Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
As November begins, Holland Public Schools proudly joins communities across the nation in recognizing Native American Heritage Month. This dedicated time invites our students, staff, families, and community members to honor the rich histories, vibrant cultures, sovereign traditions, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples—past, present, and future.
Our school district is situated on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary homelands of the Anishinaabeg—the Council of Three Fires, comprising the Ojibwe (Chippewa), Odawa (Ottawa), and Potawatomi nations. Ottawa County itself proudly bears the name of the Odawa people, whose stewardship of the waterways, forests, and lands of West Michigan long precedes the establishment of our local towns and public schools.
Honoring Indigenous heritage is not a static history lesson confined to a single month; it is an active, year-round responsibility embedded in our commitment to inclusive, high-quality education. Throughout November and across the school year, Holland Public Schools is dedicated to:
Integrating Accurate Histories & Contemporary Voices: Providing age-appropriate, authentic learning experiences that highlight both historical truths—including local treaty histories and forced relocations—and modern Indigenous art, science, leadership, and literature.
Promoting Cultural Respect & Awareness: Encouraging critical thinking, empathy, and deeper appreciation for the sovereign tribal nations of Michigan.
Fostering Inclusive Classrooms: Ensuring every student sees their background valued while building bridges of understanding across our diverse student body.
We invite our entire school community to reflect on the land we share, seek out Indigenous-authored stories and scholarship, and celebrate the living heritage of Native American communities across West Michigan and beyond.