City Celebrates Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Week (November 23 to 30) was first recognized in 1986 during the Reagan administration & was expanded to Native American Heritage Month in 1990 under President George H.W. Bush. American Indian Heritage Day is celebrated on the fourth Friday of November in the state of Maryland.

Native and indigenous people have significantly contributed to the rich fabric of history and culture we celebrate in our community. The Native American community makes up about 2.9 percent of the population in the United States, with the 2020 Census indicating that a little less than one percent of the City's population identify themselves as American Indian or Native Alaskan, up from .5 percent in 2010.

Native and indigenous people have significantly contributed to the rich fabric of history and culture we celebrate in our community. The Native American community makes up about 2.9 percent of the population in the United States, with the 2020 Census indicating that a little less than one percent of the City's population identify themselves as American Indian or Native Alaskan, up from .5 percent in 2010.

The US government officially recognizes 574 tribes in the contiguous 48 states and Alaska. In Maryland, there are residents who represent these Nations as well as some of the more than 500 tribes from Latin America and the Caribbean. The Nation most closely associated with the boundaries of today's Montgomery County are the Piscataway. The state of Maryland officially recognized the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and the Piscataway Indian Nation in 2012.

The mission of the Multicultural Affairs Committee is to enrich our City through the promotion of understanding, respect, and appreciation of the many cultures of Gaithersburg. Interested in volunteering and helping plan Heritage Month celebrations? Please email [email protected].