Several times a year the Penn's Village Inclusiveness and Diversity Committee recommends several resources to help our members and friends to be more aware of the racial biases in each of us and in our society, and the resulting inequities, past and present. It is the committee’s hope that this information may even inspire us to make co Several rrective changes. These resources assembled by Penn’s Village members represent different mediums, different perspectives and experiences, and diverse authors.
Penn’s Village welcomes and actively encourages an inclusive and diverse community of members, staff, Board of Directors and volunteers. Inclusiveness and diversity mean welcoming all and excluding no one because of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, physical abilities, religious beliefs or political beliefs.
At the very bottom of this page, blog readers have the opportunity to comment. The Inclusiveness and Diversity Committee welcomes your opinions about any of our suggested resources and any suggestions about their mission.
November, 2026 Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of more than 574 federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native tribes in the United States. Today there are over 9.7 million Native Americans living in the United States.
A Brief History of the Lenape Native Americans
The Indigenous people who inhabited the land that became Philadelphia were the Lenape (also Lenni Lenape; their English moniker was “Delaware”) To learn about their life and culture before and after the arrival European settlers click here.
A Memoir: A Voice Like Mine by Deb Haaland
Nothing about Deb Haaland's upbringing or family history set her up for a life of firsts: the first Native American woman elected to chair a state political party in the United States; one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress; the first Native American to serve in a presidential cabinet. A thirty-fifth generation New Mexican and member of the Pueblo of Laguna, Haaland has lived a remarkable life shaped by poverty, alcoholism, and single parenthood. After a late but meteoric rise in politics, she stepped down from her cabinet position as secretary of the interior in January 2025 to run for governor of New Mexico in the 2026 election. Throughout her journey, Haaland has drawn on her heritage in her activism and service, leading with humility, purpose, and a commitment to 'leave the ladder down' for those who follow.
The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian’s Film Festival
This year the Smithsonian will host Native Cinema Showcase from November 13 to November 27. This festival celebrates the year’s best Indigenous films which include documentaries, full-length films, animations, and short-format films. To learn the details and how to stream all of these films free click here.
Podcast: Cherokee Story Slam
This podcast from the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian demonstrates the power that a good tale has to teach and keep people connected to their cultural roots. In this episode, Robert Lewis, an acclaimed Cherokee storyteller, spins two stories about a legendary troublemaker, Jistu the Rabbit. To listen click here.
Podcast: Native Americans and the Constitution
This podcast from the National Constitution Center is a conversation exploring the influence of Indigenous people and tribal governments on the U.S. Constitution and American democracy, from before the Revolution to today. To listen click on this link: https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/podcasts/native-americans-and-the-constitution
PBS TV Series on WHYY: Native America
This eight-part PBS series challenges everything we thought we knew about the Americas before and since contact with Europe. It travels through 15,000 years to showcase massive cities, unique systems of science, art, and writing, and 100 million people connected by social networks and spiritual beliefs spanning two continents. The series reveals some of the most advanced cultures in human history and the Native American people who created it and whose legacy continues, unbroken, to this day. The schedule for this series is:
From Caves to Cosmos
Monday, November 2, 07:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 3, 12:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Sunday, November 8, 04:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Nature to Nations
Monday, November 2, 08:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 3, 01:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Cities of the Sky
Monday, November 9, 07:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 10, 12:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Sunday, November 15, 04:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
New World Rising
Monday, November 9, 08:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 10, 01:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
New Worlds
Monday, November 16, 07:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 17, 12:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Sunday, November 22, 04:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Warrior Spirit
Monday, November 16, 08:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 17, 01:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Women Rule
Monday, November 23, 07:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 24, 12:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Sunday, November 29, 04:00 am on WHYY | WORLD
Language Is Life
Monday, November 23, 08:00 pm on WHYY | WORLD
Tuesday, November 24, 01:00 am on WHYY | WORLD