#nativeamericanveterans

[indigenousgov]

According to an online article published last year by the National Indian Council on Aging, “American Indians and Alaska Natives serve in the Armed Forces at five times the national average and have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years.” A sentiment echoed throughout many media posts from and about Native servicemen and servicewomen was a call to defend and protect their land, their homes, regardless of leadership.

This commitment to heroic service is what Honoring Nations, 2020 semi-finalist Hopi Veterans Services (HVS), seeks to honor and repay by providing quality care and advocacy through the Hopi values of “Kyavtsi” (respect); “Sumi’nangwa” (benefit all); and “Nami’nangwa” (help one another). Since 1995, HVS has been assisting Hopi and Tewa Veterans, military members, and their families to obtain Veteran health, compensation, and pension benefits. Eugene Talas, program manager, shared that over 2000+ Hopis have served in all branches of the military from World War II through the present day. HVS views their work through four related fields: time, in the form of community outreach and personal visits; distance, help to ease the burden of a rural location through reliable transportation; income, state and federal advocacy to improve and realize entitlements for Native Veterans; and logistics, such as cultural awareness training for Veterans Affairs staff. Learn more about Hopi Veterans Services here.

One year ago, PBS premiered “The Warrior Tradition”, a documentary that gives voice to some of the many untold stories from Native warriors and their families, Watch the film here.

This Veterans Day, the National Museum of the American Indian unveiled the new National Native American Veterans Memorial designed by Harvey Pratt, a veteran and citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Virtual programming for the event can be found here.

[trishnavision]

My people honored me as a warrior. We had a feast and my parents and grandparents thanked everyone who prayed for my safe return. We had a "special" [dance] and I remembered as we circled the drum, I got a feeling of pride. I felt good inside because that's the way the Kiowa people tell you that you've done well. –Kiowa Vietnam Veteran #veteransday #happyveteransday #nativeamericanveterans #thankyouforyourservice #thankyouveterans #kiowanation #vietnamvet #honorthewarrior #honorthewarriornotthewar https://www.instagram.com/p/CHeJ67_hSet/?igshid=135b76kelqfsk

[trishnavision]

"There is a difference between the war and the warrior. Non-Native people do not understand the difference. How they treated their returning veterans after Vietnam was a prime example. As Indian people we understand that difference" #separatethewarriorfromthewar #honorthewarrior #nativeamericanveterans #ptsd #memorialday https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5xzw4BD9K/?igshid=9ry7ado6892b

[trishnavision]

#firstnations #indigenous #nativeamericanveterans #nativeamericanart

[trishnavision]

#memorialday #honorthewarrior #honorthewarriornotthewar #nativeamericanveterans #fallenheroes #homeofthefreebecauseofthebrave #nativelivesmatter

[trishnavision]

separate the Warrior from the war #veteransday #honorthewarrior #nativeamericanhistorymonth #remembertheirsacrifice #toallwhohaveserved #nativeamericanveterans #thankyouforyourservice

[trishnavision]

#memorialday #honorthewarrior #honorthewarriornotthewar #nativelivesmatter #nativeamericanveterans #fallenheroes #homeofthefreebecauseofthebrave

[grandmasaidno]

Ahéhee

I wanted to publically express my appreciation for all of the Native American/Indigenous veterans who have willingly volunteered their service in the armed forces for a country that has continuously erases and perpetuates violence against them and other communities of color.

Very little is known about Native American/Indigenous veterans. From what I can gather, more than 8,000 members of Native American/Indigenous Nations volunteered and served during World War I before they became recognized citizens of the United States in 1924. 24,000 later served in World War II. The Navajo (Diné) code talkers, a group of trained individuals who created a code using their own language, and the alphabet for Diné bizaad, did not get official recognition from the U.S. Government until September 17, 1992.

In the state of my reservation, many of the freedoms defended during the various wars were not legally granted to my ancestor’s and other Native America/Indigenous communities. In the state of Arizona, Native Americans/Indigenous people were not granted the right to vote until 1948. It was not until 1968 that the Indian Civil Rights Act was passed, which allowed limited Bill of Rights to us. Lastly, it was not until the Native American Language Act of 1990 that recognized Indigenous Nations’ right to take action on and give official status to their own language. Many of the rights that others take for granted were not legally granted to those who have defended this Euro-American regime.

Often times, I forget how much my ancestor’s and others have willingly sacrifice for my survival, my resistance, and my existence. I forget how very narrow the choices they had in life, and the choices they made were not for themselves. The choices they made were for us, and the generations after us.

It is not only Native American/Indigenous veterans that I want to publically appreciate, I also want to acknowledge the Black Veterans, the Asian veterans, the Latinx veterans, and all of those who have willingly sacrifice their life to defend a country that continuously oppresses and erases their presence.

Ahéhee shidine’é (Thank you my people)

Ahéhee shichei dóó shimásáni (Thank you my grandpa and my grandma)

Ahéhee shidiyin dine’é (Thank you my holy people)

Ahéhee (Thank you)