Photo By Sgt. Dana Moen | 161116-A-YT036-109 Soldiers and family members enjoyed a Native American Heritage...... read more read more
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Soldiers and community members enjoyed cultural music, dancing and food during a National Native American Heritage Month observation Nov. 17 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The event was hosted by 1st Infantry Division Equal Opportunity at Riley's Conference Center to raise awareness of the service provided by Native American brothers-in-arms.
November was first proclaimed in 1990 as National American Indian Heritage Month by President George H. W. Bush. Variously named proclamations have continuously been in effect since 1994, including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month".
"As the first Americans, Native Americans have helped shape the future of the United States through every turn of our history," President Barak Obama stated in a proclamation. "During National Native American Heritage Month, we pledge to maintain the meaningful partnerships we have with tribal nations, and we renew our commitment to our nation-to-nation relationships as we seek to give all our children the future they deserve."
The Fort Riley Environmental Department has worked with the Kaw Nation on inadvertent discoveries, intentional excavation of Native American remains and cultural items found on the military reservation. A Comprehensive Agreement in effect since 1998 formalizes the Kaw People's claims with Fort Riley.
More than 4,000 Soldiers of American Indian and Alaska Native descent currently serve in the active Army. These Soldiers and their predecessors in the armed services and have fought in every war since the Nation's founding. Their selfless service and courage have resulted in 32 Congressional Medal of Honor awardees.
A traditional Native American style flute and drum melody was played by two 1st Inf. Div. Band musicians. The majority of the 1st Inf. Div. Band is currently deployed to Iraq with the 1st Inf. Div. Headquarters.
Thirty Royal Valley Native American Singers & Dancers performed a variety of traditional dance routines during the event. The dancers are comprised of kindergarten through 12th graders from the Royal Valley School District, several of whom are members of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. The group performs several times a year at various events.
The Royal Valley School District (U.S.D. 337) is located north of Topeka, Kansas, and includes a large portion of the Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation Reservation. About 800 students attend the District's three schools with around 185 identifying as American Indian or Alaska Natives.
The Haskell Indian Nation University Veterans Color Guard was on-hand to present the national Colors at the event. Made up of Native American Veteran students, staff and alumni, the Haskell Color Guard honors all American Indian and Alaska Natives by performing a prestigious service at events around the Lawrence, Kansas area.
Equal Opportunity is a major mandate of the Army, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley. Multiple events are held at Fort Riley throughout the year highlighting the ethnic and cultural diversity of our Armed Forces and Country.
"I thought [the performance] was amazing and very invigorating," said Native Alaskan Staff Sgt. Tammie Wickline, schools NCO with Special Troops Battalion, 1st Inf. Div. Sustainment Brigade, 1st Inf. Div. "It just felt like an honor to see a tradition that is thousands of years old."
| Date Taken: | 11.17.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.30.2016 17:48 |
| Story ID: | 216061 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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