THE VETERANS' PRESS: Native veteran, Native pride

Simple and powerful … timeless and inclusive. This is the description given for the Native American Veterans Memorial at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. The memorial opened to the public in November 2020 and was designed by Harvey Pratt, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes and a Southern Cheyenne Peace Chief. Pratt is a Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran. A stainless steel circle sits atop a carved stone drum surrounded by benches. Pratt's design incorporates elements of fire, water, air and earth, and four lances where visitors can tie cloths for prayers and healing, remembrance and reflection.

November is American Indian Heritage Month with an opportunity to learn and honor, as does this memorial, American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who served in the military of the United States. These veterans have defended our country for centuries, and Native Americans serve in the United States Armed Forces at five times the national average. According to the USO and VeteranAid websites, General Ely S. Parker, a member of the Seneca Nation, served as military secretary for General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Parker would later write the final draft of the Confederate terms of surrender. Despite not being recognized as American citizens, an estimated 12,000 Native Americans served in World War I. When the entire population of Native Americans was less than 350,000, an estimated 44,000 served in World War II (nearly 800 were women), and 42,000 served in the Vietnam War — 90% of them volunteers. In recent years, statistics show almost 20% of all Native American service members are women, compared to the approximate 15% of other ethnicities.

And who hasn't heard of the Navajo Code Talkers? Their indigenous unwritten language was supreme in creating a special code to transmit sensitive information during World War II. Twenty-nine Navajo Marine Corps men began the operation, and by the end of the war, about 400 Talkers from the Navajo, Cherokee, Choctaw, Lakota, Meskwaki and Comanche tribes were translating encrypted messages. Japanese forces never broke the Navajo Code.

For Native Veterans, like so many others, service to their country does not end when handed their DD 214. Dr. Ricky Robinson, Army veteran and member of the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, was past Executive Director of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe at Fort Hall, Idaho. He was also Director of the Cherokee Nation Veterans Affairs Center after his retirement from the Bureau of Indian Affairs — Office of Indian Education. Dr. Robinson follows a tradition of service much like his uncles and grandfather, and continues to work in helping veterans. As past manager for the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Dr. Robinson said "A lot of veterans just want to come in and talk about something, maybe experiences they've had. They can do that here…we will help them get an appointment with a licensed counselor in the tribe or through Veterans Affairs."

The GI Bill was an advantage that helped John Daugherty, Air Force veteran and tribal member of the Cherokee, Shawnee and Delaware tribes. After his four years as an administrative specialist, serving mostly in Spain, John took business and Indian social science courses. He worked in various roles for Indian Health Services and became Area Director of Indian Services for the State of Oklahoma. "I lived with my grandmother who spoke only Shawnee. My mother was full blood Shawnee and Delaware. I've been a singer at tribal ceremonies, responsible for maintaining drums and had the pleasure and honor of mentoring young people — encouraging them with their singing."

Cherokee tribal member and Navy Veteran S. Joe Crittenden has no shortage of warrior spirit. After his tour in Guam, and on the USS Princeton, Joe came back to work for the tribe in many areas. He served as Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation, participated in several Warrior (Honor) Flights, and worked with the Department of Veteran Affairs so that veterans who would normally use VA health facilities, could use tribal health centers for routine care. Joe also signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in securing a housing program for homeless Native American veterans. "It blesses my heart. We talk about sacrifice that has been given by veterans through the ages … I'm going to do everything I can to improve what's already a success in our tribe." Joe is proud of his service, it "gave me direction, taught me respect, and to obey orders. I believe we see this land as something created to use and take care of and defend." Joe was a member of the advisory committee for the National Native American Veterans Memorial. From 2015 until the summer of 2017, the committee conducted many consultations, bringing together tribal leaders, Native veterans, and community members across the nation in order to establish a shared vision and set of design principles. Joe now serves as the Cherokee Nation Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in Tahlequah, Okla.

Challenges aside, Native American service members have stepped up to serve the United States with dignity and distinction. They have dedicated their lives to protecting this country and helping veterans. They have blended harmony and fierce spirit in leaving a legacy of tribal pride.

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. — Dakota

For more information and to view the online exhibitions of the National Native American Veterans Memorial, visit americanindian.si.edu/nnavm