Join UnitedHealth Group in celebrating Native American Heritage Month with Native Voices United
Key Takeaways:
- Native Voices United Employee Resource Group celebrates Native American Heritage Month through education, community and cultural appreciation.
- Employees share personal stories on how Native American heritage informs their lives and work at UnitedHealth Group.
- This month’s company events foster greater understanding and allyship, encouraging all employees to engage with Native cultures.
At UnitedHealth Group, we honor and celebrate the diversity of our workforce and the communities we serve. This November, we are proud to share some of the ways we’re highlighting Native American Heritage Month, a time to reflect on the rich cultural heritage of Native American communities. Leading the celebration is our Native Voices United Employee Resource Group (ERG), consisting of employees from UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum dedicated to recognizing and supporting Native communities.
ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that are typically based upon a shared characteristic, demographic, life experience or allyship. Although ERGs are formed around individuals’ common lived experiences, any employee can join any ERG. Here are some of our ERG communities:
- Asian United
- Black Experience
- Disability Inclusion
- Military Community
- Native Voices United
- PRIDE at UHG
- Unidos (Hispanic and Latin)
- Women LEAD
The mission of Native Voices United
Native Voices United was founded to honor tribal nations across the country. The ERG is committed to equity within our organization by promoting awareness of tribal sovereignty, cultural values and the contributions of Native communities. They also focus on addressing health disparities within Native populations.
As part of Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate with a range of activities that reflect the ERG's four key pillars: Awareness, Allyship, Advancement, and Growth. These pillars guide efforts to educate, support and increase visibility throughout the organization, ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard year-round.
How Native Voices United is celebrating Native American Heritage Month
This year, Native Voices United is planning a series of events that celebrate the past, present and future of Native American culture. From lunch-and-learn sessions and guest presentations to exploring traditional cuisines and arts, these events are designed to foster appreciation and understanding of Native traditions.
We invite all employees to join us in these celebrations and learn about the diverse customs, values and histories that Native Americans bring to our communities and our company.
Reflections from Native Voices United members
Native American Heritage Month holds deep meaning for many employees at UnitedHealth Group, including those who are part of the Native Voices United ERG. Here, some of the members share their personal reflections on this important time of year and what it means to them:
Joshua W., who comes from a Cherokee background, shared how meaningful Native American Heritage Month is to him, describing it as a time for celebration, education and reflection. Joshua emphasized five key ways that this month impacts him:
1. Celebrate the journey of our ancestors.
2. Appreciate and learn from other tribes and affiliations on their customs and traditions.
3. Educate by reflecting on health disparity stereotypes and increasing awareness of challenges and opportunities for our demographic.
4. Participate by engaging in the communities we serve and hearing from external constituents to our organization.
5. Dedicate by respecting and reflecting on the hardships of our ancestors and the perseverance to survive and thrive in driving change.
Koty V., a consultant in Optum Advisory and a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux and Choctaw tribes, shared her personal connection to Native American Heritage Month:
"National Native American Heritage Month is a time when we celebrate and honor the many rich and diverse cultures and traditions of the Native Indigenous people of our nation. Our Native ancestors provided us with the legacy of wisdom, resilience and respect for the land, and that deep connection to nature and their commitment to community are values that resonate with the core mission of health care."
Koty also expressed gratitude for being part of a company that values and celebrates diversity, saying, "I am grateful to work for a company that recognizes the importance of diversity and also actively celebrates it."
Taylor J., an operational trainer at Optum, spoke about how Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity for her and her daughter to reconnect with their Diné Navajo heritage:
“Personally, to me, Native American Heritage Month means culture appreciation! During the month, my daughter and I read books, build crafting activities and learn about our Diné Navajo heritage. Most days we find ourselves re-learning how to make traditional food and will find ways to help modernize some dishes so that my daughter can experience our cuisine in its natural purified form.”
Taylor also highlighted how working at UnitedHealth Group has allowed her to fully express her cultural identity: “I can openly speak my language, dress in my cultural attire and use my personality to bring my trainings alive! Not a lot of employers are like this. I am grateful for this opportunity the organization gives me.”
Join us in celebrating Native American Heritage Month
As we observe Native American Heritage Month, we invite everyone to join us in celebrating the vibrant and diverse cultures of Native American communities. Want to learn more about diversity and inclusion at UnitedHealth Group? Visit our careers page for more.
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