NSE celebrates National Native American Heritage Month

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Alex Van’tLeven | 151120-N-LQ926-005 EVERETT, Wash. (Nov. 20, 2015) Melvin R. Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes chairman, speaks during a National Native American Heritage month celebration held at Naval Station Everett Naval Operational Support Center. Each November commands throughout the Navy and Department of Defense celebrate the cultural contributions of Native American individuals and cultures throughout military and society. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alex Van’tLeven/Released)  

EVERETT, WA, UNITED STATES

11.20.2015

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Alex Van’tLeven 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

EVERETT, Wash. – Naval Station Everett (NSE) Sailors observed National Native American Heritage Month (NAHM) during a celebration in the local Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) drill hall, Nov. 20.

The event featured a reading of the 2015 National Native American Heritage Month Presidential Proclamation, a Native American cultural presentation, and words from the guest speaker; due to sponsorship from the NSE Multi-Cutural Committee, and the Morale Welfare and Recreation Committee.

Melvin R. Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes Chairman, attended as guest speaker. The Tulalip Tribes is located approximately 15 miles north of the NSE main gates.

“I think sharing who Tulalip is shows a commonality that we’re all in this together,” said Sheldon. “While we may differ from tribe to tribe, with our relationship with our communities, I think we are very similar. We try to create a better environment for our families, for our kids, and for everyone.”

The event is designed to bring awareness of the various cultural contributions Native peoples have had on our military and society as a whole.

“I remember growing up in junior high, and high school,” said Sheldon. “I used to go to the back up the book and look up Tulalip Tribes, nothing there, and then I would look up American Indians, not much there at all. Today we get a chance to tell our story, and it’s a good story. It’s a proud story of who we are and what we’ve done in the Northwest here.”

NAHM is the last out of 10 cultural awareness program observances held through the calendar year by the Navy, under guidance from the Department of Defense.

“The Navy itself is full of different cultures,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class Alisha House, a member of the Multi-Cultural Committee who helped coordinate the event. “A lot of us come into the Navy not knowing that, and some of us don’t understand a lot of different cultures. If we have more awareness we’re able to work together and build a better Navy by taking the strengths of peoples differences.”

Capt. Mark A. Lakamp, NSE commanding officer, spoke of the importance of community in regards to the unique geographic proximity of NSE and the Tulalip Tribes.

“In the Northwest the Navy works closely with Tulalip and other tribes using the government to government process to ensure both our needs as the Navy and the tribes treaty rights and concerns are met as we conduct operations and work on various projects,” said Lakamp.

The presentation portion of the event was followed by a Thanksgiving themed potluck.

For more information on the Navy’s cultural awareness program, visit: http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/nalo/Pages/CulturalAwareness.aspx.

For more information on how Native Americans have influenced the united states, visit: http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/.

For more information from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, visit: https://www.deomi.org/SpecialObservance/presentations.cfm?CatID=8.

• Date Taken: 11.20.2015
• Date Posted: 11.23.2015 13:08
• Story ID: 182636
• Location: EVERETT, WA, US