DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled

American Indian heritage in Iraq

Photo By Spc. Mary Ferguson | Sgt. Marta Pebeahsy of the 183rd Maintenence Company, raises the hands of fellow...... read more read more

11.25.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub

The 3rd Corps Support Command's Equal Opportunity team served a gourmet performance of American Indian heritage to Soldiers and civilians during a Nov.19 lunchtime event at Logistical Support Area Anaconda's Dining Facility 1.

The hour-long event blended exhibitions of traditional prayer, dance and culture to create a flavorful presentation in honor of National American Indian Heritage Month.

"Events like this are designed to enhance cross-cultural awareness and promote harmony among all military members, their families and our civilian workforce," said Sgt. 1st Class Nichelle Sanders, the 3rd COSCOM equal opportunity advisor.

Several COSCOM Soldiers exhibited the pride they associate with their own American Indian heritage by participating in the performance.

The Soldiers proved their commitment to sharing their culture, and three Soldiers even mailed their traditional regalia before deploying to ensure they would have it for this event, Sanders said.

Sgt. Marta Pebeahsy, a Comanche from Oklahoma, opened the event with the Comanche flag song and prayer. Pebeahsy is with the 183rd Maintenance Company out of Fort Carson, Colo.

Following Pebeahsy's emotional performance, the 3rd COSCOM Chaplain, Col. Larry Robinson, offered an invocation, and Col. Sharon Duffy, the 3rd COSCOM deputy commander, expressed the importance of such observances through her opening remarks.

Eyes then focused on Sgt. 1st Class Mitchelene Bigman as she shared a spiritual rendition of the Lord's Prayer in native sign language. Bigman is a member of the Crow Nation tribe, but traces of Northern Cheyenne, Blackfeet, Gros Ventre and Hidasta touch her heritage. This is her second Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment with the 19th Support Center.

"For once I didn't want to speak," said Bigman, who is her unit's equal opportunity advisor. "I wanted my dance and performance to show the pride I carry in my heart."

As the audience applauded Bigman, Sgt. Maj. Julia Giles of the Crow Nation tribe, made her way to the podium where she spoke on her heritage. Giles is with the 19th Support Center and works in the 3rd COSCOM Corps Distribution Center.

Giles, wearing her native dress, then moved in front of the audience and performed the smoke dance.

The smoke dance was originally a slow war dance, as presented by Giles, but there are faster modern versions of the dance, explained Staff Sgt. Brian Reels of the Pequot Nation tribe. Reels is also with the 19th Support Center.

Bigman took center stage, speeding up the tempo with the jingle dress style dance.
Staff Sgt. David Cygan of the Huron Nation tribe from Michigan, the region where the jingle dress dance originated, explained the dance and the jingle dress, as Bigman performed.
"The jingle dress is also called the prayer dress, and the dance style is known as the dance of healing," said Cygan, a 19th Support Center Soldier.

"Jingle dresses are decorated with rolled up snuff can lids that form cones, which are hung with ribbon."

"A full size dress has usually up to 365 cones, but there are some dresses today with up to 1,000 cones," he added. "If one were to close their eyes as the jingle dancer passes, it would sound as though it were raining."

The sergeant first class rank and the 3rd COSCOM patch also decorate Bigman's dress.
"I am considered a warrior among my people, and I made my dress to reflect my way of being a warrior and who I fight with â?¦ COSCOM," Bigman said.

As the dancers caught their breath, Pfc. Randy Carter from 3rd COSCOM's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, talked about the culture, language, religion, community and fight for recognition of his native Lumbee tribe in North Carolina.

"I am full-blooded Lumbee and can trace my family back five generations," Carter said. "I grew up with my fellow Lumbee Indians, and have attended pow wows since I was a young child."

"Not everyone has had the chance to learn about Native American history and traditions outside of a text book," he added. "Actually listening to someone from a Native American nation is the perfect way to understand and respect our culture."

After exercising the eyes and ears of their audience, the performers invited the Soldiers and civilians to participate in several native dances.

"The focus of observances should be directed towards encouraging interaction and not just recognition," Sanders said.

Sgt. Maj. Victor Blade, from the 3rd COSCOM's G-3 section, joined Robinson, Duffy and several other COSCOM Soldiers in projecting the importance interaction plays in observing others" heritage, by dancing the jingle dress dance and round dance.

"The round dance is the friendly dance, where we hold hands and come together as one people regardless of who or what we are," Bigman said.

Bigman called on her husband, Staff Sgt. Dwayne Cyrus of the 19th Support Center, for the ladies choice or social dance. Giles and Pebeahsy chose two COSCOM Soldiers, and joined Bigman in the couple's dance.

Duffy concluded the observance by presenting certificates of appreciation to the event's participants, and joining Carter in cutting the event's cake.

"It is important to have events like these even while deployed, because "promoting infinite dignity and worth" starts with us and doesn't stop," Sanders said.

Those who experienced this observance left the dining facility with full minds, hearts and stomachs, after feasting on a meal of education and awareness.