Federal Publications for Indigenous Peoples Month

National Native American Heritage Month is dedicated to honoring and celebrating the diverse heritage, traditions, and achievements of Indigenous peoples.

Originally established as Native American Awareness Week by President Gerald Ford in 1976 under Proclamation 4468, it was later expanded to a full month by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, making November National Native American Heritage Month.

As part of our observance, we are displaying unaltered historical materials from our collection. These documents are presented in their original form for educational and research purposes. While some language or depictions may be outdated or offensive, they provide important context for understanding history and encouraging thoughtful discussion.

Federal Documents

Cover of Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993.

Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993

United States Government Printing Office

Transcript of a 1993 Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing on S. 1156, legislation to settle land claims of the Catawba Tribe in South Carolina and restore the federal trust relationship with the Catawba Indian Tribe. Includes testimony from tribal representatives, government officials, and other stakeholders, along with supporting documents and references.

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Cover of Constitution and By-laws of the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina

Constitution and By-laws of the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina

United States Government Printing Office

Presents the 1944 constitution and by-laws of the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina, approved by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs.

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Cover of Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993

Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina Land Claims Settlement Act of 1993

United States Government Printing Office

This law, enacted as Public Law 103-116 on October 27, 1993, settles the land claims of the Catawba Indian Tribe of South Carolina. It outlines the terms of the settlement, provisions for land acquisition and use, and other measures to resolve longstanding disputes over tribal lands and rights.

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Cover of , BIA: Past and Present, Economic Development

American Indians: U.S. Indian Policy, Tribes and Reservations, BIA: Past and Present, Economic Development

United States Department of the Interior

Summarizes United States federal Indian policy, tribal governance, and reservation systems, with an emphasis on the role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs past and present. Discusses economic development initiatives, includes historical and contemporary perspectives, and features illustrations and portraits.

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A History of Indian Policy

A History of Indian Policy

United States Department of the Interior

These 10 chapters cover the nature of Indian policy; the Indian and the European; treaties and Indian trade; tribal removal and concentration westward; reservations for Indian tribes; allotments to individual Indians; tribal reorganization; Indian relocation and tribal termination; Indian policy and American life in the 1960's; self-determination through Indian leadership, 1968 to 1972; and Indian policy goals for the early 1970's.

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Cover of In the Valley of the Ancients.

In the Valley of the Ancients: A book of Native American Legends

United States Department of the Interior

A collection of Native American legends from the Southwest, retold by Lou Cuevas and illustrated by Jim Fuge. Stories reflect the spiritual beliefs, cultural traditions, and oral storytelling heritage of Indigenous peoples in the region.

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Folklife Annual: 1987

Folklife Annual: 1987

Library of Congress

Annual publication of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress featuring articles, essays, and documentation on the folklore, traditions, and social customs of the United States.

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Cover of Federal and State Indian Reservations and Indian Trust Areas.

Federal and State Indian Reservations and Indian Trust Areas

United States Department of Commerce

This directory provides information on the incorporated Alaska Native villages and the federally recognized reservations of Indigenous peoples in the mainland United States.

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Cover of Nursery Manual for Native Plants

Nursery Manual for Native Plants: A Guide for Tribal Nurseries

United States Department of Agriculture

In 2001, the USDA Forest Service’s RNGR program invited Native Americans to the Western Forest and Conservation Nursery Association meeting, where about 25 members representing 20 tribes attended. The following year, tribal members established the Tribal Nursery Council with RNGR’s support. In 2003, RNGR surveyed 560 tribes, with 77 responding about needs for plants, facilities, and training. The results, along with input from the Intertribal Nursery Council, led to the decision to create a nursery handbook, planned later that year, tailored to the unique needs of Native American cultures.

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Cover of Beneath these waters: archeological and historical studies of 11,500 years along the Savannah River

Beneath these waters: archeological and historical studies of 11,500 years along the Savannah River

United States Army Corps of Engineers

Presents an in-depth archeological and historical narrative of the Savannah River region, tracing 11,500 years of human activity from Paleoindian societies to early settlers. Based on extensive excavations and research conducted prior to the construction of the Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake, the work explores Indigenous People life, frontier settlements, land use, and cultural change across Georgia and South Carolina.

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Upcoming Event

Hand with finger pointing upwards.

Building Statewide Access: Lessons from Tennessee’s Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

November 17, 2025, 3:00 PM

 In this session, Beth Williamson and Cynthia Moynihan will share how the program—through collaboration between Tennessee State Library and Archives and Nashville Public Library—has built and sustained a statewide model for accessibility, outreach, and partnership. 

This Week