Olympic Peninsula shape this contemporary story of identity, resilience, and healing. Author Christine Day is Upper
Rez Dogs
Written by Joseph Bruchac
Suggested ages: 8–12
When the pandemic extends a visit with her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation, Malian finds companionship in a dog and learns from her grandparents’ stories. This novel in verse explores family, Penacook heritage, and the responsibility to care for one another.
Fatty Legs
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton
Suggested ages: approximately 9–12
This memoir recounts an Inuvialuit girl’s determination to learn to read and her experiences of mistreatment and resistance at a residential school in Canada. The tenth-anniversary edition includes additional reflections and background. Families may want to read and discuss its difficult history together.
A Stranger at Home
Written by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Suggested ages: 9–12
The sequel to Fatty Legs follows Margaret’s return to her family after two years at residential school. As she reconnects with her language and community, her story explores belonging, cultural identity, and the lasting effects of forced assimilation.
Books for Teens
Hearts Unbroken
Written by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Suggested ages: 14 and up
A Native high-school journalist navigates family, romance, and prejudice as controversy develops around her school’s production of The Wizard of Oz. This contemporary novel raises questions about representation, respect, and belonging. Includes racism, threats, and teen relationships.
Apple (Skin to the Core)
Written by Eric Gansworth
Suggested ages: approximately 14 and up
Through poetry, prose, and images, Gansworth explores his Onondaga family’s life among the Tuscarora, his development as an artist, and the legacy of boarding schools. This memoir examines identity, cultural belonging, and growing up, including his experience as a gay man. The title reclaims a derogatory term used to question someone’s Native identity.
More Books to Explore
Birchbark Books: Young Readers
Browse books for toddlers, children, tweens, and teens featuring a wide range of Indigenous authors, communities, and experiences.