The 2023-2024 swim season is upon us, and the holidays are quickly approaching! But those are not the only things to celebrate during November. Native American Heritage Month is a celebratory month aimed at building awareness surrounding this community and recognizing its impact on the world as we see it today. November is Native American Heritage Month.

Similar to other celebratory months, Native American Heritage Month has gone through several iterations, ultimately leading to the month-long celebration that we see today. Recognition for Native Americans began as a single-day celebration in the early 20th Century and was later declared for November by President George H. Bush in 1994.

Disparities in drowning are prevalent in all non-white communities. However, the impact of the drowning rates is not as consistent. In a study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), they found that Native Americans face a drowning rate that is two times higher than White communities and 0.5% higher than both Black and Hispanic communities in pools. In natural water (lakes, ponds, bays, oceans, etc.) Native American people face drowning rates that are three times higher than white communities.

Did You Know?
The sport of swimming as we know it today owes much of its foundation to Native American communities. Native Americans used the skill of swimming for many reasons, including hunting, harvesting, and even as a form of healing. Did you know that the Native Americans were the first to perform the front crawl stroke as we know it today? In 1844, Ojibwe men traveled to London on an invitation from the then-British Swimming Society to compete in a race. It was here that the two men swept the competition with their different styles of swimming. However, the swimming community criticized this "new" style and did not accept it until much later.

Educate
One of the best ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month is to learn more about the month itself, the history of different Native American peoples, and what Native American people live or have lived where you currently do!

Create A Plan to Support
Learning about the challenges Native communities have faced in the past, present, and future can help you create tangible action items that will be accurate and impactful.

Links to learn more
Beyond Land Acknowledgment: A Guide |Native Governance Center
How Racism Kept the World's Fastest Swim Stroke Out of the Pool | Atlas Obscura
How to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month | First Nations Development Institute
Persistent Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Fatal Unintentional Drowning Rates Among Persons Aged 29 Years and Older- United States, 1999-2019 | MMWR (cdc.gov)
Drowning Facts | Drowning Prevention | CDC

#Swimclusion Campaign is USA Swimming’s ongoing effort to include all communities within the sport of swimming. Through #Swimclusion, USA Swimming aims toincrease dialogue around diverse swimmers and members while simultaneously showcasing the benefits ALL communities can receive from being included within the immaculate sport of swimming – hence the name #SWIMCLUSION.