Native American culture and contributions run deep in Minnesota. In November, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) urges all to honor Native American Heritage Month by learning more about the cultures that helped shape Minnesota and the contributions that Native Americans have made to our military and beyond.

The area known today as the State of Minnesota is located on ancestral and contemporary lands that have been called home by Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. This land is home to many Tribal Nations, including the Anishinaabe, Dakota, Ojibwe, Ho-Chunk, Cheyenne, Oto, Iowa, Hidatsa, Arikara, A’aninin, Cree, Blackfeet, Assiniboine, and the Sac and Fox peoples.

In Minnesota, our Native American Veterans comprise 1.3% of our Veteran population. Native Americans have one of the highest records of military service per capita of any ethnic group. Yet less than 50% of eligible American Indian Veterans apply for benefits they have earned. The MDVA Tribal Veterans Service Officer initiative operates in partnership with the Governmental and Tribal agencies, the Governor's Office, Minnesota State Legislators and the Minnesota Native American Nations. MDVA is here to support all Veterans and our Field Operations team directly supports all 11 Native American Tribes in Minnesota through its /mdva/about/tribalvso.jspTribal Veteran Service Officers (TVSOs).

Please take a moment to learn more about Native American history in the U.S. Military:

• U.S. Army
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Marines
• U.S. Navy
• The National Guard
• Why we serve, Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces, National Museum of the American Indian
• The Remarkable and Complex Legacy of Native American Military Service, Smithsonian Magazine
• Navajo Code Talkers, Inventors of the Unbreakable Code, National Intelligence

If you are a Native American Veteran or have a loved one who is, learn more about the resources available:

• /mdva/about/tribalvso.jspMN Tribal Veteran Service Officers
• MN Indian Affairs Council
• MN Indian Tribes Index
• Minneapolis American Indian Center
• University of Minnesota American Indian Studies (Resources and Links)

The Office of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan are expected to issue a proclamation for Native American Heritage Month. Visit the official proclamations site for more.