Spotlight on National American Indian Heritage Month
Honoring the vital impact of Native American culture, contributions and character in America.
November 2009
"One of the very early proponents of an American Indian Day was Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, New York. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the 'First Americans' and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kansas, formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day." ("U.S. Honors Contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives," America.gov Press Release, Nov. 3, 2008)
Native Americans are an integral part of American history, culture and character. Contributions and accomplishments of Native Americans permeate and impact many facets of American life, including art, music, literature, agriculture, spirituality and medicine. In the face of overwhelming adversity, Native Americans and their culture remain a vital component of the American experience. National American Indian Heritage Month, designated as the month of November in 1990, not only pays tribute to Native Americans' historical and contemporary achievements and revolutionary role in the development of American culture and society, but recognizes the evolution of the Native American experience and the significance of preserving Native traditions and heritage. The SKS Spotlight of the Month honors Native Americans and promotes cultural understanding with such articles and Web sites as:
Sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski labored for years carving the image of the Sioux leader Crazy Horse into a mountain peak near Rapid City, South Dakota. He died in 1982, but his family continues working on the project.
When did Ziolkowski begin his massive undertaking of sculpting Crazy Horse into a mountain?
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