For the first time in 233 years, Native American, Native Alaskan, and Native Hawaiian all in U.S. House. From left to right: Reps. Kaialiʻi Kahele, Mary Peltola and Sharice Davids.
Credit: Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele via Twitter

People in the United States observe Native American Heritage Month each year in November. During this period, many Native tribes celebrate their cultures, histories, and traditions. It is also a time to raise awareness of the challenges Indigenous people have faced in the past and today, along with their contributions to the United States as its first inhabitants.

Representation is important. For centuries, Indigenous Americans have not been represented in powerful positions in the United States government. This fall, that changed. When Representative Mary Peltola was elected as representative for Alaska. Peltola became the first woman and first native Alaskan to serve in the role. She joined the ranks of seven Indigenous Americans in Congress. This session also marks the first time a native Hawaiian, Native American, and Native Alaskan have served together. Representative Kaiali‘i Kahele a native Hawaiian for Hawaii, Representative Sharice Davids of the Ho-Chunk nation for Kansas, and Peltola celebrated the monumental accomplishment with a photo together.

Four years ago, Sharice Davids and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland became the first two Indigenous women elected to Congress. The recent increase in representation will allow issues affecting the Indigenous communities more airtime in front of Congress, a path to better solutions.

For example, Congress members will have the power to voice concerns regarding how the federal government interacts with Indigenous Americans day to day. The Supreme Court met to debate a case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act, a law that requires the government to notify tribes if an Indigenous child is removed from a home and give preference to tribe members for foster placement of the child. Also in the news, the Cherokee nation is asking Congress to fulfill a 187-year-old promise of seating a Cherokee delegate permanently in Congress. The promise was made in the Treaty of New Echota signed in 1835.

The other Indigenous Americans currently serving in Congress include Representative Tom Cole of the Chickasaw nation for Oklahoma, Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan for the Northern Mariana Islands, Representative Markwayne Mullin of the Cherokee nation for Oklahoma, Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen for American Samoa, and Yvette Herrell of the Cherokee nation for New Mexico.