Native American Heritage Month

Did You Know

The Navajo Constitute, one of the largest American Indian tribes with 171,000 people and their principal reservation is the largest in America.  Monument Valley lies within their reservation and is an icon of the American West.

 

The smash hit 50 First Dates features the music of Gold Record recording artist Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole, the internationally acclaimed and Hawaiian native vocalist.  His music can be heard in dozens of other movies and TV shows.

 

Kayaking was originally developed by Eskimos for hunting and transportation.  When wounded animals would tangle the harpoon line and upset the kayak, the “Eskimo roll” was used as a survival technique.

 

The Hawaiian luau is a feast to mark special occasions, such as a one-year birthday, graduation, or wedding.  Traditionally, the foods served represent virtues the participants hope to achieve, such as strength or courage.

 

Cory Witherill (Navajo) is the first full-blooded Native American to race in the famed Indy 500, finishing 19th in the 2001 event.  He now races in the Infiniti Pro Series, but spends much of his time fighting diabetes among Native Americans.

 

The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.  From east to west, Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.

 

The market for Native Indian art exceeds $1 billion, and jewelry may account for up to half of that market.  Native Indian businesses generate $34 billion in annual sales and employ over 300,000 people.

 

More than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii, and it is the only state in the United States that grows coffee.