Alaskan, Native American heritage celebration complete with song, dance

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Smith | Michael Rico, a Native American and Yaqui Tribe, Otomi Indian from Yuma, Ariz., dances and celebrates during the All Nations Multi-Tribal Gathering powwow Nov. 28, 2012, at the Frontier Movie Theater on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and JBER’s equal opportunity office hosted the event to commemorate and observe National Native American Heritage Month. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey S. Smith/Released)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

11.28.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Smith 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELEMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A heritage stretching back thousands of years in a cold and harsh Alaskan environment was celebrated with a free powwow show by the All Nations Multi-Tribal Gathering Wednesday afternoon at the Frontier Movie Theater here.

The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and JBER’s Equal Opportunity Office hosted the event. The purpose was to celebrate National Native American Heritage Month by providing educational and fun activities to enhance knowledge and awareness of Alaskan Natives and Native Americans, according to event organizers.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center brought artifacts and literature for the exhibition while dancers and performers with The Yup’ik Dancers, and The Mount Susitna Drum, Singers, and Dancers displayed their talents with traditional dances and music from their native heritage.

American Indian artwork was exhibited in the rear of the theater by a local artist, and there was fresh ethnic food in the form of Indian tacos for sampling.

Guest speaker, Margaret Nakak from The Alaska Native Heritage Center, said we are blessed to be on this land in Alaska.

Nakak said her ancestry believed all natural resources such as, animals, birds, and fish have spirits, and because of this it helps promote mutual respect between nature and humanity.

She said Alaskan Natives have developed universal values over thousands of years. These values include showing respect to others, sharing what you have, knowing who you are, accepting what life brings, having patience, living carefully, taking care of others, honoring your elders, praying for guidance, and seeing connections because all things are related.

Nakak said a strong value is to know who you are and where you come from. She said there are connections from different tribes from all around Alaska.

Nakak said her home community of Point Hope, Alaska has a naming culture which connects members of the village. She said her mother’s name is Bessy, so everyone in the village who has the name of Bessy is her mother. One of her sisters is named Nora, so anyone in the village with the name of Nora is her sister. A brother of hers is named Michael, and everyone in the village with the name Michael is her brother.

Nakak said another common cultural process of naming newborns is by giving them the names of the recently deceased members of the community. She said it helps carry on lineages while fostering strong connections and a sense of belonging.

Michael Rico, the drum keeper with the Mount Susitna Drum Singers and Dancers, said his group travels and performs to teach others about their heritage, culture, and languages. He said they usually close their performances with a prayer using one of their native languages.

Army Spc. Preston Reed, a Navajo Indian and 11B Infantryman paratrooper with the 3-509th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, said it reminded him of times when he would go to the annual Gathering of Nations celebration held in Albuquerque, N.M.

“It made me feel like I was at home again,” said Reed. “Being in the Army and being away from my family, just seeing this brings a warm feeling in my heart. I really did enjoy it.”

The event promoted and assisted the Department of Defense’s initiatives of equal opportunity and cultural awareness, and all tribal members currently residing within the local area were welcomed to attend.

• Date Taken: 11.28.2012
• Date Posted: 12.04.2012 14:06
• Story ID: 98729
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US
• Hometown: ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US
• Hometown: ANCHORAGE, AK, US