About National Native American Heritage Day
This day of November 27th was added as a national holiday when Barack Obama signed the Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008. Stating, “I encourage every American to join me in observing Native American Heritage Day... It is also important for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition, and history of Native Americans and their status today and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made and will continue to make to our Nation.”
Facts and Figures
- The nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native population was 6.9 million in 2018, including those of more than one race.
Source: Vintage 2018 Population Estimates - The were 324 distinct federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2018, including federal reservations and off-reservation trust land.
Source: U.S. Gazetteer Files - There were 573 federally recognized Indian tribes in 2018.
Source: Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2019 - There were 141,438 single-race American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. armed forces in 2018.
Source: 2018 American Community Survey
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Other Observances on November 26th 2021
Flossing Day
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