HAPPY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY!  I generally spend quite a bit of mid-September to October getting ready for November, which is National Native American Heritage Month.  Indigenous Peoples Day tends to be the day that I start getting really excited about the November to come.  I also, try to make sure I check and recheck for November around this date, which is fitting.

November is my busiest month with the Sage Project.  We put up almost 300 sage mailbox bows on the first of the month along with their accompanying educational flyers.  In October, I have to make sure I have all the bows ready to roll and flyers printed.  The flyers educate our neighbors on the importances of Native American Heritage Month and include resources for asynchronous education and involvement.  In addition, the flyers are our biggest fundraising source.  Through funds donated, I fund our educational outreach to area elementary schools, like St. Matthews Elementary.    The funds raised via donations from the flyers also fund other efforts; playing a pivotal role in funding for the entire year.

Then, on November 14th, 2024, we will host our 2nd Annual Elementary Educational outreach campaign in partnership with the Catawba Nation.  The groundwork to raise funds and organize the logistics and program content happens well before November.  When we reach November, the work becomes more about confirming times and other minor details.

Close to the end of November, the mailbox bows have to be removed in anticipation of holiday decorations.  When removing the bows, I also place an additional flyer in mailboxes to allow neighbors another opportunity to donate in support of this important work and also reinforcing the educational aspect of the bows.

The funds we raise in November also are budgeted toward our partnership with the Catawba Nation’s Tree of Good Spirit and Charlotte Catholic High School’s Anthropology Club.  Each holiday season, the club (with support from the Sage Project) sponsors the holiday wish list of several children through the Tree of Good Spirit.  Club members shop for wish list items and then the Sage Project makes the delivery of the gifts to the Catawba Nation in mid-December.

As you can see, November is not only importance because of the cultural significance of the month.  The efforts undertaken in November complete key annual initiatives through action and fundraising.