1More than 100 years ago, a man named Red Fox James rode his horse from state to state. He traveled more than 4,000 miles. He had one wish. He wanted a special day for Native Americans, the first people of the land. On December 14, 1915, he showed the White House that 24 states supported his idea.

2Other people worked for the same dream. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca man, asked the Boy Scouts to honor the First Americans. In 1916, New York became the first state to have an American Indian Day. But a national celebration took much longer. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush made November National American Indian Heritage Month.

3Today, there are 575 tribes that the United States government recognizes. Each tribe has its own history, language, and traditions. The Navajo live in the deserts of the Southwest, and the Inupiat live in the far north of Alaska. Not all of them lived in tipis long ago. Some built longhouses, and others built homes from earth and stone.

4In November, schools, museums, and libraries share Native stories, art, and music. Many people also learn that moose, raccoon, skunk, and kayak come from Native languages. The day after Thanksgiving is a big shopping day called Black Friday. But it is also Native American Heritage Day, a day to remember the first Americans. Their cultures are not only history, and they are still alive today.