From the OFCCP:
Every November, our country celebrates Native American Heritage Month -- also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Throughout the month, we honor the diverse and rich cultures, histories, traditions and contributions of Native Americans.
President Biden highlighted in his 2022 proclamation marking National Native American Heritage Month,
“We must do more to ensure that Native Americans have every opportunity to succeed and that their expertise informs our federal policy-making. That is why my Administration is engaging in meaningful consultation with Tribal leaders, particularly when it comes to treaty rights, reserved rights, management and stewardship of Federal lands, consideration of Indigenous Knowledge, and other policies that affect Native peoples.”
In January 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its first report on employment data for Native Americans. According to the report, the unemployment rate for Native Americans and Alaskan Natives stood at 7.1 percent in September 2022. This is significantly lower than the 28.6 percent unemployment rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives in April 2020, but trails behind the overall unemployment rate of 3.5 percent.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) honors Native Americans and the countless contributions they have made to this country and the many ways they have enriched our workplaces. Through our work, OFCCP promotes equal opportunity, protects workers, and enforces the law. Since 2021, OFCCP has recovered more than $66,000 for more than 75 Native American workers to remedy workplace discrimination.
OFCCP conducts compliance assistance and outreach to support federal contractors and subcontractors to advance equal employment opportunities. We established the Indian and Native American Employment Rights Program (INAERP) to foster the inclusion of Native Americans in the workplace. INAERP advances the awareness of employment rights and job opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives who work for or seek employment with federal contractors. OFCCP offers promising practices to assist the federal contractor community with creating an inclusive workforce.
Click here to learn more about the many contributions of Native Americans and find out about events and exhibits related to National Native American Heritage Month.