Americans and people living in the U.S. know Thanksgiving is coming up in November, but let’s be just as aware that it’s officially Native American Heritage Month.
Land discussions & restoration, resistance, water, sisterhood, brotherhood, native art, and sovereignty are a few of the many subjects surrounding this significant month. Take time to listen and understand more about the injustices that have occurred on an individual and systemic level.
On the annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day in October, the Detroit Indigenous Peoples Alliance passed a resolution in the City Council renaming Detroit back to its cultural original “Waawiyatanong,” a deep-rooted word reflecting the land’s original inhabitants (of the Anishinaabe culture) and their special connection to water.
Detroitisit shares Native American Heritage Month celebrations/events to help bring all people together and reconnect to ancestral teachings along with the wondrous rhythm of native arts & culture. Not to mention, celebrating Michigan’s 12 tribes.
CONTINUE THE CELEBRATION AND HONORING OF INDIGENOUS AMERICAN PEOPLES
Native American Heritage Month Celebrations in Detroit encourage everyone to learn something new each year. Indigenous history is deeply connected to knowing the history of land. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an official city and state holiday in various localities in the United States. On this Indigenous American peoples (Native Americans) are commemorated for their histories and cultures. It’s annually celebrated on the second Monday in October.
Michigan’s Governor, Gretchen Whitmer has recognized November as Native American Heritage Month. Keep spreading the news of this month that is dedicated to honoring the contributions and culture of Native American peoples. Present-day Michigan is the ancestral homeland of the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, Anishinaabe peoples.
ECHOS OF THE EARTH: NATIVE AMERICAN DRUMMING TRADITIONS, PHOTO MUSEUM MSU
ECHOES OF THE EARTH: NATIVE AMERICAN DRUMMING TRADITIONS
Date: Wednesday, November 19 from 5pm-7pm
Conversation with Daniel Jackson
Moderated by Dr. Kevin Leonard
Native American Heritage Month celebrations in Detroit can often be found as conversational events held by college institutional organizations throughout Michigan. Join the MSU Museum and the MSU Native American Institute in East Lansing for an evening honoring the power of drumming, storytelling, and community. Click HERE to view the event website for more information.
Location: Communication Arts and Sciences Building, 404 Wilson Rd, East Lansing, MI
WE’ARE STILL HERE: FIGHTING INDIGENOUS ERASURE IN THE MEDIA
Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn
Date: Saturday, November 8. Doors open at 12:30pm
Native American Heritage Month Celebrations in Detroit have great opportunities for viewing history to bring these underrepresented & mistreated voices to the forefront. Drive to Dearborn to hear award-winning journalist and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Rebecca Nagle speak up on how to combat anti-Indigenous racism. If you’re tired of the inaccurate representation of Native Americans in pop culture, then this event is for you. Free with registration, click HERE to view the event information.
Location: The Henry Ford’s Anderson Theater
NATIVE WISE LLC FEATURED PRODUCTS THIS MONTH, PHOTO @FOLKDETROIT ON INSTAGRAM
SHOP AT FOLK DETROIT AND OTHER NATIVE SHOPS DIRECTLY
This list of Native American Heritage Month celebrations in Detroit includes events, and we wanted to highlight a way to support Indigenous entrepreneurs directly through shops in Detroit too. Take a good look at the Indigenous-owned products FOLK Detroit is featuring this month from Native Wise LLC. Shop at FOLK Detroit in-person or online and read their thoughtful Instagram post HERE.
Location: 1701 Trumbull Ave, Detroit
“CONTEMPORARY ASNISHINAABE ART: A CONTINUATION”, PHOTO @DIADETROIT ON INSTAGRAM
CONTEMPORARY ANISHINAABE ART: A CONTINUATION AT THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
Dates: September 28, 2025 – April 5, 2026
It’s best to support the Native & Indigenous community directly on an individual scale as much as possible through local markets, but it’s still helpful to stay educated through larger public means in your city. Engage in diverse arts & culture programs and head over to the Detroit Institute of Arts this month to view Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation. View cultural arts & culture in a way you may not see or hear regularly. Click HERE to view the event on the DIA website page for more information.
Location: Special Exhibitions South at the DIA-5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit
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