Embark on a journey with us to better understand yourself and others. Take time this month to celebrate and learn about the histories, contributions, and current experiences of those around you.
The stories highlighted here act as windows into other cultures and mirrors of our own experiences. Source: By Rudine Sims Bishop, The Ohio State University. "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" originally appeared in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vo. 6, no. 3. Summer 1990.
Native American Heritage Month (November)
Native American Heritage Month (CDs)
Celebrate Native American Heritage with songs featuring themes that connect with Native American stories & experiences.
Native American Heritage Month (Audiobooks)
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with stories featuring themes or characters that connect with diverse stories & experiences.
Native American Heritage Month (DVDs)
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with stories featuring themes or characters that connect with diverse stories & experiences.
Ohio Is Home to Ancient Earthworks
Nov 14, 2024
Between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago, people now referred to as the Hopewell Culture built enormous earthworks in the land we call Ohio.
Native American Heritage (Streaming Movies)
Browse this collection of films honoring Native American culture and history on Kanopy PLUS.
Native American Stories & Experiences (ebooks)
Discover stories about the lives and experiences of Indigenous Peoples of North America with Hoopla Digital.
The Ohio Country (Podcast Series)
This podcast series from WYSO Public Radio provides context on history of Ohio. Includes stories from Miami, Shawnee & Wyandotte peoples.
Marvel Voices Comic Series
Originally starting as a podcast, Marvel Voices has expanded to comic format to highlight characters and creators of color in Marvel comics.
American Indian Youth Literature Award
These awards are presented every two years, to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians.
If you liked... the film The American Buffalo
This book list by the American Indian Library Association & PBS Books, highlights resources to further explore topics covered by the film.
Books Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day
These books celebrate and honor indigenous American peoples and commemorate their histories and cultures.
Native American Heritage Month (Download or Stream)
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by listening to these songs.
The American Buffalo by Ken Burns (DVD)
The dramatic story of America's national mammal, which sustained the lives of Native people for untold generations.
Native American Heritage Month (eAudiobooks)
Explore this collection of classic and newer eAudiobooks about Native American stories for adults and children on Hoopla Digital.
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Now World Heritage Site
The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are Ohio’s first World Heritage Site and the 25th World Heritage Listing in the United States.
Of Maps and Mounds: So You Think you Know Westerville?
We used old surveying equipment to try and locate an indigenous peoples' mound found on an old handwritten map from 1935.
2024 Schedule of Celebrations
- February: Black History Month
- March: Women's History Month
- April: National Deaf History Month
- May: Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- June: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
- July: Disability Pride Month
- September: Hispanic Latino Heritage Month
- November: Native American Heritage Month
Historic Black Settlements of Ohio: Author David Meyers
Feb 6th | 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Meet local author David Meyers as he talks about his book, Historic Black Settlements of Ohio. Book sale ($24/each) and signing to follow.
Urban Strings Columbus: Youth Orchestra
Feb 9th | 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Listen to music from popular African American composers and arrangers, performed by Youth String Ensembles. About Urban StringsUrban…
Turtle & Rabbit Tales with Lyn Ford
Feb 15th | 10:00am - 10:45am
Become immersed in the “trickster critters” stories of Affrilachian oral tradition shared with humor and history. Performed by Lyn Ford.
Anniversary of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
May 31 marks the anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre in the neighborhood of Greenwood (Black Wall Street) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
About This Initiative
The Westerville Public Library’s intention with this initiative is to reflect our diverse community, encourage acceptance, promote respect, expand understanding, amplify a wide range of voices, and energize community conversations. Suggestions for future celebrations welcome.
Heritage in this context is intended to encompass the people, places, and things that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Westerville Voices
Turning up the volume on unheard voices in our community to foster empathy & understanding.
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (online course)
Explore this belonging approach, and discover how to activate it in your organization.
CultureGrams
Discover cultures of the world. Go beyond the basic facts and figures with local perspectives on more than 200 countries
Unconscious Bias (online course)
Founder/CEO of Rework Work Stacey Gordon reveals the most common forms of unconscious bias and teaches skills to effectively address them.
Mindy B.
Mindy will always bring a smile to your face, even when she's concentrating on finding hard-to-get-your-hands-on books and journal articles.
Thomas S.
Fun and friendly, Thomas is often out-and-about, bringing entertainment and energy to community events around Westerville.
Aneeza P.
Aneeza is curious about people, cultures, communities, and social and organizational structures.
Erin H.
Erin is a Victorian romance girl, through and through.
