Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | Steve Zavala, a veteran and Mayan-Aztec American, speaks during the 1st Cavalry...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Nathan J. J. Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division gathered to celebrate this country's rich history during National American Indian Heritage Month, Nov. 24.
Appropriately sponsored by the 1st Air Cavalry "Warrior" Brigade, 1st Cav. Div., guests from varied warrior backgrounds came to Howze Theater to talk about and demonstrate their Native American cultures through songs, dances and lectures.
Lasaro "Chief" Arriola, a Comanche-Apache and guest from the Four Winds Intertribal Society, demonstrated many different types of instruments made from everything from eagle bones to eucalyptus trees.
During Chief's demonstration, Julielani Bridges, also from the FWIS, described every instrument along with its heritage.
"The Eagle's a very sacred bird to all of us. The natives had discovered that, after he had passed away, if they hollowed out his bones, his beautiful song still lived on," said Bridges.
After demonstrating a myriad of instruments, Chief gave the floor to Ricardo Arreazola and Cristina Salazar, both Aztec dancers.
Arreazola explained how the dance that he would soon demonstrate is a dance of war.
"This is military tradition from the Aztec Empire and this is how we used to prepare ourselves to go onto the battlefield to defend our land or our way of life and our families."
"We dance with our heart and soul," he said.
Arreazola and Salazar both danced to the rapid beat of a single drum – adornments jangling from their calves and headdresses waving swiftly through the air.
As quickly as they begun, their demonstration was over and three young, full-blooded Lakota Sioux brothers took the stage.
The Eagle Horse Brothers also danced a dance from their culture; one which is called "The Warrior Dance," said Tahca Eagle Horse.
This particular dance was danced by the old warriors to teach the young warriors the stories of their past and the way they lived throughout time, said Eagle Horse.
The brothers moved across the stage in fluid, calming motions to music with piercing drum beats and laden with songs in their native tongue.
The guest speaker for the event was Steve Zavala, a Mayan-Aztec native and also a 20-year veteran of the Army.
"Today I'm hoping to impart some knowledge that may not be in the books that they've had through their educational experiences," said Zavala before the ceremony started.
"I want to pass on that we are no different," he said. "We're human – everyone is human."
Zavala stressed this particular point. He believes that there are definitely distinguishable differences between Native Americans and the rest of America, but there is commonality in being human.
"We have our individual beliefs. We are as different as any American is different, but yet we're the same in that we're all human," he said.
There is also a common bond between Soldiers and Native Americans, said Zavala.
"[Soldiers] will always be welcome in my house; because my house honors and respects the warrior. Because the warrior only wants one thing for everyone and that's peace," said Zavala.
Sgt. Amber Red Bear, a chemical equipment repairer for Company E, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cav. Bde., had similar thoughts about the warrior spirit.
"Being a warrior – we do that everyday. Regardless of whether we're in the military or not, we were always warriors," said Red Bear, an Ogalala Lakota Sioux from Pine Ridge, S.D. Red Bear read the President's Proclamation for the NAI Heritage Month.
This ceremony meant a lot to Red Bear, she said.
"Since I've been in the military ... it's kind of hard to be involved in stuff like this. I'm glad I can partake in this because I have a lot of pride in myself ... I want to everybody to know where I come from," said Red Bear.
Growing up, her father taught her the language and ways of her people. She's excited to have Soldiers walk away from the ceremony with at least a little bit of her culture embedded in them.
"I want [the Soldiers] to know where we come from, who we are, what we do and what we represent," said Red Bear. "I want them to be educated, if not on a whole, but at least they have a little part to leave with."
Red Bear looks into her future, well beyond this program; she wants to one day become president.
"I do want to become president one day – president of the Ogalala Lakota Sioux Tribe. That is my huge goal – that is one huge thing I want to do," she said.
Her goal to become the Ogalala Lakota Sioux president is still yet to be realized, but her short term goal to enrich the lives of Soldiers with her history and heritage is accomplished not only with the National American Indian Heritage Month program, but every day she gets to share with her Soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2008 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 26784 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 347 |
| Downloads: | 186 |
This work, Soldiers get glimpse of America's colorful heritage, by SGM Nathan Hoskins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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