AFA Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
November 1, 2024 - November marks the beginning of Native American Heritage Month; a month-long celebration of the histories, cultures, contributions, and achievements of Native Americans to the United States.
In 2021, the AFA Executive Board passed a resolution establishing our heritage month program and pin, recognizing Native American Flight Attendants and their contributions and influence to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S. Friday, November 29th, is Native American Heritage Day.
We have grounded our Diversity and Inclusion pins around color and symbols. This pin includes the Native American sun symbol in gold surrounded by the color blue to represent where Flight Attendants spend our time -- in the sky.
The AFA Human Rights Committee is actively looking at additional diversity and inclusion pins to recognize the full diversity of our Flight Attendants.
History
The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994.
