Governor Stein Proclaims American Indian Heritage Month

American Indian Heritage Month 

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, American Indian Heritage Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the rich culture and traditions of our country’s first inhabitants; and

Whereas, this month honors and celebrates the history and heritage of tribal communities across the state, who have lived in the geographic area of North Carolina for more than 12,000 years; and

Whereas, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau, North Carolina is the home of more than 130,000 American Indians, the second-largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River and the seventh-largest American Indian population in the United States; and

Whereas, in 2025, following the passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina became the 575th federally recognized tribe in the United States, and in 2026 the Catawba Nation became North Carolina’s ninth state-recognized tribe; these changes bring additional representation on the NC Commission of Indian Affairs and additional resources to the state for Indian education, economic development, and other opportunities impacting this group of people; and

Whereas, each year the NC Commission of Indian Affairs, the NC American Indian Heritage Commission, the NC Museum of History, and North Carolina’s Indian Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations collaborate on American Indian Heritage Month celebrations to increase awareness of the importance of American Indian history and culture to our state; and

Whereas, the State of North Carolina is committed to supporting the American Indian community, celebrating the rich diversity of our state’s recognized tribes and urban Indian organizations: Catawba Nation, Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Lumbee, Haliwa-Saponi, Sappony, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Waccamaw-Siouan, Cumberland County Association for Indian People, Guilford Native American Association, Metrolina Native American Society, and Triangle Native American Society;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 2026 as “American Indian Heritage Month” in North Carolina and commend its observance.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fifty-first.