Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Héébe, ’Finders! Koonííni'ííni? (Hello, ’Finders! How’re things?)

It’s November, and that means here on Turtle Island in the United States, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month! This cultural heritage month was first observed in 1990, after being signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. Native American Heritage Month honors the Indigenous people of Turtle Island, recognizes the damage colonization wreaked on these many and varied nations, and celebrates the achievements of Native people throughout history.

This year’s theme is “Honoring the Past, Recognizing the Present, Making Stories for the Future,” with a focus on preserving Indigenous culture and heritage by passing it down to new generations and encouraging Native youth. Some of our contributors used this theme as inspiration for their submissions!

Content warning: Some submissions discuss anti-Native racism, residential schools, and cultural trauma.

Illustration by Bastien Jez

Basil Wright (he/they/xe)

One benefit of getting is older is that you truly just stop giving a damn about what others think about you. When I was in elementary school, I was a lot more open about being Black and Seminole and was subjected to a lot of abuse, resulting in me hiding away my Indigenous heritage.

Now, I design my own games and write my own stories, which means I want them to reflect parts of my lived experiences. I do my best to incorporate more of my heritage into my work, such as my writing work in Backchannels, or directly working with my friend Robin Perera to create an Indigenous character in Spellbound: a magical mystery.

It's my hope that doing this not only helps other Indigenous folx out there, but reaches back to my younger self and gives them a tight hug of support. Indigenous people aren't just a symbol of the past. We're here, we're living, we're thriving. We'll continue to do so.

David N. Ross (he/him)

You might know my work from the Fists of the Ruby Phoenix Adventure Path (I loved the social maneuvering as much as the set-piece fights), Pathfinder Adventure Path: Abomination Vaults (5E), or any of the dozens of sourcebooks I've contributed to. As a longtime Paizo freelancer of mixed Ojibwe and Euroamerican roots, my mixed-race experience has long informed the way I think about designing mixed ancestries going back to my work on the PathfinderAdvanced Race Guide and other First Edition supplements. I was also happy to adapt the baykok of Ojibwe legend for PathfinderBestiary 3.

In the coming months, I'm looking forward to the release of some articles drawing on the stories of my Ojibwe family for Drintera® Magazine in January and February, which you can find out more about over here:

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shewstonepublishing/drintera-fantasy-ttrpg-world-2025

Rue Dickey (they/he/xe)

Being a reconnecting Native is at once a beautiful and deeply painful experience, especially when my grandfather’s “adoption” records weren’t unsealed until I was an adult. Many Native people experience this disconnect from our homes and cultures because for much of the United States’ history, we were forcibly removed by residential schools, adoption programs, and discriminatory laws. But as more and more of those boxes are being unsealed and tape is being cut, we can experience the joy of knowing where we come from.

I consider myself very lucky to live in an area with a thriving Native population—and a Native Community Center!—because being in community is one of the most healing things a person can experience. Recently, I’ve been attending beadwork classes, learning from elders and master crafters, and while I’m far from that, I’m proud to have finished several pieces since my first class. Learning the arts and skills of our elders is matched only in importance by learning their stories, so our cultures can continue to live and thrive.

Someday, I hope to be someone Native youth look to for inspiration and joy—or at least someone who helped write stories they can see themselves in.

Sara Jeffers (she/they/he)

Sara Jeffers is a Two-Spirit member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, in what is now known as Washington and British Columbia. Their heritage and culture influence not only her graphic and narrative designs but also his approaches in problem-solving and community building.

In writing Starfinder Bounty #10: Those who were Taken, Sara was reminded of the horrific abuses that their family members underwent in the Tribal Schools programs in the 20th century. The idea that these innocents were being abducted, abused, and reprogrammed unless saved resonated with the stories she'd heard growing up about attempted school rescues and the children never forgotten. When they explained to a family elder what the Starfinder adventure was about, they got a tired but warm smile. "It is good to save the children."

That mantra drives her, and the desire to be in community with others, something that Jeffers took for granted as a youth, led him to create Meadowlark Productions, a TTRPG channel focused specifically on raising money for various charities, saving the children one game at a time. In December, Meadowlark will produce an entire month of games that benefit Project Hope. Find us at: https://www.twitch.tv/meadowlarkproductions

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We’re proud to uplift Native voices in our games, and deeply appreciate the vibrant writing these folks have shared with our worlds! We welcome other Native community members to share their work and stories in the comments—and we also welcome celebration of Native art, culture, and ways from all community members!

Heetíh-nííni'cowo'óó-nee! (I wish you all well!)

Rue Dickey
Marketing & Media Specialist
Arapaho Nation