Google Doodle Honors Native American Heritage Month
The interactive Doodle features circular beaded ornaments from the National Museum of the American Indian collection.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Native American
Google displayed a new Doodle featuring traditional beadwork to mark Native American Heritage Month, which began Sunday. The two 'O's in the Doodle are circular beaded ornaments made by the Plains Apache between 1890 and 1909.
Why it matters
The Doodle places Native American artwork before a broad national audience during the month set aside to recognize Native American history and culture. It also draws attention to items held in the National Museum of the American Indian's collection.
The Doodle's ornaments were made by the Plains Apache between 1890 and 1909 and are held in the National Museum of the American Indian collection. Google's Instagram account separately displayed a Coushatta beaded silk sash made in 1875 and a Kickapoo cotton, silk and glass bead hair ornament from 1900.
The players
Google is a technology company best known for its search engine and the Doodles it periodically displays on its homepage to mark holidays and cultural observances.
National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is a Smithsonian Institution museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to the history, art and cultures of Native peoples of the Americas.
George H.W. Bush
George H.W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States, who signed the 1990 resolution designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month.
The details
Google's Doodle uses circular beaded ornaments from the National Museum of the American Indian collection as its two 'O's. The company's Instagram account also showed other items from the same collection, including the sash and hair ornament.
Timeline
1875: Coushatta beaded silk sash is made.
1890 to 1909: Plains Apache beaded ornaments are made.
1900: Kickapoo hair ornament is made.
1990: President George H.W. Bush signs the resolution designating the monthlong observance.
Sunday: Google launches the Doodle as Native American Heritage Month begins.
Heritage Observance
The Doodle continues the annual observance Congress and President George H.W. Bush established by resolution in 1990, which set aside November for recognizing Native American history and culture. Its use of museum artifacts follows the Smithsonian's role in preserving those objects for public display.
Readers can view the museum artifacts that inspired the Doodle through the National Museum of the American Indian's collection and online materials. The Doodle's beadwork offers a concrete starting point for learning about Plains Apache, Coushatta and Kickapoo craft traditions.
The takeaway
Beadwork is a durable record of tribal craft, and objects like these ornaments from the 1870s through 1900s remain accessible through national museum collections for anyone who wants to study them directly.
Further reading
Explore more on Native American culture across the United States.
Source note: This article includes information reported by UPI.
