Honoring Roots, Honoring Wellness — Reflections for Native American Heritage Month
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November is Native American Heritage Month—a time to slow down, listen deeply, and honor the stories, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across this country. But it’s also a moment to recognize something just as powerful: the way heritage shapes who we are, how we move through the world, and how we rise.
For me, this month always brings me back to a photo I absolutely love of my grandmother at 23 years old. The same age as my youngest daughter is now. Part Native American and Black, she grew up in a world that didn’t make space for women who looked like her. By 23, she had already given birth to three children, worked multiple jobs, and navigated life without a high school diploma. But she walked with purpose, dignity, and a love so fierce it changed the lives of everyone in her community.
When I place her photo next to my daughter’s, their smiles mirror each other. Their zest for life is the same. But their opportunities? Entirely different. My daughter is a college graduate, exploring the world with the freedom that my grandmother could have only imagined, and that’s the beauty of legacy:
Grandmother and daughter at 23, nearly 80 years apart.
“We rise because someone before us refused to fall.”
How Heritage Connects to Wellness
Heritage isn’t just history—it’s a wellness practice.
Identity strengthens emotional resilience. Knowing where we come from grounds us when life gets loud or chaotic.
Stories reduce stress. They remind us that struggle, survival, and joy are all part of our lineage.
Cultural pride fuels motivation. When we remember who came before us, we move differently.
Did you know that self-understanding is part of the RISE theory? R stands for researching who you are, identifying your roots, strengthening your path, and evolving with intention.
Let’s Reflect
Take a moment to pause and consider:
What parts of your family history inspire the way you show up today?
What values or strengths did your ancestors pass down to you?
How might understanding your heritage empower your next step?
As we honor Native American Heritage Month, may we honor our own stories, too. Because knowing where we come from helps shape where we’re going—and how boldly we rise once we get there.
