On August 3, 1990, President of the United States George H. W. Bush declared the month of November as American Indian Heritage Month, thereafter commonly referred to as Native American Heritage Month.

The bill read in part that “the President has authorised and requested to call upon Federal, State and local Governments, groups and organisations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities”. This landmark bill honouring America’s tribal people represented a major step in the establishment of this celebration which began in 1976 when a Cherokee/Osage Indian named Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle authored Native American Awareness Week legislation the first historical week of recognition in the nation for native peoples. This led to 1986 with then President Ronald Reagan proclaiming November 23–30, 1986, as “American Indian Week”.

Links:
November is American Indian Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month: Fact Sheet Congressional Research Service

“Native American Heritage Month in the Classroom”