November is National Native American Heritage Month and ACL joins the President in honoring the legacy of American Indians and Alaska Natives. According to the U.S. Census, there were more than five million Native Americans living in the United States in 2011. These individuals represent a rich and diverse culture that includes 566 federally-recognized tribes, each with its own traditions, beliefs, and history. Together, they enrich our communities and strengthen our country.
ACL supports a number of programs that assist Native Americans. Through Title VI of the Older Americans Act, the Administration on Aging, a program division of ACL, provides nutrition and supportive services to approximately 150,000 tribal elders living on Indian Reservations and villages throughout the country. These vital services are coordinated with other resources to help tribal elders remain in their own homes and communities, and reach elders from about 400 of the Nation’s 566 federally recognized Tribes.
This month, as we celebrate native people across the nation, please take a moment to learn about the unique challenges they have faced both in the past and the ways in which they are working to conquer those challenges today. To learn more about Native American Heritage Month, please visit nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov.