WEBVTT

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Ladies and gentlemen , I ask that you

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please rise . For the entrance of the

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official party .

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Oh Oh

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My .

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I

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I . My old

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Oh

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Hey

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Hi .

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Please be seated . Yeah

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Right away hutsy . No , not yet , uh ,

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Lieutenant Colonel Corey Bryce . And

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it's my pleasure to be your master of

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ceremonies for today's event . We're so

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very happy that you're joining us live

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in person and virtually for the Native

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American Heritage Month event hosted by

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the Department of Defense . The theme

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affirming native voices . Visibility

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Leadership and service are well

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represented today throughout the event

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on the podium , on the stage , and

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throughout the audience . Welcome to

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all those who took time out of your

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extremely busy schedules to be here for

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this event . Many of you traveled well

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outside of the Capitol Beltway . We

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also want to thank and appreciate those

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who are dialing in virtually . Today we

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have a very unique opportunity . To

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hear compelling stories . Of our

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Native American service members and

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experienced Native American cultural

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aspects most do not get the opportunity

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to see . You will hear traditional

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Native American songs performed by

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Ralph and Dennis Zota of the Zotai

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Singers . Around what we refer to as

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the big drum . You will see a

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procession of Native American warrior

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women . And the car with black leggings ,

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the Toonga . Veterans and warriors all .

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You will see the future of our people .

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In the Hamish Valley High School dance

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group . This event has brought many

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hands , hearts and minds together to

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advance Native American cultural

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understanding . Across the Department

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of Defense . led in no small part .

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By Mrs . Alicia Sylvester . And a team

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of OSD Army , Navy , Air Force ,

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Marines , and civilian teammates who

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planned this event . Thank you all very

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much for your tireless efforts to see

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this event from concept . Through

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production .

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For those who are unaware , there are

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approximately today 574 federally

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recognized tribes across our country .

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There are many hundreds or more . Who

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do not have federal recognition .

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Assembled here today Is less than 0.1%

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of those tribes present in our nation .

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Native Americans serve in our armed

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forces at a higher rate than any other

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population group in our country . I ask

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our Native American and Native American

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descended veterans and service members

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to please stand .

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Please be seated . During our event

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You may hear Native American women like

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you just heard . Echo a sound we refer

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to as a lulu . The Lulu is an

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expression of strength , honor , and a

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moment of significant meaning . You may

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even hear some men giving a war cry for

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the same reasons . In keeping with our

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way of honoring those who came before

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us and those who defend us still today ,

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the songs you will hear . Performed by

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the Zota singers . To render honors to

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our veterans will be through a veteran

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song . The veterans , the , the color

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guard will then march into that song .

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And then we will hear Ms . Butler ,

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perform a national anthem . After the

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national anthem The singers will

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perform the Kiowa flag song followed by

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a memorial song , followed by a victory

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song to dance the colors out . The

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victory song celebrates our warriors

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and recognizes their deeds in battle .

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The words to the Kawa flag song in

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English translate essentially this flag ,

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raise it high , revere it . Something

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good has taken place . The other songs

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also have words and convey a meaning .

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Ms . Melanie Butler , the acting

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director of integration , Deputy Chief

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of Staff , Army G8 , will sing our

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national anthem for us . The color

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guard , which includes the Native Women

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Warriors Association and the Kiowa

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Black Leggings Toonga . We'll march in

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our colors . We'll march in the Kiowa

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tribal flag in honor of their tribal

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chairman , Chairman Lawrence Spotted

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bird , who is a member of Tonkonga and

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carries the Kiwa flag . They also have

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their society staffs .

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Please rise if you can rise as we

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render honors to our nation . And pay

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respects to our veterans .

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Yeah .

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My . Oh .

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Hey

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Hey And

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I .

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I

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Oh say can you

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see by the dawn's

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early light , what a surprise .

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or the part

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was so

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streaming .

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It's

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Through that our

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flag was still there .

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Was that star spangled .

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And

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Oh

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Oh

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Oh

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Oh

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Oh

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Oh Oh ,

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Oh ,

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I go home .

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All day oh God .

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I Hey

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I

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Oh

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Oh

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Yeah

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I

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Hey , hey .

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Oh Yeah .

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Oh .

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Oh .

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Ladies and gentlemen , please proceed .

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Bear with me for one moment while I .

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Making his way down the ramp .

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Is a is a young man who will be

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providing our invocation . Staff

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Sergeant retired Parker Imula .

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His daughter Michelle will bringing him

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down the ramp here shortly . I have a

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much longer introduction for Staff

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Sergeant retired Parker Ihula that I'll

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provide when he gives his , uh ,

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remarks as our featured speaker .

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Test , test . So ladies and gentlemen ,

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Ladies and gentlemen , Staff Sergeant

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retired Parker Imahua will be providing ,

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as I said , the invocation . In his

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traditional tongue . Of Kiowa , Koigu .

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On the screens you will see . The

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translation in English . Ziggy .

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We ask that you bow your heads . And

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pray in your faith . I hope they get OK

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OK . I hold a to

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and on the key get pay it

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that they on the get for own daughter

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on the Kigo to payo targeted they the

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on my Kidaobo who don't care . Do they

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on the get on the on the key go to get

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dope sole to gooddo sole my don it dog

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oppa top a God to be it OK Col take

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solo get all to pay your target theo

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onto it they got on to

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to pay it OK . Do they on the air on a

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cool thought they on the gate for your

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daughter told her the dog so the so the

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only bag it all can't come the

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tape goat they do me come they do take

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kile dope a dog here . Go good they all

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they do because they um check on war

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but our big get OK

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OK oh you do go the thing get got all .

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Oh go they can go on , I don't pay it

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OK dokey target them don't pay it .

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Don't they on the gap for on dog ain't

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don't think he about to play . They do

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owntto be so on they do so .

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Don't they on the Ahoy tonto bag you

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know they

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they want to get for your daughter .

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Hey go I don't ponto be lucky .

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Do they the own tonto I on the key

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doctor beok I he can't be to Jesus .

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Amen . Amen . Oh , cool .

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Oh . Yeah .

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Our first speaker for today . Is the

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Honorable Brendan Owens . Armo Owens

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was sworn in as the assistant secretary

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of defense for Energy installations .

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And environment on January 26 , 2023 .

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No small task . He oversees the

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Department of Defense's real property .

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The portfolio encompasses millions of

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acres , over 500,000 buildings and

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structures at more than 500

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installations . And additionally , he

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serves as the chief sustainability

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officer , chief housing officer for the

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Department of Defense . Ladies and

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gentlemen , Arnold Owens .

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So as Colonel Bryce just mentioned ,

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I've been in this job almost 2 years .

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And I've been in this room several

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times over the course of those 2 years .

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And I've never seen it feel or felt it

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feel this way . Uh , this is a truly

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remarkable thing . Generally speaking ,

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this is , this room is filled with

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people who dress like me . Uh , who

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carry around binders that look like

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this and each side the inside the

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binder there's a front page that

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usually has everybody's schedule on it

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for the day and everybody is secretly

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checking their schedule as to where

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they're going next during the meetings

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that they're having in here . I don't

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think that's happening today here , so ,

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uh , thanks very much for for joining

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us . Uh , I'm Brendan Owens . I'm the

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ASD for energy installations and

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environment , and I wanna . Take a

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moment to welcome everyone to this

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important event . Um , I wanna

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particularly start off by thanking our

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sponsors . uh , this is a great event

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and , and we pulled together a

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remarkable group of folks , uh , to be

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able to celebrate what we're gonna be

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celebrating , uh , to be and , and ,

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and advance the conversation about how

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we , uh , recognize and do better and ,

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and . And see the , the incredible

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people , uh , that are serving in our

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military right now , uh , across all

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the branches across all the states , um ,

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I wanna thank Alicia Sylvester who is

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DOD's senior tribal adviser and liaison

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for helping us create this event . Yeah ,

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thanks .

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Where you at ? I'll find you in a

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second . Oh right , oh sorry , right ,

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right up front , right , in a good seat ,

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right ? Excellent , um , yeah , right ,

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really bright lights . Uh , I also want

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to thank the military departments , uh ,

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the joint indigenous collaboration team

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from the United States Army from the

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Department of the Army . Uh , the

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Indigenous Nations Equality team from

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the Department of the Air Force , um ,

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and the office of the Assistant

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Secretary of the Navy for Energy

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Installations and Environment , uh ,

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which is led by the Honorable Meredith

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Burger , uh , for their work today , uh ,

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pulling together all the , all the work

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that we're gonna be , all the things

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that we're gonna be celebrating today .

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I really am honored and humbled uh to

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join you in commemorating the Native

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American Heritage Month and celebrating

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the service and sacrifices of our

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nation's Native American veterans and

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active duty service members . It's

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thrilling to be among so many tribal

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leaders , Native American veterans ,

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active duty service members , and

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Native American colleagues in federal

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service who have joined us here today ,

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being among so many of you , uh ,

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distinguished Native American service

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members and decorated veterans . It

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gives us an opportunity to hear your

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insights , to hear about your

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extraordinary service to your country

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and to your heritage , and it is , I ,

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I guess I wasn't ready for how deeply

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moving this moment feels right now . Uh ,

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so thank you for that , Staff Sergeant ,

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uh , Emmala , uh , you honor us with

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your demonstration of the warrior

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spirit and your heritage , your bravery

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throughout two different wars . Thank

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you . Also thanks to your family . They

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served as well even if they weren't in

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uniform . I think anyone who is part of

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the military family knows that our

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families serve alongside the people who

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are in uniform , so thank you for that ,

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uh , very much . I also look forward to

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the insight that we will get from

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hearing about the lived experiences and

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barriers that have been overcome and

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the successes of our our our guest

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speakers , uh , over the course of this

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afternoon . So please join me in

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thanking , uh , many of our outstanding

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performers who have joined us today to

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provide inspirational song , music ,

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dance , and education about Native

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American veterans and their traditions

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and service , including , uh , the

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Native American Women Warriors

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Association , who were the lead color

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guard for this event . Um , it's it was

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made up of 5 women who veterans who

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have served valiantly and , uh , as

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have their members across the nation .

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In addition , uh , the Kiowa Black

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Leggings Warrior Society for a , for a

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moving support of the presentation of

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the colors , uh , as I said , I've been

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in this room several different times

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and even when the Secretary of Defense

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is sitting up there who has an

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incredible voice , I don't know if

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you've ever had had an opportunity to

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hear Secretary Austin , uh , talk , um .

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He's got , he's got some looking up to

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do from , from , from my perspective

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from now on in this room , um , uh ,

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and , uh , also , uh , for the , for

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the , for the Black Lins War Society

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for commemorating , um , our American

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prisoners of war , uh , missing in

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action and accounted for . A special

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thank you to Lawrence Spottedbird ,

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chairman of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma ,

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for honoring us by leading the society

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members here today . Uh , we applaud

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you for your service and thank you for

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being here . Traditional dance

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performers , um , I've been told by

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Alicia to , to really look forward to

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this part of it , uh , from the Jamez

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Valley dance groups and various , uh ,

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New Mexico tribes , um , the buffalo

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dance that you're gonna do is something

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that again I've been told to really

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look forward to , so , uh , make sure

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you bring it , um , on that , on that

26:47.671 --> 26:49.893
side of things , um , and , and , and I

26:49.893 --> 26:51.893
think importantly to something that

26:51.893 --> 26:53.893
that Colonel Bryce mentioned , uh ,

26:53.893 --> 26:56.160
your commitment to preserving . And and

26:56.160 --> 26:58.216
practicing the culture , uh , making

26:58.216 --> 27:00.104
sure that it is something that is

27:00.104 --> 27:01.993
enduring and and vibrant as we go

27:01.993 --> 27:03.771
forward . The Zotai singers for

27:03.771 --> 27:05.716
inspiring us through your uplifted

27:05.716 --> 27:07.716
voices and your tributes throughout

27:07.716 --> 27:10.680
today's event , it truly is a blessing

27:11.079 --> 27:13.246
to hear the singing and the drum beats

27:13.246 --> 27:15.357
throughout the halls , the quarridors

27:15.357 --> 27:16.989
of the Pentagon today . I'm

27:17.060 --> 27:19.116
extraordinarily proud to join you in

27:19.116 --> 27:21.282
commemorating National Native American

27:21.282 --> 27:23.227
Heritage Month and celebrating the

27:23.227 --> 27:25.393
service and sacrifices of our nation's

27:25.393 --> 27:27.393
Native American active duty service

27:27.393 --> 27:29.393
members and veterans . The theme of

27:29.393 --> 27:31.338
this 3rd annual DOD celebration of

27:31.338 --> 27:33.227
Native American Heritage Month is

27:33.227 --> 27:35.393
affirming Native voices , visibility ,

27:35.393 --> 27:37.920
leadership , and service . We must all

27:37.920 --> 27:40.199
help amplify the voices of those who

27:40.199 --> 27:42.569
join us today . And there are many

27:42.569 --> 27:45.030
colleagues across services . I hope

27:45.030 --> 27:47.390
that being here today and joining us

27:47.390 --> 27:50.699
online helps us all learn , appreciate ,

27:50.829 --> 27:54.709
and testify to all the good things that

27:54.709 --> 27:56.859
come from this diversity from and and

27:56.869 --> 27:59.589
and the patriots that come to er to

27:59.589 --> 28:02.640
serve in their country . DUD recognizes ,

28:02.729 --> 28:05.140
as , as Colonel Bryce mentioned , that

28:05.140 --> 28:07.307
American Indian and Alaskan native men

28:07.307 --> 28:09.473
and women serve in the armed forces at

28:09.473 --> 28:12.609
5 times the national average , more

28:12.609 --> 28:14.831
than any other group , um , and they've

28:14.831 --> 28:16.276
served with distinction .

28:24.459 --> 28:26.681
They've served with distinction for 200

28:26.681 --> 28:29.359
years . Uh , as Native Americans ,

28:29.530 --> 28:31.474
veterans , and current active duty

28:31.474 --> 28:33.419
service members have pledged their

28:33.419 --> 28:35.586
service to the nation , the Department

28:35.586 --> 28:35.250
of Defense is committed to fulfilling

28:35.250 --> 28:37.472
its legal and moral responsibilities to

28:37.472 --> 28:39.472
tribes originating from the Federal

28:39.472 --> 28:41.194
trust responsibility . The EIE

28:41.194 --> 28:43.250
portfolio , the office that I that I

28:43.250 --> 28:45.306
have the privilege of leading , uh ,

28:45.306 --> 28:47.139
includes the DOD Native American

28:47.139 --> 28:49.083
Affairs program and the DOD Native

28:49.083 --> 28:51.250
American Land Environmental mitigation

28:51.250 --> 28:53.750
Program . It is an honor to work

28:53.750 --> 28:56.709
alongside my colleagues in DOD and the

28:56.709 --> 28:59.550
military departments um on all matters

28:59.550 --> 29:01.550
concerning tribal nations , and I'm

29:01.550 --> 29:04.079
proud that DOD hired its first

29:04.079 --> 29:07.319
permanent . Senior tribal adviser and

29:07.319 --> 29:09.880
liaison in October of 2022 , that's

29:09.880 --> 29:12.839
Alicia Sylvester , um , a Pueblo , uh .

29:19.260 --> 29:23.250
Alicia is a member of the Pueblo Jemez

29:23.540 --> 29:26.500
um and her service in this role really

29:26.500 --> 29:28.859
is bringing a renewed uh understanding

29:28.859 --> 29:31.137
of how how we can work together better .

29:31.579 --> 29:33.719
Alicia is a great teacher . She's

29:33.719 --> 29:36.770
patient , she's kind , she's

29:37.459 --> 29:39.348
understanding , um , and our team

29:39.348 --> 29:41.900
benefits from Alicia's expertise every

29:41.900 --> 29:43.900
day , some of us more than others .

29:44.479 --> 29:46.646
It's , I'm talking about me . I'm it's

29:46.646 --> 29:48.812
me . I'm talking , uh , I , I , I have

29:48.812 --> 29:50.979
the benefit of Alicia's generosity and

29:50.979 --> 29:53.090
patience more so than anybody else on

29:53.090 --> 29:55.201
the team , uh , so it's great to have

29:55.201 --> 29:57.510
her , uh , in , in the mix . Thank you

29:57.510 --> 29:59.621
for the opportunity , uh , to share a

29:59.621 --> 30:01.788
few words of , of welcome with you . I

30:01.788 --> 30:03.843
look forward to learning , uh , from

30:03.843 --> 30:06.150
everyone , um , on our , on our vibrant

30:06.150 --> 30:08.380
and full agenda and now .

30:10.640 --> 30:13.680
I am pleased to welcome .

30:17.130 --> 30:20.959
The 6 Uh Or I could just

30:20.959 --> 30:23.181
vamp for two minutes . I'm seeing signs

30:23.181 --> 30:25.719
right there . Uh , let me just talk a

30:25.719 --> 30:27.997
little bit about the deputy , uh , for ,

30:27.997 --> 30:29.997
for a few minutes . Um , I've never

30:29.997 --> 30:32.275
heard , I've never heard her sing , uh ,

30:32.275 --> 30:34.386
so maybe we could extract that out of

30:34.386 --> 30:36.330
her , um , but one of , one of the

30:36.330 --> 30:38.497
things that is important to understand

30:38.497 --> 30:38.310
about the way that the Pentagon works

30:38.599 --> 30:40.959
is that when the secretary or the

30:40.959 --> 30:43.359
deputy deputy secretary spend time on

30:43.359 --> 30:46.050
an issue . The rest of the , the rest

30:46.050 --> 30:48.290
of the enterprise notices right so the

30:48.290 --> 30:50.810
fact that she is here today and I don't

30:50.810 --> 30:53.489
have to vamp for too much longer um is

30:53.489 --> 30:56.930
a testament to how seriously this

30:56.930 --> 30:59.209
administration and this group of

30:59.209 --> 31:01.530
leaders in the Pentagon , uh .

31:02.569 --> 31:05.449
Considers these issues um , it has been

31:05.449 --> 31:07.616
an extraordinary honor to be a part of

31:07.810 --> 31:10.790
uh being listening to their , uh ,

31:11.010 --> 31:13.719
perspective understanding this and then

31:14.089 --> 31:16.200
taking their direction , taking their

31:16.200 --> 31:18.089
commander's intent and driving it

31:18.089 --> 31:20.089
throughout the enterprise . Uh , we

31:20.089 --> 31:22.089
have any number of places and , and

31:22.089 --> 31:24.200
Meredith Berger , who's here to share

31:24.200 --> 31:26.200
some thoughts today about that will

31:26.200 --> 31:28.311
certainly share some of the successes

31:28.311 --> 31:30.256
that we've had , um , but that all

31:30.256 --> 31:32.200
springs from the leadership of the

31:32.200 --> 31:34.089
department , um , and you know it

31:34.089 --> 31:36.145
doesn't get more leadership than the

31:36.145 --> 31:38.200
secretary and the deputy secretary .

31:40.040 --> 31:43.290
And she's the , the , the importance of

31:43.290 --> 31:45.290
that thank you um I'm getting a one

31:45.290 --> 31:46.250
minute sign um .

31:49.660 --> 31:51.771
Yeah , I'm doing fine . I , alright ,

31:51.771 --> 31:54.010
great , uh , she's gonna do way what's

31:54.010 --> 31:56.232
gonna happen is she's gonna come in and

31:56.232 --> 31:58.232
she's gonna do way better than me ,

31:58.232 --> 32:00.232
which is , which is extraordinarily

32:00.232 --> 32:02.399
frustrating . But again , I think it's

32:02.399 --> 32:04.566
one of those things where you know you

32:04.566 --> 32:06.677
end up with just wanting to be a part

32:06.677 --> 32:08.843
of the leadership orbit of , of people

32:08.843 --> 32:10.899
who serve in this capacity and , and

32:10.899 --> 32:13.066
nobody's been doing that , uh , with ,

32:13.066 --> 32:15.010
with more honor and with more more

32:15.010 --> 32:17.232
dignity than than Doctor Hicks over the

32:17.232 --> 32:19.566
over the course of time that she's been .

32:19.566 --> 32:22.109
Uh , in the administration . Leading

32:22.160 --> 32:24.979
efforts like this for . One song ,

32:27.390 --> 32:29.557
yeah , I feel like there's a , there's

32:29.557 --> 32:32.579
a drum up there that . Uh , somebody

32:32.579 --> 32:35.060
could go up and , and , or I could go

32:35.060 --> 32:37.393
up and give it a , give it a whack . No ,

32:37.393 --> 32:39.560
no , I don't think that's , that's not

32:39.560 --> 32:42.219
a good idea . here that

32:44.339 --> 32:45.619
There you go . From

32:48.300 --> 32:51.290
Is this on ? you wanna sing .

32:53.270 --> 32:54.326
Excellent , yeah .

33:01.699 --> 33:04.530
Come nephew . Yeah

33:07.739 --> 33:08.739
I

33:45.089 --> 33:47.760
OK , great . Oh nice .

33:57.859 --> 34:00.119
OK , go on . Mhm

36:13.419 --> 36:17.399
God . Oh

37:02.229 --> 37:03.229
You

37:08.739 --> 37:11.139
Alright ladies and gentlemen , it is my

37:11.139 --> 37:14.300
great pleasure and also great relief uh

37:14.300 --> 37:16.659
to introduce , uh , the deputy

37:16.659 --> 37:18.603
secretary of defense , uh , Doctor

37:18.603 --> 37:19.603
Kathleen Hicks .

37:30.899 --> 37:33.121
Well , good afternoon everyone , what a

37:33.121 --> 37:35.232
great crowd , and I was able to catch

37:35.232 --> 37:38.169
that um wonderful last musical

37:38.169 --> 37:40.280
interlude and I'm sure there are many

37:40.280 --> 37:42.447
more to come . It's such a pleasure to

37:42.447 --> 37:44.179
be with you here today for the

37:44.179 --> 37:46.659
celebration of Native American Heritage

37:46.659 --> 37:49.500
Month . Today we're celebrating the

37:49.500 --> 37:52.219
resilient and proud native communities

37:52.219 --> 37:54.100
across this country , and we

37:54.100 --> 37:56.699
commemorate the numerous and invaluable

37:56.699 --> 37:58.699
contributions of native peoples in

37:58.699 --> 38:02.179
public service . As stewards of our

38:02.179 --> 38:04.760
waters and lands as teachers and police

38:04.760 --> 38:07.750
officers and as service members and

38:07.750 --> 38:09.909
teammates who ensure our national

38:09.909 --> 38:12.570
security each and every day . I want to

38:12.570 --> 38:14.681
acknowledge the teams who put today's

38:14.681 --> 38:16.626
event together , the office of the

38:16.626 --> 38:18.570
Assistant Secretary of Defense for

38:18.570 --> 38:20.737
Energy Installations and Environment .

38:20.737 --> 38:22.903
Thank you to Assistant Secretary Owens

38:22.903 --> 38:24.959
and his team , the Department of the

38:24.959 --> 38:27.181
Army , the Department of the Navy , and

38:27.181 --> 38:28.959
the Department of the Air Force

38:28.959 --> 38:31.014
Indigenous Nations Equality team . I

38:31.014 --> 38:33.237
want to thank each and every one of you

38:33.237 --> 38:35.126
for your efforts to organize this

38:35.126 --> 38:38.360
phenomenal program . I'd also like to

38:38.360 --> 38:40.199
acknowledge the tribal leaders ,

38:40.239 --> 38:42.959
veterans , active duty service members

38:43.280 --> 38:45.320
and civilian personnel of Native

38:45.320 --> 38:47.790
American heritage joining us today .

38:48.120 --> 38:50.320
Thank you for your service and for all

38:50.320 --> 38:52.542
that you do in defense of this nation .

38:53.909 --> 38:56.350
Since the Revolutionary War , Native

38:56.350 --> 38:58.830
Americans have served in every major

38:58.830 --> 39:01.510
conflict in civilian posts and as

39:01.510 --> 39:04.429
uniformed service members , and they've

39:04.429 --> 39:06.780
represented a diversity of tribal

39:06.780 --> 39:10.699
nations veterans like Jackie Montgomery ,

39:10.949 --> 39:14.219
Ernest Childers , Pappy Boyington , and

39:14.219 --> 39:16.989
Woodrow Keeble , all of whom have

39:16.989 --> 39:19.156
received the nation's highest military

39:19.156 --> 39:21.045
decoration , the Medal of Honor .

39:21.219 --> 39:23.340
Native American Heritage Month is a

39:23.340 --> 39:25.899
time to remember and share their

39:25.899 --> 39:28.939
remarkable stories . I hope you'll take

39:28.939 --> 39:30.959
time to visit the Pentagon Metro

39:30.959 --> 39:33.659
entrance where you'll see posters about

39:33.659 --> 39:35.510
the many contributions of Native

39:35.510 --> 39:37.343
American veterans throughout our

39:37.343 --> 39:41.080
history . Their stories demonstrate

39:41.080 --> 39:43.320
that if you have a calling to serve in

39:43.320 --> 39:45.560
our nation's military and you're

39:45.560 --> 39:48.040
eligible to answer that call , your

39:48.040 --> 39:51.040
commitment and your patriotism do not

39:51.040 --> 39:53.439
require you to check who you are or

39:53.439 --> 39:56.540
your traditions at the door . In World

39:56.540 --> 39:58.899
War One , native code talkers made an

39:58.899 --> 40:01.179
enduring impact on our military

40:01.179 --> 40:03.300
operations by using their tribal

40:03.300 --> 40:05.620
languages to transmit disguised

40:05.620 --> 40:07.564
messages that couldn't be broken .

40:08.189 --> 40:10.300
Between World War 1 and World War 2 ,

40:10.300 --> 40:12.989
more than 500 Native American service

40:12.989 --> 40:15.790
members across 20 tribes used their

40:15.790 --> 40:18.719
tribal languages to keep our military

40:18.719 --> 40:20.909
operational plans secret and help

40:20.909 --> 40:24.139
secure the Allies' victory . The US

40:24.139 --> 40:26.449
military continued and broadened that

40:26.449 --> 40:28.560
successful strategy in World War II .

40:29.689 --> 40:32.129
Decades later , Congress acknowledged

40:32.129 --> 40:34.570
the code talkers valor , especially in

40:34.570 --> 40:36.403
light of the discrimination they

40:36.403 --> 40:38.810
endured with the Code Talkers

40:38.810 --> 40:42.620
Recognition Act . They remarked at a

40:42.620 --> 40:44.842
time when Indians were discouraged from

40:44.842 --> 40:47.370
practicing their native culture , a few

40:47.370 --> 40:50.090
brave men used their cultural heritage ,

40:50.379 --> 40:53.060
their language to help change the

40:53.060 --> 40:56.229
course of history . Our collective

40:56.229 --> 40:58.389
strength , including our military

40:58.389 --> 41:00.270
strength is greater for the rich

41:00.270 --> 41:02.429
cultural tapestry on which our nation

41:02.429 --> 41:05.550
draws . Indigenous service members

41:05.550 --> 41:07.606
continue to make history every day ,

41:07.629 --> 41:09.740
and we are privileged to have some of

41:09.740 --> 41:11.907
these history makers in the room right

41:11.907 --> 41:14.350
now . Moments ago , I know you were

41:14.350 --> 41:16.479
honored to have retired Marine Corps

41:16.479 --> 41:19.149
Staff Sergeant Parker Amhoula lead the

41:19.149 --> 41:22.389
invocation . Notably , his military

41:22.389 --> 41:24.909
career included tours in Korea and

41:24.909 --> 41:27.909
Vietnam . In fact , more than 50 years

41:27.909 --> 41:30.790
ago around this time , Sergeant Anhua

41:30.790 --> 41:32.879
was deployed in a combat zone in

41:32.879 --> 41:35.840
Vietnam . And later in the program ,

41:36.010 --> 41:38.320
you'll hear remarks from Admiral Calvin

41:38.320 --> 41:41.689
Foster , the first Muskogee citizen to

41:41.689 --> 41:43.919
achieve the rank of Rear Admiral .

41:45.280 --> 41:48.129
Today tens of thousands of service

41:48.129 --> 41:50.520
members and veterans identify as

41:50.520 --> 41:53.439
American Indian or Alaskan Native . In

41:53.439 --> 41:56.399
fact , indigenous service members are

41:56.399 --> 41:59.399
represented in our armed forces at 5

41:59.399 --> 42:02.229
times the average of any other group .

42:03.179 --> 42:05.346
We are grateful that the military gets

42:05.346 --> 42:07.068
to benefit from the talent and

42:07.068 --> 42:10.560
expertise that they bring . In turn we

42:10.560 --> 42:13.760
strive to listen to our American Indian

42:13.760 --> 42:16.959
and Alaska Native service members to

42:16.959 --> 42:19.479
ensure their voices are taken into

42:19.479 --> 42:22.000
account , especially on issues that

42:22.000 --> 42:24.399
uniquely impact them and their

42:24.399 --> 42:28.159
communities . And we continue to

42:28.159 --> 42:30.840
work on expanding opportunities to all

42:30.840 --> 42:33.439
qualified Americans who have a desire

42:33.439 --> 42:37.229
to serve that is our commitment to you

42:37.560 --> 42:40.149
for your contributions to our military

42:40.149 --> 42:42.239
today and throughout our nation's

42:42.239 --> 42:44.600
history . I'm so honored to have been

42:44.600 --> 42:46.822
able to come down here and join you for

42:46.822 --> 42:48.878
the celebration . I know the rest of

42:48.878 --> 42:50.989
the program is gonna be fantastic and

42:50.989 --> 42:52.989
thank you very much for having me .

43:05.300 --> 43:07.411
Honorable Hicks , thank you , ma'am .

43:07.929 --> 43:10.169
Your dedication to service and to our

43:10.169 --> 43:12.570
nation and working to provide cultural

43:12.570 --> 43:14.737
understanding across the Department of

43:14.737 --> 43:16.403
Defense . Thank you , ma'am .

43:18.629 --> 43:20.820
Ladies and gentlemen , Forgive me if I

43:20.820 --> 43:23.042
get a little bit choked up on this next

43:23.042 --> 43:25.820
piece . Our featured speaker for today .

43:26.780 --> 43:28.947
Sorry , I didn't mean to . He gets mad

43:28.947 --> 43:31.169
when I yell at the microphone . Sorry ,

43:31.169 --> 43:35.129
A guy . Today , our

43:35.129 --> 43:37.689
featured speaker is a man whom I hold

43:37.689 --> 43:41.419
in high regard . Not just

43:41.419 --> 43:44.500
because He's my uncle .

43:45.330 --> 43:48.260
A man I love dearly . But because of

43:48.260 --> 43:50.593
his dedication to service to our nation .

43:51.379 --> 43:55.290
And service to the people My ciggie .

43:56.169 --> 43:56.639
Uncle

44:03.010 --> 44:05.729
When I asked him Siggy .

44:06.969 --> 44:09.820
What name ? Should I introduce you with ?

44:12.270 --> 44:14.979
He has 4 names . He has his English

44:14.979 --> 44:18.080
name Parker Imhola . And he has 3 Kiowa

44:18.080 --> 44:20.247
names given to him throughout 3 stages

44:20.247 --> 44:22.510
of his life . Given to him in the old

44:22.510 --> 44:25.659
way by the elders . He , he took a

44:25.659 --> 44:27.548
moment to think about it and by a

44:27.548 --> 44:29.659
moment I mean like a maybe a second ,

44:29.679 --> 44:31.790
maybe a second he looked at me and he

44:31.790 --> 44:33.310
said dome .

44:36.280 --> 44:38.280
Because that's what Tina calls me .

44:40.020 --> 44:43.790
Dome Translates roughly into .

44:44.560 --> 44:47.919
Covered a lot of ground . Or travel

44:47.919 --> 44:51.889
around the world . This name

44:51.889 --> 44:54.260
was given to a 2nd name was given to

44:54.260 --> 44:56.389
him after his 2nd tour in Vietnam .

45:00.399 --> 45:02.929
Parker M . Hola . Staff Sergeant

45:02.929 --> 45:06.149
retired United States Marine Corps . Is

45:06.149 --> 45:08.310
an enrolled member of the Kiowa tribe

45:08.310 --> 45:12.209
of Oklahoma . The Koi He's a member

45:12.209 --> 45:16.100
of Toonga black leggings . A

45:16.100 --> 45:19.989
member of the Ohoma Lodge . Which is a

45:20.520 --> 45:22.719
society that's been in existence since

45:22.719 --> 45:24.879
the time before it was illegal to

45:24.879 --> 45:26.657
practice our traditional ways .

45:29.899 --> 45:33.330
His wife Tina My auntie

45:35.939 --> 45:38.500
Her maiden name is Tina Parker . She is

45:38.500 --> 45:41.310
a descendant Of Chief Quanna Parker .

45:43.179 --> 45:45.123
The last chief of the commentary .

45:49.149 --> 45:51.540
Staff Sergeant retired in Hua enlisted

45:51.540 --> 45:55.449
in the Marine Corps . 24 September 1951 .

45:57.209 --> 45:59.542
While he was fighting in the Korean War ,

45:59.542 --> 46:01.919
he experienced temperatures 50 degrees

46:01.919 --> 46:05.330
below zero . While he was fighting in

46:05.330 --> 46:08.530
the Korean War . 50 degrees below zero .

46:08.629 --> 46:12.229
Think about that . In my deployments

46:13.110 --> 46:16.840
I was never that cold . The hottest we

46:16.840 --> 46:20.729
got was 135 degrees . I

46:20.729 --> 46:22.785
don't know which one I'd rather have

46:22.785 --> 46:21.979
though .

46:28.179 --> 46:30.909
His 30 year career includes . As you've

46:30.909 --> 46:34.830
heard . Tour in Korea during the Korean

46:34.830 --> 46:37.899
War . The Cuban blockade

46:39.679 --> 46:42.600
When I hear Staf Sergeant Ahua .

46:43.729 --> 46:45.896
Refer to the Cuban blockade , he tells

46:45.896 --> 46:48.060
me . I stepped out the barracks door

46:48.750 --> 46:50.750
where we were quartered , and there

46:50.750 --> 46:52.806
were ships everywhere , so you could

46:52.806 --> 46:54.972
walk ship to ship . There were so many

46:54.972 --> 46:58.260
ships . That's the closest that we've

46:58.260 --> 47:00.419
been in recent history to a 3rd World

47:00.419 --> 47:02.929
War . He was at the forefront of it .

47:04.149 --> 47:07.370
Tip of the spear . 2 tours in Vietnam .

47:11.550 --> 47:13.606
One of his most significant tours in

47:13.606 --> 47:15.750
Vietnam , he spent in a foxhole

47:15.750 --> 47:18.350
Thanksgiving Day . With one of his

47:18.350 --> 47:19.406
younger brothers .

47:22.270 --> 47:24.437
Thanksgiving Day in a foxhole with one

47:24.437 --> 47:26.548
of his younger brothers who he didn't

47:26.548 --> 47:28.659
know was in Vietnam at the time until

47:28.659 --> 47:30.714
he got a letter sent from his mom or

47:30.714 --> 47:32.548
their mother . To his commanding

47:32.548 --> 47:35.840
officer . He said , hey , you recognize

47:35.840 --> 47:38.007
this handwriting ? He goes , yes sir ,

47:38.007 --> 47:40.449
it's my mom . Well , first , let me

47:40.449 --> 47:42.505
back up on that story a little bit .

47:42.530 --> 47:44.641
He's going to run supplies up to some

47:44.641 --> 47:47.699
fellow Marines . Another marine knocks

47:47.699 --> 47:50.032
on the door of the truck and says , Hey ,

47:50.032 --> 47:52.199
commander wants to see you . He goes ,

47:52.199 --> 47:51.820
Well , you tell him I'm busy . I got

47:51.820 --> 47:53.820
stuff I gotta do . These marines up

47:53.820 --> 47:55.820
here need this . That's the kind of

47:55.820 --> 47:58.042
marine he was . His Marines always came

47:58.042 --> 48:00.264
first . His family always comes first .

48:01.149 --> 48:03.205
Because the Marines are his family .

48:03.409 --> 48:05.020
Just as if there was blood .

48:08.719 --> 48:11.000
Comes in , sees the commander . You

48:11.000 --> 48:13.000
recognize his handwriting . It's my

48:13.000 --> 48:15.000
mom's handwriting . So my brother's

48:15.000 --> 48:17.222
here in Vietnam . He was supposed to go

48:17.222 --> 48:17.080
and pass , take a 4 day pass out of

48:17.080 --> 48:19.358
country , get some rest and relaxation .

48:19.358 --> 48:21.580
He's like , I wanna go up north and see

48:21.580 --> 48:23.747
my baby brother . He's like the Jeep's

48:23.747 --> 48:25.580
waiting outside . Goes in a jeep

48:25.939 --> 48:28.159
Caesar's baby brother . Next thing you

48:28.159 --> 48:30.326
know , they're getting attacked by the

48:30.326 --> 48:32.270
Viet Cong . So they're hanging out

48:32.989 --> 48:35.239
inside his brother's foxhole . On

48:35.239 --> 48:37.572
Thanksgiving Day sharing uh sea rations .

48:39.000 --> 48:42.149
It's the kind of man my uncle is . His

48:42.149 --> 48:44.371
awards and decorations include Republic

48:44.371 --> 48:46.482
of Korea Defense Medal . The National

48:46.482 --> 48:48.649
Defense Medal , combat action ribbon .

48:49.239 --> 48:51.479
Presidential Unit citation , United

48:51.479 --> 48:53.760
Nations ribbon , Korean servers ribbon

48:53.760 --> 48:56.090
with two bronze stars . The Korean

48:56.090 --> 48:58.280
Ambassador for Peace medal . The

48:58.280 --> 49:00.336
Vietnam Service Medal , good conduct

49:00.336 --> 49:02.719
ribbon , expert rifleman badge , expert

49:02.719 --> 49:04.663
sharpshooter expert pistol badge .

49:06.429 --> 49:08.889
We've all heard the motto . Every

49:08.889 --> 49:10.778
Marine is arid from him , right ,

49:10.778 --> 49:14.110
Marines ? Yesterday for the first time .

49:15.169 --> 49:17.336
Staff Sergeant retired in Hola had the

49:17.336 --> 49:19.447
opportunity to go to the Marine Corps

49:19.447 --> 49:21.629
Museum . They have an indoor shooting

49:21.629 --> 49:23.796
range there for those who don't know .

49:24.780 --> 49:27.113
Right , it's a simulated shooting range .

49:29.399 --> 49:32.169
93 years old . Standing in his

49:32.169 --> 49:35.020
wheelchair Expert

49:44.330 --> 49:46.969
From a seated and military folks don't

49:46.969 --> 49:48.580
understand when I say this .

49:48.959 --> 49:50.237
Unsupported position .

49:52.510 --> 49:56.399
90% I'm just

49:56.399 --> 49:58.121
saying my uncle still got it .

50:00.760 --> 50:02.760
With an M1 grand , they asked him ,

50:02.760 --> 50:05.090
said , what do you wanna use ? I want

50:05.090 --> 50:07.034
that M1 . That's what I carried in

50:07.034 --> 50:09.368
Korea and Vietnam . That's what he said .

50:10.560 --> 50:13.000
Iron sights on that M1 , just like this .

50:14.300 --> 50:15.911
I think it deserves an era .

50:19.179 --> 50:21.550
Ladies and gentlemen , Please welcome

50:22.500 --> 50:26.449
My , my uncle . Staff

50:26.449 --> 50:28.449
Sergeant retired , Parker Imola .

50:29.639 --> 50:30.489
USMC

50:41.179 --> 50:42.512
Isn't that standstill ?

50:54.750 --> 50:58.659
Yeah Uh , I don't

50:58.659 --> 51:00.770
think I'd better stand . OK . OK , go

51:00.770 --> 51:03.000
ahead . The floor is yours .

51:26.580 --> 51:30.479
I'd like to say uh . I'd

51:30.479 --> 51:32.590
like to say hello to everyone that is

51:32.590 --> 51:36.110
here . And welcome

51:37.679 --> 51:39.689
To the celebration of the Native

51:39.689 --> 51:43.320
American . Heritage Month ,

51:43.540 --> 51:47.189
November . November is always a busy ,

51:47.439 --> 51:51.199
busy month . Throughout all

51:51.199 --> 51:55.110
the states . There is some

51:55.110 --> 51:57.830
activity going on in our schools .

52:00.679 --> 52:04.159
Just uh last week in one of our schools

52:04.159 --> 52:07.040
there in Carnegie , Oklahoma , my

52:07.040 --> 52:10.120
grandson that stays with me and takes

52:10.120 --> 52:13.780
care of me . They did a

52:13.780 --> 52:17.090
show . Commemorating the

52:17.709 --> 52:20.949
Native American Heritage Month . I was

52:20.949 --> 52:24.070
proud of him . And we talked about it .

52:24.149 --> 52:26.510
He asked me what I thought . I said ,

52:26.590 --> 52:28.757
well , I've did them before and I said

52:28.757 --> 52:31.370
uh . You do

52:32.610 --> 52:35.280
What you wanted . I said , like John

52:35.280 --> 52:39.179
Wayne said , a man's got to do . What a

52:39.179 --> 52:42.429
man's got to do . My man Duke .

52:43.669 --> 52:45.836
Well , anyway , ladies and gentlemen .

52:46.370 --> 52:50.219
Uh , my nephew here . Colonel

52:50.219 --> 52:54.010
Bryce . gave you a pretty good rundown

52:54.010 --> 52:56.739
on who I am . Uh ,

52:59.600 --> 53:02.850
But I , I made a few notes here . I

53:02.850 --> 53:05.040
thought I might uh pass it on to you .

53:06.120 --> 53:09.850
My name is uh Parker Mjola .

53:11.709 --> 53:15.129
A holo translated means in

53:15.129 --> 53:18.669
Kaiwa . Coming to kill .

53:20.360 --> 53:21.469
And hold up .

53:23.719 --> 53:27.570
And I'd like to

53:27.570 --> 53:31.040
tell you that uh . I'm

53:31.040 --> 53:34.770
part of repaho besides being Kyle .

53:37.919 --> 53:41.679
My grandma years ago , God rest her

53:41.679 --> 53:45.570
soul . She took me

53:45.580 --> 53:49.419
from uh our family and and made me her

53:49.419 --> 53:53.270
favorite . So I was

53:53.270 --> 53:57.010
uh what we call in Cairo . All

53:57.010 --> 54:00.600
daytaly she favored me

54:00.889 --> 54:04.179
and I could do no wrong . She didn't

54:04.179 --> 54:06.860
speak no English . So

54:08.010 --> 54:11.439
She taught me How to speak Kwa .

54:13.370 --> 54:16.290
I was going on 10 years old when she

54:16.290 --> 54:19.620
passed away . She got sick . But I

54:19.620 --> 54:23.100
never forgot . Speaking Cairo ,

54:23.979 --> 54:27.810
and I'm proud of that . And uh

54:28.479 --> 54:32.000
To this day , I think uh there's , I'm

54:32.000 --> 54:35.239
one of the very few from the Kawa tribe

54:35.239 --> 54:38.739
that still speaks . The Kawa language .

54:41.520 --> 54:44.760
And most recently , like last month .

54:45.639 --> 54:49.219
I have a friend That's

54:49.219 --> 54:51.800
a teacher at the Lawton High School .

54:53.560 --> 54:56.679
They uh . inaugurated .

54:57.840 --> 55:00.010
And took on in their curriculum .

55:01.020 --> 55:04.459
Teaching the Kawa language in Law in

55:04.459 --> 55:07.770
high school . And I saw him after that .

55:09.050 --> 55:12.300
And I told him . His

55:13.780 --> 55:17.379
He is cow patchy . And I

55:17.379 --> 55:21.370
said , Carlos . If you ever

55:21.370 --> 55:25.179
need help , Teaching Kawa in

55:25.179 --> 55:28.050
your school . Give me a call and I'll

55:28.050 --> 55:31.689
be glad to come and help you out . I

55:31.689 --> 55:34.409
said , uh , I might know a little bit

55:34.409 --> 55:37.409
more than you how to speak it . So we

55:37.409 --> 55:39.631
got a good , we got a good laugh out of

55:39.631 --> 55:43.129
it . Well , he hasn't called me , so .

55:44.010 --> 55:45.843
Doing all right , but ladies and

55:45.843 --> 55:49.699
gentlemen , uh . I had another

55:49.699 --> 55:53.159
friend that was an instructor . At the

55:53.159 --> 55:57.040
Comanche Nation College . And he's

55:57.090 --> 56:00.979
taughtywa . And my wife Tina

56:01.729 --> 56:05.260
was one of his students , so I helped

56:05.260 --> 56:08.000
her along while she was uh going to

56:08.000 --> 56:11.510
school there . And he used to , uh ,

56:12.000 --> 56:15.590
leave and go on a . A

56:15.590 --> 56:17.812
workshop or something and he would call

56:17.812 --> 56:21.169
me and say . Uh , brother , I need your

56:21.169 --> 56:23.391
help . I said , what can I do for you ?

56:23.820 --> 56:26.729
What can I do for you , Bobby , brother ?

56:28.080 --> 56:31.310
He said , I'm going on a workshop and I ,

56:32.080 --> 56:34.239
can you stand by for me and take my

56:34.239 --> 56:36.719
class ? I said , boy , I sure would

56:36.719 --> 56:40.489
like to . So , uh . The students that

56:40.489 --> 56:43.370
he had , they had a hard time .

56:44.149 --> 56:47.389
Uh , with pronunciation . And I'll tell

56:47.389 --> 56:49.500
you , ladies and gentlemen , the call

56:49.500 --> 56:52.280
will tribe . Is kind of a hard language

56:52.280 --> 56:55.929
to learn . But uh we got along pretty

56:55.929 --> 56:58.649
good . Like , um

56:59.719 --> 57:03.000
We like we call uh we we we call uh

57:03.000 --> 57:05.489
like condiments , salt .

57:08.510 --> 57:11.840
They , they said , uh , how do you say

57:11.840 --> 57:15.179
it in Carwa ? said all times

57:15.179 --> 57:18.969
I . And that's where uh it gets

57:18.969 --> 57:22.659
them , uh . We got to have that all

57:22.659 --> 57:26.610
time I mean salt . And they say , how

57:26.610 --> 57:30.010
do you say pepper , black pepper ? They

57:30.010 --> 57:31.177
said , toy sayonga .

57:33.780 --> 57:36.760
Oh yeah They couldn't say that .

57:37.689 --> 57:40.370
But we had a lot of fun but getting

57:40.370 --> 57:44.189
back to uh . Getting back to tell

57:44.189 --> 57:46.989
you about my life , I had , there were

57:46.989 --> 57:50.000
7 of us brothers . I had an older

57:50.000 --> 57:53.139
brother named John . John Junior

57:54.649 --> 57:57.510
And uh , He was in the forty-fifth

57:57.510 --> 58:00.149
division when they mobilized from

58:00.149 --> 58:03.229
Oklahoma and they went to Fort Polk ,

58:03.310 --> 58:05.889
Louisiana . At that time , it was

58:05.889 --> 58:09.800
called Camp Polk . And uh

58:09.800 --> 58:13.159
they mobilized in 195051 .

58:14.429 --> 58:17.669
And they went to Korea , but before he

58:17.669 --> 58:19.709
left , my mother and my father , we

58:19.709 --> 58:22.879
went down there to see them all . Well ,

58:24.290 --> 58:26.350
They went to Korea . They landed at

58:26.350 --> 58:28.689
Busan , and they went up to Taegu .

58:31.729 --> 58:34.649
So one day I came home from school , I

58:34.649 --> 58:38.469
was still in high school . And I

58:38.469 --> 58:41.320
was listening to the news from our

58:41.320 --> 58:45.179
local radio station in Anadarko . And

58:45.179 --> 58:48.989
it was talking about his unit . His

58:48.989 --> 58:50.610
unit , he was battery B .

58:52.620 --> 58:56.389
Uh , 58th Field

58:56.389 --> 59:00.199
Artillery Battalion . For the

59:00.199 --> 59:04.189
5th division . And It was

59:04.189 --> 59:07.770
getting A hard time . The

59:07.770 --> 59:10.649
North Koreans were hitting them pretty

59:10.649 --> 59:12.889
hard , and it was suffering a lot of

59:12.889 --> 59:16.840
casualties . So after

59:16.840 --> 59:18.951
the news went off , I , I , I made up

59:18.951 --> 59:22.919
my mind . When I graduated From high

59:22.919 --> 59:25.229
school , I was gonna join the service .

59:28.260 --> 59:31.590
So I told my mother and my father . I

59:31.590 --> 59:33.850
said I , I heard some bad news on the

59:33.850 --> 59:37.300
radio and uh I need to do something

59:38.229 --> 59:41.750
to help this war effort , especially

59:41.750 --> 59:45.270
for Yo yo . I said his unit got hit

59:45.270 --> 59:47.280
pretty hard . They had a lot of

59:47.280 --> 59:49.989
casualties and I said , I need to do

59:49.989 --> 59:52.500
something . So I'm gonna join the

59:52.500 --> 59:55.060
service , so I made my way up to

59:55.060 --> 59:58.010
Oklahoma City , uh , Chick , Oklahoma .

59:58.830 --> 01:00:01.370
And I missed the uh marine recruiter ,

01:00:01.489 --> 01:00:04.899
so I talked to the army . And they said ,

01:00:05.010 --> 01:00:08.070
well , You got any broken bones ? I

01:00:08.070 --> 01:00:10.237
said , well , I broke my ankle playing

01:00:10.237 --> 01:00:12.570
football . They said , well , can't use .

01:00:12.570 --> 01:00:15.979
I wanted to be a paratrooper . Sure

01:00:16.840 --> 01:00:19.520
I didn't go in the army . So I talked

01:00:19.520 --> 01:00:22.120
to the navy man and I said , no , I

01:00:22.120 --> 01:00:25.050
don't wanna be aboard ship . So there's

01:00:25.050 --> 01:00:27.328
too much water out there and I said uh .

01:00:28.860 --> 01:00:31.239
So , uh , I said I'll , I'll make it to

01:00:31.239 --> 01:00:33.406
see the marine recruiter . So I caught

01:00:33.406 --> 01:00:37.159
a bus . And I went to Oklahoma City .

01:00:38.590 --> 01:00:42.090
I saw the recruiter . I signed up . So

01:00:43.149 --> 01:00:46.030
on the 24th of September 1951 .

01:00:47.540 --> 01:00:51.459
I became a marine . Right . I

01:00:51.459 --> 01:00:54.709
went through boot camp . I had a

01:00:54.709 --> 01:00:57.669
birthday . I , I turned 19 years old .

01:01:00.760 --> 01:01:03.290
Well , In

01:01:03.290 --> 01:01:05.280
1953 .

01:01:09.469 --> 01:01:12.939
February . The

01:01:12.939 --> 01:01:16.810
troop ship out of uh . San

01:01:16.810 --> 01:01:19.979
Francisco , Camp Richard , Richards .

01:01:21.129 --> 01:01:23.689
And it was , it was a troop ship called

01:01:23.689 --> 01:01:27.370
General William S . Weegle . And there

01:01:27.370 --> 01:01:29.570
was 5000 of us troops and the

01:01:29.570 --> 01:01:31.860
replacements going to Korea .

01:01:34.939 --> 01:01:37.600
We got to Japan , we landed in Yokohama .

01:01:39.360 --> 01:01:42.429
And then we boarded troop trains .

01:01:43.479 --> 01:01:46.179
And they took us up to our Tommy Air

01:01:46.179 --> 01:01:49.370
Force Base and we got on airplanes and

01:01:49.370 --> 01:01:53.070
they flew us to Korea . And they

01:01:53.070 --> 01:01:55.229
dropped us off at different places

01:01:55.229 --> 01:01:59.199
there . I

01:01:59.199 --> 01:02:02.149
wound up right southeast of Incheon .

01:02:04.290 --> 01:02:06.810
Those of you may are interested or you

01:02:06.810 --> 01:02:10.209
read about the Korean War , a lot of

01:02:10.209 --> 01:02:12.320
people don't know anything about it .

01:02:12.320 --> 01:02:14.729
It's a forgotten war . Well , to more

01:02:14.729 --> 01:02:18.570
it wasn't . So I was

01:02:18.570 --> 01:02:22.429
there march . March the first

01:02:23.429 --> 01:02:25.820
And it wasn't very long . I got my

01:02:25.820 --> 01:02:28.219
baptismal of fire .

01:02:29.760 --> 01:02:33.270
And uh it was winter . Snow all

01:02:33.270 --> 01:02:36.979
over , very cold . 30 , 40

01:02:36.979 --> 01:02:39.780
degrees below zero , and we laid it in

01:02:39.780 --> 01:02:41.850
that snow and we fought the war .

01:02:42.699 --> 01:02:45.969
Consequently , July 1953 ,

01:02:46.620 --> 01:02:48.899
the armistice was signed , the war was

01:02:48.899 --> 01:02:52.760
over . But uh so I had

01:02:52.760 --> 01:02:55.760
a birthday while I was in Korea , I

01:02:55.760 --> 01:02:57.290
turned 22 .

01:02:59.840 --> 01:03:03.560
So after December 1953 , they asked for

01:03:03.560 --> 01:03:06.879
volunteers to go to Japan . I went to

01:03:06.879 --> 01:03:09.239
Japan . I volunteered . I was always

01:03:09.239 --> 01:03:12.280
volunteering for some . I wanted to be

01:03:12.280 --> 01:03:15.179
in the action , whatever it was . So I

01:03:15.179 --> 01:03:18.090
went to Japan . I went to Atsugi .

01:03:19.219 --> 01:03:22.689
I stayed there until I uh I rotated

01:03:22.689 --> 01:03:25.239
back home in March . Then I went to

01:03:25.239 --> 01:03:28.479
Camp Pendleton . That was just like my

01:03:28.479 --> 01:03:31.250
second home . Well , ladies and

01:03:31.250 --> 01:03:33.528
gentlemen , to make a long story short ,

01:03:34.239 --> 01:03:38.159
like , uh , My nephew said , I

01:03:38.159 --> 01:03:41.629
was uh A participant in Korea

01:03:42.239 --> 01:03:45.379
during the war . And then I went to

01:03:45.379 --> 01:03:47.780
Cuba , Guantanamo Bay .

01:03:49.290 --> 01:03:53.010
1962 . November

01:03:53.719 --> 01:03:57.520
And then I left there in February 1963

01:03:57.899 --> 01:04:01.270
then . They stationed me in North

01:04:01.270 --> 01:04:04.409
Carolina , Cherry Point . It was solved .

01:04:05.699 --> 01:04:08.320
West , uh , it was east of , uh , New

01:04:08.320 --> 01:04:12.310
Bern , north of Jacksonville . And west

01:04:12.310 --> 01:04:15.239
of , uh , what was that little bitty

01:04:15.239 --> 01:04:19.080
town Mori City . So I stayed

01:04:19.080 --> 01:04:22.070
there and then I got a call .

01:04:22.969 --> 01:04:25.080
They said , we're sending you to Camp

01:04:25.080 --> 01:04:27.629
Pendleton . For

01:04:32.000 --> 01:04:34.919
For further transport , you're going to

01:04:35.600 --> 01:04:38.330
you're going to Vietnam . And I said ,

01:04:38.389 --> 01:04:42.110
oh my God . So I went to Vietnam first

01:04:42.110 --> 01:04:42.659
tour .

01:04:45.110 --> 01:04:47.850
1966 , I was in 19 uh

01:04:49.050 --> 01:04:52.550
1966 I was in . In Vietnam .

01:04:53.679 --> 01:04:55.846
And I had a one of my younger brothers

01:04:55.846 --> 01:04:58.830
was a little snotty long snotty nose

01:04:58.830 --> 01:05:00.429
brat when I left home .

01:05:02.729 --> 01:05:05.360
And they pulled me off the line and

01:05:05.360 --> 01:05:08.469
they said . I want to talk to the

01:05:08.469 --> 01:05:10.979
colonel and he said , Sergeant M .

01:05:10.989 --> 01:05:13.322
Muller , do you have a brother ? I said ,

01:05:13.389 --> 01:05:16.790
I've got 6 brothers . He said , Do you

01:05:16.790 --> 01:05:19.120
have one named Hubert ? I said , yes ,

01:05:19.149 --> 01:05:21.870
sir . You know where he's at ? I said

01:05:21.870 --> 01:05:25.090
he's at home . He says no way he's in

01:05:25.090 --> 01:05:29.080
country . He's up above Danang .

01:05:29.090 --> 01:05:32.739
He's up at Fuba . And I had put in for

01:05:32.739 --> 01:05:35.540
R&R . I was going to Hong Kong to get

01:05:35.540 --> 01:05:39.060
away from that place . So

01:05:40.139 --> 01:05:42.620
I said , well , I'd like to change my

01:05:42.620 --> 01:05:44.760
orders and I , I'd like to go to Fuba

01:05:44.760 --> 01:05:47.040
see my brother . So ladies and

01:05:47.040 --> 01:05:49.860
gentlemen , here and I , we spent

01:05:49.860 --> 01:05:53.229
Thanksgiving . In a foxhole

01:05:53.229 --> 01:05:57.110
bunker . And it was just like what I

01:05:57.110 --> 01:06:00.350
left down south of July . I was in the

01:06:00.709 --> 01:06:04.540
same thing . It was uh Terrible .

01:06:06.570 --> 01:06:10.010
Well , I got back to my unit

01:06:10.520 --> 01:06:13.129
and the colonel says , uh . He said ,

01:06:13.209 --> 01:06:15.739
Chief , You're gonna stay back here

01:06:15.739 --> 01:06:19.300
with me . I said , what am I gonna

01:06:19.300 --> 01:06:21.780
do ? He said , you'll be my police

01:06:21.780 --> 01:06:25.479
sergeant . I said , what am I gonna be

01:06:25.479 --> 01:06:27.520
doing ? He said , you'll be uh in

01:06:27.520 --> 01:06:30.439
charge of the details to keep our camp

01:06:30.439 --> 01:06:34.149
clean . I said ,

01:06:34.229 --> 01:06:36.229
well , it's , it's . Why don't just

01:06:36.229 --> 01:06:39.830
leave it that way . He said no ,

01:06:40.110 --> 01:06:42.166
he said , you'll take care of it . I

01:06:42.166 --> 01:06:44.054
said , so , so I came back to the

01:06:44.054 --> 01:06:47.530
states . December

01:06:47.919 --> 01:06:51.540
1966 , 1 of the few times I was home

01:06:51.540 --> 01:06:54.929
for Christmas . In my 30 years

01:06:55.459 --> 01:06:56.681
in the Marine Corps .

01:07:00.790 --> 01:07:04.669
I was home . I was stationed uh .

01:07:06.850 --> 01:07:07.510
And uh

01:07:11.040 --> 01:07:13.729
Ya , Arizona , then I got orders to go

01:07:13.729 --> 01:07:16.820
back . To Vietnam

01:07:17.939 --> 01:07:21.209
In 1970 , so I went back .

01:07:22.949 --> 01:07:25.830
Oh , the unit that I , I went to in

01:07:25.830 --> 01:07:29.379
1966 was uh the first Marine Division .

01:07:30.409 --> 01:07:33.350
2nd Battalion , 7th Marines tough

01:07:33.350 --> 01:07:37.100
outfit . And then , and then when I

01:07:37.100 --> 01:07:40.409
went back in uh in 1970 .

01:07:41.250 --> 01:07:44.969
I was assigned to a 3rd Battalion , 9th

01:07:44.969 --> 01:07:48.419
Marines , and that was uh 3rd Marine

01:07:48.419 --> 01:07:51.659
Division . And that was a tough outfit

01:07:51.659 --> 01:07:55.399
too . So , being a young guy

01:07:55.399 --> 01:07:59.209
and full of spunk . I

01:07:59.209 --> 01:08:03.080
did what had to be done . A man's gotta

01:08:03.080 --> 01:08:05.270
do what a man's gotta do .

01:08:07.010 --> 01:08:10.459
So I survived that . But it got really

01:08:10.459 --> 01:08:13.570
hairy and yeah and I told my uh

01:08:13.570 --> 01:08:15.570
commanding officer , I said , sir ,

01:08:15.780 --> 01:08:18.529
when we get home , when I get home ,

01:08:18.700 --> 01:08:20.756
I'm putting in my letter , I'm gonna

01:08:20.756 --> 01:08:24.000
retire . I said that this is getting

01:08:24.000 --> 01:08:26.648
too hairy for me . He said , oh , he

01:08:26.648 --> 01:08:28.815
said , well you do what you wanna do .

01:08:28.815 --> 01:08:30.870
I said I'm gonna do that . So when I

01:08:30.870 --> 01:08:33.148
came home , that's what I did at least .

01:08:34.089 --> 01:08:37.689
So I , I retired . I went into the

01:08:37.689 --> 01:08:40.490
inactive reserve for 10 more years .

01:08:42.009 --> 01:08:44.790
And then I found a job . I worked for

01:08:44.790 --> 01:08:47.899
Valley National Bank of Arizona . I

01:08:47.899 --> 01:08:50.149
worked with them until I retired , but

01:08:50.149 --> 01:08:52.970
in the meantime , I received my uh

01:08:53.259 --> 01:08:56.640
retirement notice . From the Marine

01:08:56.640 --> 01:08:58.790
Corps after , and they gave me credit

01:08:59.120 --> 01:09:02.319
with President Nixon . President Nixon

01:09:02.319 --> 01:09:04.799
signed my discharge and he gave me

01:09:04.799 --> 01:09:07.950
credit for 30 years of service . To the

01:09:07.950 --> 01:09:10.061
government of the United States , and

01:09:10.061 --> 01:09:11.950
I'm so proud of that , ladies and

01:09:11.950 --> 01:09:12.950
gentlemen .

01:09:20.520 --> 01:09:22.779
And all during the times that I was in

01:09:22.779 --> 01:09:26.109
combat . I was telling you about my

01:09:26.109 --> 01:09:28.720
brothers . There were 3 of us that went

01:09:28.720 --> 01:09:32.709
into Marine Corps myself . My

01:09:32.709 --> 01:09:34.709
brother Bucky that I went to see it

01:09:34.709 --> 01:09:37.859
flew by and my , my little brother .

01:09:38.609 --> 01:09:40.665
Uh , James Michael lives in Oklahoma

01:09:40.665 --> 01:09:43.700
City . We all served in Vietnam .

01:09:45.009 --> 01:09:48.878
And we're all combat Marines . And then

01:09:48.878 --> 01:09:51.309
my older brother , he passed away ,

01:09:51.918 --> 01:09:54.628
John Junior was in the 45th division ,

01:09:54.958 --> 01:09:56.958
and then I've got a younger brother

01:09:56.969 --> 01:09:59.708
named Ferrell went went in the army ,

01:10:00.079 --> 01:10:03.890
and he served in Germany . And when

01:10:03.890 --> 01:10:06.290
he got out of the army , he went to

01:10:06.290 --> 01:10:09.939
work for IRS . And then I got

01:10:09.939 --> 01:10:13.220
another brother . His name is Lonnie .

01:10:14.169 --> 01:10:16.250
And he went into the army .

01:10:17.479 --> 01:10:21.189
So , my mother was a , a gold star

01:10:21.509 --> 01:10:25.220
war mother . And she was always

01:10:25.220 --> 01:10:29.029
getting uh . Notices

01:10:29.270 --> 01:10:32.859
and everything . For being a

01:10:32.859 --> 01:10:36.729
mother . Of 6 servicemen .

01:10:37.919 --> 01:10:40.209
She was proud we were .

01:10:43.290 --> 01:10:47.200
She taught me a lot of things . She

01:10:47.200 --> 01:10:49.479
said one day , you're gonna have to

01:10:49.479 --> 01:10:51.899
cook for yourself . You're gonna have

01:10:51.899 --> 01:10:54.629
to wash your own clothes . You're gonna

01:10:54.629 --> 01:10:58.609
do all things for yourself . It , it's

01:10:58.609 --> 01:11:01.040
not gonna be easy , it's gonna be hard .

01:11:01.689 --> 01:11:03.729
So I , I said , OK .

01:11:06.120 --> 01:11:10.100
So , it was true . I used to go out

01:11:10.100 --> 01:11:12.211
there behind the barracks and wash my

01:11:12.211 --> 01:11:15.009
clothes , hang them up . Then , then I

01:11:15.009 --> 01:11:17.169
iron them , hang them up in my wall

01:11:17.169 --> 01:11:19.890
locker , and I stayed sharp , ladies

01:11:19.890 --> 01:11:23.660
and gentlemen . And to

01:11:23.660 --> 01:11:27.069
this day , I , I , I look at myself

01:11:27.069 --> 01:11:31.000
before I leave home . And see if

01:11:31.000 --> 01:11:33.919
I'm all right and if I got a big uh

01:11:33.919 --> 01:11:36.759
deal coming up , I'll go get my hair

01:11:36.759 --> 01:11:37.759
cut .

01:11:40.410 --> 01:11:43.200
Marines stay sharp . Oh , feel sharp

01:11:44.069 --> 01:11:46.291
ladies and gentlemen , I'd like to pass

01:11:46.291 --> 01:11:48.458
on to you that I enjoyed seeing all of

01:11:48.458 --> 01:11:50.569
you here , and I appreciate you and I

01:11:50.569 --> 01:11:52.569
love you . God bless you .

01:11:54.549 --> 01:11:57.430
That's why I want the service to not

01:11:57.430 --> 01:11:59.597
only serve for our people , the Indian

01:11:59.597 --> 01:12:03.299
people , but for you . Besides ,

01:12:06.930 --> 01:12:09.520
Thank you so much . Let's enjoy

01:12:09.520 --> 01:12:12.049
ourselves . God bless you . Oh .

01:12:30.490 --> 01:12:33.520
Oh , Siggy , thank you , Uncle . I can

01:12:33.520 --> 01:12:35.131
listen to them all day , but

01:12:35.131 --> 01:12:37.353
unfortunately we don't get the room all

01:12:37.353 --> 01:12:39.490
day . Thank you so much for your

01:12:39.490 --> 01:12:41.919
service , Iggy . The things that you've

01:12:41.919 --> 01:12:44.770
done go well beyond . A lot of the

01:12:44.770 --> 01:12:47.020
capacity of what people these days can

01:12:47.020 --> 01:12:48.964
really understand and appreciate .

01:12:50.839 --> 01:12:53.819
But now the time has come For our youth

01:12:54.310 --> 01:12:57.189
to showcase a little bit more . They

01:12:57.189 --> 01:12:59.189
gave us a taste earlier when we had

01:12:59.189 --> 01:13:01.919
some white space to fill . But they

01:13:01.919 --> 01:13:04.390
gave us a taste But now we want more .

01:13:05.459 --> 01:13:07.819
So please welcome to Hamus Valley High

01:13:07.819 --> 01:13:10.370
School dance group . This group is a

01:13:10.370 --> 01:13:12.481
program within the Haus Valley public

01:13:12.481 --> 01:13:14.703
school system in New Mexico . The youth

01:13:14.703 --> 01:13:16.648
in a group ranged from 9th to 12th

01:13:16.648 --> 01:13:18.703
graders and come from the pueblos of

01:13:18.703 --> 01:13:22.330
Hammus . Laguna , Okai ,

01:13:22.560 --> 01:13:25.160
Aega , Zia , Cochiti , and Hopi .

01:13:26.740 --> 01:13:28.740
The mission of the group is to help

01:13:28.740 --> 01:13:30.851
preserve their centuries old cultures

01:13:30.959 --> 01:13:33.126
by learning and practicing traditional

01:13:33.126 --> 01:13:36.049
dances and songs . The group will dance

01:13:36.049 --> 01:13:37.605
to songs in Toah language .

01:13:39.629 --> 01:13:41.629
They performed the buffalo dance of

01:13:41.629 --> 01:13:43.609
Hamus Pueblo . This dance brings

01:13:43.609 --> 01:13:46.169
blessings to the world , and the songs

01:13:46.169 --> 01:13:48.410
speak to their ancestors . And shows

01:13:48.410 --> 01:13:50.688
their strength of culture to the world .

01:13:51.399 --> 01:13:53.779
That we know today . So ladies and

01:13:53.779 --> 01:13:55.830
gentlemen , the Hemos Valley High

01:13:55.830 --> 01:13:57.108
School youth dancers .

01:14:29.370 --> 01:14:30.370
that

01:14:34.189 --> 01:14:35.189
What .

01:14:40.609 --> 01:14:42.129
Oh , OK .

01:14:46.000 --> 01:14:49.520
Oh Oh no , no .

01:14:50.830 --> 01:14:51.310
Oh

01:14:54.509 --> 01:14:58.310
Oh got the dog . Uh

01:15:18.049 --> 01:15:19.049
Oh .

01:15:23.649 --> 01:15:24.080
You

01:15:33.109 --> 01:15:34.109
Oh .

01:15:48.470 --> 01:15:49.470
Oh .

01:16:12.819 --> 01:16:13.819
Oh .

01:16:27.209 --> 01:16:29.479
Oh Oh

01:16:47.209 --> 01:16:48.209
Yes

01:16:53.270 --> 01:16:53.890
Oh

01:17:35.990 --> 01:17:36.990
the

01:18:03.970 --> 01:18:05.069
Oh my .

01:18:17.120 --> 01:18:17.399
all

01:18:22.830 --> 01:18:23.299
Yeah

01:18:27.490 --> 01:18:27.850
Oh

01:18:53.120 --> 01:18:54.120
Oh .

01:20:30.850 --> 01:20:31.850
Oh ,

01:20:39.129 --> 01:20:40.129
You

01:21:01.580 --> 01:21:02.009
Oh

01:21:41.899 --> 01:21:42.899
Oh

01:21:56.890 --> 01:21:58.580
Hey man , Boas are good .

01:22:10.569 --> 01:22:11.569
Hello

01:22:21.310 --> 01:22:22.310
Oh

01:22:29.100 --> 01:22:29.609
Oh God

01:22:54.089 --> 01:22:55.089
Uh ,

01:23:55.689 --> 01:23:58.379
Uh Oh

01:24:30.779 --> 01:24:31.290
Oh

01:24:41.229 --> 01:24:42.229
Oh

01:24:45.069 --> 01:24:45.479
But

01:24:58.810 --> 01:25:00.299
Oh . Oh .

01:25:09.259 --> 01:25:10.259
Uh

01:25:46.479 --> 01:25:47.479
Um

01:26:02.069 --> 01:26:04.910
Ladies and gentlemen , How was that

01:26:04.910 --> 01:26:07.410
performance , huh ? Fantastic .

01:26:09.649 --> 01:26:12.410
So full disclosure , Admiral Foster , I

01:26:12.410 --> 01:26:14.466
did not put you in the lineup . That

01:26:14.466 --> 01:26:17.439
was not me . So I , I , I apologize on

01:26:17.439 --> 01:26:19.439
behalf of everyone present that you

01:26:19.439 --> 01:26:21.660
have to follow that , sir . So ladies

01:26:21.660 --> 01:26:23.771
and gentlemen , without further ado ,

01:26:23.771 --> 01:26:25.327
Rear Admiral Foster , sir .

01:26:30.859 --> 01:26:32.915
Yeah , I'm gonna give your reward by

01:26:32.915 --> 01:26:35.137
not not putting me up there and dancing

01:26:35.137 --> 01:26:38.250
today uh honor respect to Doctor Hicks ,

01:26:38.330 --> 01:26:40.386
all of our senior leaders and , uh ,

01:26:40.729 --> 01:26:42.785
and , and our military personnel and

01:26:42.785 --> 01:26:44.951
our civilian personnel and most of all

01:26:44.951 --> 01:26:47.007
our Native American warriors . Thank

01:26:47.007 --> 01:26:49.173
you for allowing me to be here today .

01:26:49.173 --> 01:26:51.173
I'm gonna bring some honor to those

01:26:51.173 --> 01:26:53.396
who've given their life in the past and

01:26:53.396 --> 01:26:55.507
I also wanna just thank for those who

01:26:55.507 --> 01:26:55.049
are gonna give their life in the future .

01:26:55.330 --> 01:26:57.680
We see these young personnel up here

01:26:57.680 --> 01:26:59.624
today and they're ready to fight .

01:26:59.624 --> 01:27:02.080
They're ready to win the wars that were

01:27:02.080 --> 01:27:04.640
won before us so thank you for the

01:27:04.640 --> 01:27:06.751
opportunity to be here and I just got

01:27:06.751 --> 01:27:09.000
struck by that by that dance . It's

01:27:09.000 --> 01:27:11.750
like a celebration of life . It's like ,

01:27:11.759 --> 01:27:13.879
uh , incredible and like we're really

01:27:13.879 --> 01:27:16.310
defenders of life that's why we're here .

01:27:17.089 --> 01:27:19.256
We have sovereign nations that we're a

01:27:19.256 --> 01:27:21.709
part of . We're very significantly tied

01:27:21.709 --> 01:27:23.931
to sovereign nations with very specific

01:27:23.931 --> 01:27:26.042
tribal relationships with the federal

01:27:26.042 --> 01:27:28.098
government , but we also are part of

01:27:28.098 --> 01:27:30.320
the team of the collective team that we

01:27:30.320 --> 01:27:32.598
all have to defend our nation together .

01:27:32.598 --> 01:27:34.850
So thank you Mao for that . Uh , hey ,

01:27:34.870 --> 01:27:36.870
she , my , my name is , uh , Calvin

01:27:36.870 --> 01:27:40.120
Foster . I , um , uh , grew up as a

01:27:40.120 --> 01:27:42.453
Muscogee Creek Indian in , uh , Bristow ,

01:27:42.453 --> 01:27:44.509
Oklahoma . Please raise your hand if

01:27:44.509 --> 01:27:46.676
you know where Bristow , Oklahoma is .

01:27:47.319 --> 01:27:49.375
It's taken me 32 years of service to

01:27:49.375 --> 01:27:51.486
get into a crowd where I can actually

01:27:51.486 --> 01:27:53.319
know people know where Bristol ,

01:27:53.319 --> 01:27:55.319
Oklahoma is . I tell them it's just

01:27:55.319 --> 01:27:57.263
outside of Slick and just south of

01:27:57.263 --> 01:27:59.430
Manford . People usually get it get it

01:27:59.430 --> 01:28:01.890
when I say that . Um , But uh certainly

01:28:01.890 --> 01:28:03.946
growing up in in the in the Muscogee

01:28:03.946 --> 01:28:06.529
Creek nation traditions , uh , and part

01:28:06.529 --> 01:28:08.959
of that uh team and with the recent

01:28:08.959 --> 01:28:10.959
decisions even with McGurt decision

01:28:10.959 --> 01:28:12.737
about this , the restoration of

01:28:12.737 --> 01:28:14.848
sovereignty I think it's just kind of

01:28:14.848 --> 01:28:17.015
renewed a whole sense of uh discussion

01:28:17.015 --> 01:28:18.792
for us as uh as Native American

01:28:18.792 --> 01:28:20.903
veterans and tribal members and . And

01:28:20.903 --> 01:28:23.070
citizens , uh , with new opportunities

01:28:23.070 --> 01:28:25.181
in , in the government , um , to look

01:28:25.181 --> 01:28:27.348
at things differently with nominations

01:28:27.348 --> 01:28:29.570
directly to the to the academies with ,

01:28:29.570 --> 01:28:31.903
uh , recognition of , uh , federal , uh ,

01:28:31.903 --> 01:28:33.848
employment and who you are and and

01:28:33.848 --> 01:28:35.903
beyond just Alaskan Native or Native

01:28:35.903 --> 01:28:38.015
American . Because when I grew up you

01:28:38.015 --> 01:28:39.792
were Creek Indian . You weren't

01:28:39.792 --> 01:28:41.848
necessarily Native American , you're

01:28:41.848 --> 01:28:43.848
Creek or Cherokee or Seminole , you

01:28:43.848 --> 01:28:45.903
know , so those are , those are some

01:28:45.903 --> 01:28:45.709
areas where I think we can , we can

01:28:45.709 --> 01:28:47.931
look at to improve . I do want to honor

01:28:47.931 --> 01:28:50.419
my forefathers , my grandfather , uh ,

01:28:50.430 --> 01:28:52.652
Arthur Foster , who fought in World War

01:28:52.652 --> 01:28:55.419
2 Army , uh , my father , Air Force

01:28:55.419 --> 01:28:57.939
Captain , uh , George Foster , who

01:28:57.939 --> 01:29:00.161
didn't fight in Vietnam , was stationed

01:29:00.161 --> 01:29:02.161
in Maine fortunately for me because

01:29:02.161 --> 01:29:04.740
that's where I was born , my , uh . My

01:29:04.740 --> 01:29:06.962
Uncle Colonel Steve Foster , who fought

01:29:06.962 --> 01:29:09.140
with you , sir , in , uh , in Korea ,

01:29:09.750 --> 01:29:12.669
um , and then my late , uh , uncle who

01:29:12.669 --> 01:29:15.470
I never met , uh , Calvin Deal shot

01:29:15.470 --> 01:29:19.310
down an F-105 in 1967 . I was born in

01:29:19.310 --> 01:29:22.509
1970 so that POW MIA flag that we just

01:29:22.509 --> 01:29:24.459
flown earlier hits me in the heart

01:29:25.029 --> 01:29:27.140
because for six years my aunt did not

01:29:27.140 --> 01:29:29.251
know the situation that happened with

01:29:29.251 --> 01:29:31.418
Uncle Calvin and I was fortunate to be

01:29:31.418 --> 01:29:33.307
named after him to carry his name

01:29:33.307 --> 01:29:35.473
forward . Uh , to honor him , we found

01:29:35.473 --> 01:29:37.696
out later he was killed instantly after

01:29:37.696 --> 01:29:39.529
his ejection from his , from his

01:29:39.529 --> 01:29:41.640
aircraft , uh , but we carry on his ,

01:29:41.640 --> 01:29:44.339
his , uh , his memory . Uh , the Naval

01:29:44.339 --> 01:29:46.970
Academy took me as a 17 year old , uh ,

01:29:46.979 --> 01:29:49.146
from Bristow , and then , uh , I found

01:29:49.146 --> 01:29:51.146
out later that I really following a

01:29:51.146 --> 01:29:53.560
tradition there . Uh , Ernest Evans ,

01:29:53.819 --> 01:29:56.041
Jaco Clark , West McCall , other people

01:29:56.041 --> 01:29:58.569
who have , uh , served in in the Navy

01:29:58.569 --> 01:30:00.847
had gone through the Naval Academy and ,

01:30:00.847 --> 01:30:03.740
uh , served in their nation , um , and

01:30:03.740 --> 01:30:05.796
I'm really here to to testify to the

01:30:05.796 --> 01:30:08.890
Navy's dedication to Native Americans ,

01:30:09.220 --> 01:30:11.479
um . The Navy recently , I got some

01:30:11.479 --> 01:30:13.701
great news and if you don't know this ,

01:30:13.701 --> 01:30:15.923
please hoop and holler because the Navy

01:30:15.923 --> 01:30:17.979
recently named , uh , the first ship

01:30:17.979 --> 01:30:20.312
after the Muskogee Creek Nation TATS 10 .

01:30:26.009 --> 01:30:28.009
Just a few months ago we're down in

01:30:28.009 --> 01:30:30.231
Homa , Louisiana . My wife Nicole , can

01:30:30.231 --> 01:30:32.398
you raise your hand ? So , uh , Nicole

01:30:32.398 --> 01:30:34.565
is the co-sponsor of the ship . So her

01:30:34.565 --> 01:30:36.342
name , Jerry Weisner name , our

01:30:36.342 --> 01:30:38.565
attorney General and Chief Hill are all

01:30:38.565 --> 01:30:40.453
etched in the keeling stone , the

01:30:40.453 --> 01:30:42.731
Keellang plate of TATS 10 down at home ,

01:30:42.731 --> 01:30:44.953
Louisiana will be built in about a year

01:30:44.953 --> 01:30:44.330
and a half . Ms . Burger , I hope you

01:30:44.330 --> 01:30:46.441
or some other leaders will be able to

01:30:46.441 --> 01:30:48.663
be there to join us in that celebration

01:30:48.663 --> 01:30:50.941
as you have also with the Navajo class ,

01:30:50.941 --> 01:30:52.997
uh , salvage and rescue ships . Um ,

01:30:53.020 --> 01:30:55.620
these 10 ships , uh , they're gonna be

01:30:55.620 --> 01:30:57.842
carrying not only the , the , the , the

01:30:57.842 --> 01:31:00.060
responsibility of being a salvage and

01:31:00.060 --> 01:31:02.171
rescue ship . Uh , these are designed

01:31:02.171 --> 01:31:04.227
by the navy to be auxiliaries in the

01:31:04.227 --> 01:31:06.338
battle , not only to execute unmanned

01:31:06.338 --> 01:31:08.227
systems capabilities or diving or

01:31:08.227 --> 01:31:10.338
repair or recovery . Uh , but they'll

01:31:10.338 --> 01:31:13.100
also be speaking the names of tribes

01:31:13.100 --> 01:31:15.419
and Native American warriors across the

01:31:15.419 --> 01:31:17.700
world for decades to come . Isn't that

01:31:17.700 --> 01:31:19.979
cool ? So not we think of Native

01:31:19.979 --> 01:31:22.090
Americans a lot of times as people in

01:31:22.090 --> 01:31:24.201
the past . We're people of the future

01:31:24.201 --> 01:31:26.312
and that's that these ships are gonna

01:31:26.312 --> 01:31:28.201
carry those names of the future .

01:31:32.810 --> 01:31:35.120
These 10 ships , uh , include the , uh ,

01:31:35.129 --> 01:31:37.407
the , the , the name of the first ship ,

01:31:37.407 --> 01:31:39.629
which is always the name of the class .

01:31:39.629 --> 01:31:41.740
So the Navajo , we , we owe you one .

01:31:41.740 --> 01:31:43.851
Thank you for being the , the first .

01:31:43.851 --> 01:31:45.907
The Navajo is T ATS 6 . The Cherokee

01:31:45.907 --> 01:31:48.129
Nation Cherokee , where are you ? There

01:31:48.129 --> 01:31:51.209
we go . Uh , the Cherokee Nation was

01:31:51.209 --> 01:31:53.431
just given , uh , her , her christening

01:31:53.431 --> 01:31:55.542
just a few months ago , uh , and then

01:31:55.542 --> 01:31:57.598
we followed by the Saginaw Ojibwe of

01:31:57.598 --> 01:32:01.399
Shinebec . Lenny Lenape And then a

01:32:01.399 --> 01:32:03.288
squally with Billy Frank Junior .

01:32:04.149 --> 01:32:06.870
Solomon Askin Atkinson , a seal from

01:32:06.870 --> 01:32:09.819
the Shimsh Union in Alaska . Master

01:32:09.819 --> 01:32:12.029
Chief James Fairbanks with Chippewa .

01:32:12.770 --> 01:32:14.937
Then Aaron Gassett and one to be named

01:32:14.937 --> 01:32:17.048
this month we think I I think there's

01:32:17.048 --> 01:32:19.103
one more left . I won't not speak uh

01:32:19.103 --> 01:32:21.270
any further on that , but we're hoping

01:32:21.270 --> 01:32:23.214
there's another one , soon . These

01:32:23.214 --> 01:32:25.270
ships will carry the languages , the

01:32:25.270 --> 01:32:27.492
symbols , the colors and the tribes for

01:32:27.492 --> 01:32:29.492
decades across the waterways of the

01:32:29.492 --> 01:32:31.459
world and remind people of the

01:32:31.459 --> 01:32:34.080
sovereignty and partnership we have in

01:32:34.080 --> 01:32:36.390
war and peace . It's our desire that

01:32:36.390 --> 01:32:38.501
these ships will be a source of pride

01:32:38.501 --> 01:32:40.557
in Indian country as well as a clear

01:32:40.557 --> 01:32:42.668
manifestation of the America's desire

01:32:42.668 --> 01:32:44.890
to honor our Native American heritage .

01:32:44.890 --> 01:32:47.223
Secretary Del Toro , actually last year ,

01:32:47.223 --> 01:32:49.689
right about today last year , uh ,

01:32:49.700 --> 01:32:52.390
named the latest Aley Burke class

01:32:52.390 --> 01:32:55.470
destroyer DDG 141 , and , and if you

01:32:55.470 --> 01:32:57.581
all know what a battleship is , these

01:32:57.581 --> 01:32:59.248
destroyers are the modern day

01:32:59.248 --> 01:33:01.149
battleships , uh , after a Native

01:33:01.149 --> 01:33:03.189
American hero by the name of Ernest

01:33:03.189 --> 01:33:06.450
Evans . Uh , Ernest , uh , grew up in ,

01:33:06.529 --> 01:33:08.919
uh , Muscogee and Pawnee , Oklahoma ,

01:33:09.370 --> 01:33:13.160
and It was not until he was in his

01:33:13.160 --> 01:33:15.520
teens that he was even allowed the

01:33:15.520 --> 01:33:19.479
right to vote . 1924 is

01:33:19.479 --> 01:33:21.590
when the Indian Citizenship Act , can

01:33:21.590 --> 01:33:25.490
you imagine ? So he grows up , he gets

01:33:25.490 --> 01:33:27.712
citizenship . He joins the Marine Corps

01:33:27.712 --> 01:33:29.850
for a year . Well , then he comes to

01:33:29.850 --> 01:33:32.890
the Naval Academy , graduates in 1931 ,

01:33:32.930 --> 01:33:35.120
his junior year at the Naval Academy ,

01:33:35.209 --> 01:33:37.320
and I encourage everyone to go to the

01:33:37.320 --> 01:33:39.265
Naval Academy . It's not too far .

01:33:39.265 --> 01:33:41.376
Nicole and I will be there tonight at

01:33:41.376 --> 01:33:43.653
the Naval Academy Heritage Center , uh ,

01:33:43.653 --> 01:33:45.931
with , uh , Blake Simmons and the , uh ,

01:33:45.931 --> 01:33:47.987
Cherokee midshipman and the team out

01:33:47.987 --> 01:33:50.209
there , but . In the middle of the yard

01:33:50.209 --> 01:33:53.290
is the standing towering Native

01:33:53.290 --> 01:33:56.879
American warrior . In 1930 , Ernest

01:33:56.879 --> 01:33:58.823
Evans is a midshipman at the Naval

01:33:58.823 --> 01:34:00.879
Academy , so things raised up in the

01:34:00.879 --> 01:34:03.046
heart of the Naval Academy celebrating

01:34:03.046 --> 01:34:05.930
Tecusa , great Shawnee warrior . His

01:34:05.930 --> 01:34:08.097
mother was Creek of course so we claim

01:34:08.097 --> 01:34:10.410
him a little bit in our tribe , but um

01:34:10.410 --> 01:34:12.577
we've since come to find out that that

01:34:12.577 --> 01:34:14.466
particular headstone was was also

01:34:14.466 --> 01:34:16.521
Tammanan so I know we got some folks

01:34:16.521 --> 01:34:18.632
from Delaware here too . So , uh , so

01:34:18.632 --> 01:34:20.688
we kind of we we characterize him as

01:34:20.688 --> 01:34:22.970
both the cusa and Tammanan , uh , but I

01:34:22.970 --> 01:34:25.303
thought it was just a fascinating piece .

01:34:25.303 --> 01:34:27.303
Uh , can you imagine the pride that

01:34:27.303 --> 01:34:29.414
Ernest Evans would have had when that

01:34:29.414 --> 01:34:31.637
when that when that statue was raised ,

01:34:31.637 --> 01:34:33.970
uh , for Tecumsea in the middle of , uh ,

01:34:33.970 --> 01:34:35.970
his tenure at the Naval Academy . I

01:34:35.970 --> 01:34:38.081
believe it was an inspiration for him

01:34:38.081 --> 01:34:37.979
because he went on to become a surface

01:34:37.979 --> 01:34:40.700
warrior and command two ships in the

01:34:40.700 --> 01:34:43.439
early uh in between 1931 and

01:34:43.439 --> 01:34:47.339
1944 . His last ship and the ship he

01:34:47.339 --> 01:34:50.140
gave his life on was the USS Johnston .

01:34:50.870 --> 01:34:52.870
In the Battle of Samar , one of the

01:34:52.870 --> 01:34:55.100
most gallant actions in the United

01:34:55.100 --> 01:34:57.790
States Navy history . His actions

01:34:57.790 --> 01:34:59.846
ensured victory against overwhelming

01:34:59.846 --> 01:35:02.939
odd . He famously told his crew . This

01:35:02.950 --> 01:35:05.350
is going to be a fighting ship . I

01:35:05.350 --> 01:35:09.200
intend to go in harm's way . And

01:35:09.200 --> 01:35:11.319
anyone who doesn't want to go along

01:35:11.319 --> 01:35:13.652
there better get off the ship right now .

01:35:13.879 --> 01:35:15.990
I think you know a little bit of that

01:35:15.990 --> 01:35:18.430
sergeant . Does that sound like a

01:35:18.430 --> 01:35:21.459
Native American warrior to you ? So

01:35:21.459 --> 01:35:23.626
Ernest Evans takes his ship , turns it

01:35:23.626 --> 01:35:25.939
into the face of oncoming fire from a

01:35:25.939 --> 01:35:28.080
Japanese battle fleet to defend the

01:35:28.080 --> 01:35:30.549
landing force and saving lives ,

01:35:30.779 --> 01:35:33.057
countless lives in the Battle of Samar .

01:35:33.057 --> 01:35:35.223
He went down with the ship in 1944 and

01:35:35.223 --> 01:35:37.168
so we're thankful that , uh , that

01:35:37.168 --> 01:35:39.168
Secretary Del Toro named one of the

01:35:39.168 --> 01:35:41.335
greatest warships of all time is being

01:35:41.335 --> 01:35:43.446
built right now , DDG 141 . Secretary

01:35:43.446 --> 01:35:45.335
Deb Deb Holland , uh , she is the

01:35:45.335 --> 01:35:47.557
ship's sponsor and our tribe . Uh , and

01:35:47.557 --> 01:35:49.668
many others will stand alongside this

01:35:49.668 --> 01:35:51.723
ship as it becomes the most advanced

01:35:51.723 --> 01:35:53.890
war fighting ship in the , in the , in

01:35:53.890 --> 01:35:56.259
the , in history . Lastly , I just

01:35:56.259 --> 01:35:58.481
wanted to say that Nicole and I and the

01:35:58.481 --> 01:36:00.660
Muscogee Creek Nation just um ask for

01:36:00.660 --> 01:36:02.827
God to bless our United States and our

01:36:02.827 --> 01:36:04.938
Native American tribes and the uh men

01:36:04.938 --> 01:36:07.180
and women who serve in our in our both

01:36:07.180 --> 01:36:08.902
nation , both our nation , our

01:36:08.902 --> 01:36:11.124
sovereign nations , uh , as well as our

01:36:11.124 --> 01:36:13.124
United States nations . So Mado and

01:36:13.124 --> 01:36:15.180
thank you for all of us who are here

01:36:15.180 --> 01:36:15.009
together .

01:36:23.640 --> 01:36:26.310
Thank you , sir . Those , those

01:36:26.310 --> 01:36:28.532
inspirational words really hit , hit us

01:36:28.532 --> 01:36:30.643
where we lived . And then it's , it's

01:36:30.643 --> 01:36:32.588
wonderful to see the Department of

01:36:32.588 --> 01:36:34.699
Defense recognizing the contributions

01:36:34.699 --> 01:36:36.754
of Native Americans across history .

01:36:36.754 --> 01:36:39.370
And now Ms . Bulger , the Honorable Eth

01:36:39.370 --> 01:36:41.537
Bulger assumed responsibilities as the

01:36:41.537 --> 01:36:43.537
essential secretary of the Navy for

01:36:43.537 --> 01:36:45.703
energy installations and environment .

01:36:45.703 --> 01:36:47.648
I don't know what that is , but it

01:36:47.648 --> 01:36:49.814
sounds really , really important . She

01:36:49.814 --> 01:36:52.092
assumed those responsibilities in 2021 ,

01:36:52.092 --> 01:36:51.740
so she's been serving in the

01:36:51.740 --> 01:36:53.962
administration for a pretty long time .

01:36:53.962 --> 01:36:56.129
Ms . Berger has served in a variety of

01:36:56.129 --> 01:36:58.296
policy and senior leadership positions

01:36:58.296 --> 01:36:59.962
both in the federal and state

01:36:59.962 --> 01:37:01.851
governments . Please welcome Ms .

01:37:01.851 --> 01:37:01.350
Burger .

01:37:09.589 --> 01:37:12.060
Good afternoon . I echo the warm

01:37:12.060 --> 01:37:14.171
welcomes of everybody who came before

01:37:14.171 --> 01:37:16.629
me , and it fills my heart up to be

01:37:16.629 --> 01:37:20.180
with you all today . Um , I'm glad that

01:37:20.180 --> 01:37:22.540
we're here this afternoon spending this

01:37:22.540 --> 01:37:25.279
time in this way , uh , as a few folks

01:37:25.279 --> 01:37:27.970
have noted , we're always going so fast

01:37:27.970 --> 01:37:29.970
in this building . We're in so many

01:37:29.970 --> 01:37:32.279
different directions that we forget to

01:37:32.279 --> 01:37:35.770
pause and take meaningful time to focus ,

01:37:36.100 --> 01:37:39.810
to listen , to learn . And in

01:37:39.810 --> 01:37:41.970
the Pentagon time that often clicks

01:37:41.970 --> 01:37:44.720
along in crisp half hour increments ,

01:37:44.890 --> 01:37:47.057
um , the few hours that we're spending

01:37:47.057 --> 01:37:49.740
here today are meaningful . So thank

01:37:49.750 --> 01:37:52.060
you Secretary Owens , um , Ms .

01:37:52.069 --> 01:37:54.589
Sylvester , uh , and the team at

01:37:54.589 --> 01:37:56.830
Washington headquarters service as well

01:37:56.830 --> 01:37:59.669
as all of the service leads , uh , for

01:37:59.669 --> 01:38:02.790
dedicating purposeful time and space

01:38:02.790 --> 01:38:05.068
today and for bringing us all together .

01:38:05.959 --> 01:38:08.729
And for those who have joined us from

01:38:08.729 --> 01:38:10.785
the other side of the Pentagon , the

01:38:10.785 --> 01:38:12.896
other side of the city or the country

01:38:12.896 --> 01:38:16.540
or the Internet , thank you , uh , and

01:38:16.540 --> 01:38:18.899
for those who have and will share song ,

01:38:19.020 --> 01:38:22.180
dance and story with us , thank you for

01:38:22.180 --> 01:38:25.870
teaching us and honoring us . Now a

01:38:25.870 --> 01:38:27.703
phrase I've written and repeated

01:38:27.703 --> 01:38:29.592
numerous times in this job is the

01:38:29.592 --> 01:38:32.020
following . The Department of the Navy

01:38:32.020 --> 01:38:35.220
honors tribal sovereignty is committed

01:38:35.220 --> 01:38:37.850
to continuing dialogue and meaningful

01:38:37.850 --> 01:38:41.020
nation to nation consultation with all

01:38:41.020 --> 01:38:43.979
tribal nations , including those that

01:38:43.979 --> 01:38:46.180
have treaty rights and reserved rights

01:38:46.180 --> 01:38:49.220
on ancestral lands and cultural and

01:38:49.220 --> 01:38:52.379
natural resources on installation lands .

01:38:54.049 --> 01:38:57.089
But what does that mean ? It's a

01:38:57.089 --> 01:39:00.890
commitment It means we have an

01:39:00.890 --> 01:39:04.479
enduring relationship . Even

01:39:05.290 --> 01:39:07.250
And especially when it's hard .

01:39:09.189 --> 01:39:12.049
It's a promise to keep the words and

01:39:12.049 --> 01:39:15.859
work among us open . Honest and

01:39:15.859 --> 01:39:19.500
action oriented . We do what

01:39:19.500 --> 01:39:22.459
it takes to do the right thing .

01:39:25.270 --> 01:39:27.214
That hasn't always been the case .

01:39:29.520 --> 01:39:32.430
In the 1800s , the navy bombed the

01:39:32.430 --> 01:39:34.790
Alaskan villages of Kai andanggoon .

01:39:36.089 --> 01:39:38.200
Killing and injuring tribal members .

01:39:39.419 --> 01:39:43.089
For nearly 200 years we did not

01:39:43.089 --> 01:39:45.779
acknowledge the intergenerational harm

01:39:45.779 --> 01:39:49.529
that this event caused . This

01:39:49.529 --> 01:39:52.680
fall , The navy apologized .

01:39:53.750 --> 01:39:56.060
Which allows communication to open .

01:39:56.819 --> 01:40:00.779
And healing to begin . Now while

01:40:00.779 --> 01:40:02.649
it is very late .

01:40:04.970 --> 01:40:07.589
It's never to do the right , never too

01:40:07.589 --> 01:40:11.350
late to do the right thing . And it's

01:40:11.350 --> 01:40:14.100
never too hard to do the right thing .

01:40:17.560 --> 01:40:19.449
And the Department of the Navy is

01:40:19.449 --> 01:40:21.299
finding opportunities to educate

01:40:21.299 --> 01:40:24.419
ourselves , learn from the past ,

01:40:25.040 --> 01:40:28.080
collaborate in the present , and create

01:40:28.080 --> 01:40:32.009
promise for the future . Now ,

01:40:32.080 --> 01:40:34.191
as we've discussed here today , there

01:40:34.191 --> 01:40:36.469
are a few that are more service minded .

01:40:36.779 --> 01:40:40.080
The Native American than indigenous

01:40:40.080 --> 01:40:43.390
people . Now while

01:40:43.680 --> 01:40:46.759
each tribe has distinctive war cries

01:40:46.759 --> 01:40:50.060
and lulus . And practices .

01:40:51.660 --> 01:40:53.716
With the highest level of service as

01:40:53.716 --> 01:40:56.819
several mentioned in any demographic

01:40:56.819 --> 01:40:59.720
group in the nation . A Marine Corps

01:40:59.720 --> 01:41:03.370
Ora . Or a navy who

01:41:03.370 --> 01:41:07.049
yeah . Or cadence will

01:41:07.049 --> 01:41:10.649
quickly unite one in a room .

01:41:12.660 --> 01:41:14.882
Now some of the best of my professional

01:41:14.882 --> 01:41:17.104
and personal because this is personal .

01:41:18.419 --> 01:41:20.859
Education and growth in this job has

01:41:20.859 --> 01:41:23.299
come through learning from and

01:41:23.299 --> 01:41:25.410
developing relationships with some of

01:41:25.410 --> 01:41:28.209
our tribal partners . Now you'll see

01:41:28.209 --> 01:41:30.542
that I'm wearing a few items , clothing ,

01:41:30.542 --> 01:41:32.899
jewelry , they're special to me .

01:41:34.529 --> 01:41:37.270
Their gifts from members of different

01:41:37.270 --> 01:41:39.830
tribes that they gave to me at

01:41:39.830 --> 01:41:42.509
significant points during our

01:41:42.509 --> 01:41:46.270
relationships . Now I've I've

01:41:46.270 --> 01:41:49.660
learned gifts demonstrate value ,

01:41:50.270 --> 01:41:53.149
respect , appreciation , and I am

01:41:53.149 --> 01:41:55.390
honored to wear them and share them

01:41:55.390 --> 01:41:58.609
with you . Now I'm wearing

01:41:59.060 --> 01:42:01.116
earrings here . I don't know how far

01:42:01.116 --> 01:42:03.660
far away these are visible , uh , but

01:42:03.660 --> 01:42:05.819
they were presented to me from the

01:42:05.819 --> 01:42:07.930
chairman of the Walker River tribe in

01:42:07.930 --> 01:42:11.910
Fallon , Nevada . There the navy

01:42:11.910 --> 01:42:15.109
has Naval Air Station Fallon , home of

01:42:15.109 --> 01:42:18.189
Top Gun . It's not in Miramar .

01:42:21.830 --> 01:42:24.020
And also the ancestral lands of the

01:42:24.020 --> 01:42:27.700
Fallon tribes . Areas of

01:42:27.700 --> 01:42:31.109
tremendous cultural and environmental

01:42:31.109 --> 01:42:35.089
significance . Now Chairman Torres

01:42:35.089 --> 01:42:37.200
presented these earrings to me at the

01:42:37.200 --> 01:42:40.049
Pinenet Festival . Well , where earlier

01:42:40.049 --> 01:42:42.240
in the day , the powwow opened with a

01:42:42.240 --> 01:42:44.370
military color guard , much like the

01:42:44.370 --> 01:42:47.620
one that you saw today . And where that

01:42:47.620 --> 01:42:51.410
evening we and that we included Mr .

01:42:51.419 --> 01:42:53.379
Ohanesian , the deputy assistant

01:42:53.379 --> 01:42:55.490
secretary of the Navy for Environment

01:42:55.490 --> 01:42:59.459
and Miss Readiness , Mr . O , we joined

01:42:59.459 --> 01:43:02.890
hands and danced like this .

01:43:05.549 --> 01:43:08.430
Under the desert sky for a good pine

01:43:08.430 --> 01:43:11.870
nut harvest and a successful agreement

01:43:11.870 --> 01:43:15.060
to modernize the range and protect .

01:43:15.850 --> 01:43:17.839
Tribal and natural resources .

01:43:20.509 --> 01:43:22.640
We figured out how to train like we

01:43:22.640 --> 01:43:25.879
fight and prioritize and protect what

01:43:25.879 --> 01:43:29.629
we value . Now this

01:43:29.629 --> 01:43:31.851
ribbon skirt , and I'm gonna jump out .

01:43:35.750 --> 01:43:37.972
It is from the chairwoman of the Fallon

01:43:37.972 --> 01:43:41.229
Paiute Shoshone tribe . When her

01:43:41.229 --> 01:43:44.189
nephew was graduating from boot camp at

01:43:44.189 --> 01:43:47.020
Great Lakes about this time last year .

01:43:48.080 --> 01:43:50.200
Chairwoman Tiny Williams graciously

01:43:50.200 --> 01:43:52.939
offered to have a talk for Native

01:43:52.939 --> 01:43:56.549
American Heritage Month . At the end of

01:43:56.549 --> 01:43:58.660
her talk , she surprised me with this

01:43:58.660 --> 01:44:01.270
skirt , saying I was out in Fallon so

01:44:01.270 --> 01:44:03.381
much I needed to have the right thing

01:44:03.381 --> 01:44:04.381
to wear .

01:44:07.259 --> 01:44:09.910
And Sailor Sean , as we've come to call

01:44:09.910 --> 01:44:12.470
him , is graduating from Corina School

01:44:12.470 --> 01:44:14.581
in the coming weeks , he's gonna be a

01:44:14.581 --> 01:44:17.680
doctor . And he thinks he'll make a

01:44:17.680 --> 01:44:19.049
career of the navy .

01:44:21.470 --> 01:44:25.270
And this necklace from Chair Forsman of

01:44:25.270 --> 01:44:29.009
the Suquamish tribe . Always

01:44:29.009 --> 01:44:30.520
paddles up for good luck .

01:44:33.180 --> 01:44:35.259
Uniquely tribes in the Pacific

01:44:35.259 --> 01:44:37.689
Northwest to include the squamish .

01:44:38.859 --> 01:44:40.748
Hold rights under treaties in the

01:44:40.748 --> 01:44:43.879
United States . There they have a right

01:44:43.879 --> 01:44:46.220
to subsistence and commercial fishing ,

01:44:47.040 --> 01:44:49.600
access to usual and accustomed fishing

01:44:49.600 --> 01:44:51.879
areas and to collect half of the

01:44:51.879 --> 01:44:55.040
harvestable salmon and shellfish stocks .

01:44:56.350 --> 01:44:58.790
At the beginning of this year , we mark

01:44:58.790 --> 01:45:00.979
the 50th anniversary of the Bolt

01:45:00.979 --> 01:45:04.390
decision . A legal case which affirmed

01:45:04.390 --> 01:45:05.310
these rights .

01:45:14.390 --> 01:45:16.446
Now these rights depend on a healthy

01:45:16.446 --> 01:45:19.649
ecosystem . That assures clean and

01:45:19.649 --> 01:45:22.689
available water , biodiversity ,

01:45:23.410 --> 01:45:26.250
environment and habitat . They depend

01:45:26.250 --> 01:45:29.709
on environmental stewardship . Now in

01:45:29.709 --> 01:45:31.487
the Department of the Navy , we

01:45:31.487 --> 01:45:33.598
consider environmental protection and

01:45:33.598 --> 01:45:35.600
stewardship as essential to mission

01:45:35.600 --> 01:45:39.240
readiness . And so do the seququamish .

01:45:40.770 --> 01:45:42.992
As it turns out , whether we're talking

01:45:42.992 --> 01:45:45.419
about national security or treaty

01:45:45.419 --> 01:45:49.160
rights , and we're talking and . We

01:45:49.160 --> 01:45:51.919
need the same environment and resources

01:45:51.919 --> 01:45:55.339
to support the mission . Now as the

01:45:55.339 --> 01:45:56.899
Navy continues the shipyard

01:45:56.899 --> 01:45:59.209
infrastructure optimization program ,

01:45:59.299 --> 01:46:02.830
PIA . In the Pacific Northwest at Puget

01:46:02.830 --> 01:46:05.459
Sound , it is in partnership with the

01:46:05.459 --> 01:46:07.419
Suquamish that we work together to

01:46:07.419 --> 01:46:10.660
protect resources , respect tribal

01:46:10.660 --> 01:46:13.709
treaty rights , and assure our national

01:46:13.709 --> 01:46:17.620
security mission . And because

01:46:17.620 --> 01:46:19.287
of these partnerships , these

01:46:19.287 --> 01:46:21.580
relationships , we easily see other

01:46:21.580 --> 01:46:25.450
ways to work together . In Navy Region

01:46:25.450 --> 01:46:27.561
Pacific Northwest , we have an annual

01:46:27.561 --> 01:46:29.783
tribal council meeting where all of the

01:46:29.783 --> 01:46:31.783
tribes in the region are invited to

01:46:31.783 --> 01:46:33.879
participate and discuss issues of

01:46:33.879 --> 01:46:37.330
concern . Last year was my first chance

01:46:37.330 --> 01:46:39.890
to attend . And one of the topics that

01:46:39.890 --> 01:46:41.779
I raised was the issue of climate

01:46:41.779 --> 01:46:45.569
change . When Tiger Peony

01:46:45.569 --> 01:46:47.950
of the Spokane saw this issue on the

01:46:47.950 --> 01:46:51.189
agenda , he and another council member ,

01:46:51.350 --> 01:46:53.580
James , got in the car and drove across

01:46:53.580 --> 01:46:55.589
the difficult path of the Cascade

01:46:55.589 --> 01:46:58.959
Mountains to attend . At the meeting ,

01:46:59.020 --> 01:47:01.242
Tiger raised his hand to speak and said

01:47:01.242 --> 01:47:03.076
that he didn't know the Navy was

01:47:03.076 --> 01:47:05.370
working on climate change . He said he

01:47:05.370 --> 01:47:07.370
came to the council meeting because

01:47:07.970 --> 01:47:10.026
they were experiencing the threat of

01:47:10.026 --> 01:47:12.669
climate change firsthand . The

01:47:12.669 --> 01:47:15.060
environment was not there to support

01:47:15.060 --> 01:47:17.259
the resources that they needed .

01:47:18.819 --> 01:47:21.370
Without resources such as salmon and

01:47:21.370 --> 01:47:24.140
shellfish , the Spokane were no longer

01:47:24.140 --> 01:47:26.620
having the celebrations around those

01:47:26.620 --> 01:47:30.140
harvests . And without celebrations ,

01:47:30.709 --> 01:47:32.876
they were not using their language and

01:47:32.876 --> 01:47:34.098
they were losing it .

01:47:36.799 --> 01:47:38.966
Staff Sergeant , this is what you were

01:47:38.966 --> 01:47:41.930
talking about with the Kiowa . Making

01:47:41.930 --> 01:47:44.729
sure that we keep language . Make sure

01:47:44.729 --> 01:47:46.951
that we have it , the importance of the

01:47:46.951 --> 01:47:50.490
Kiowa language . We heard the

01:47:50.490 --> 01:47:53.810
deputy talk about the Navajo language

01:47:53.810 --> 01:47:55.740
and how it saved our nation .

01:47:57.750 --> 01:48:00.500
That's the type of existential threat

01:48:00.910 --> 01:48:03.270
that we're talking about , and it's the

01:48:03.270 --> 01:48:05.709
valuable things that we find in a

01:48:05.709 --> 01:48:08.229
language that are part of the national

01:48:08.229 --> 01:48:10.950
values that we hold dear and commit to

01:48:10.950 --> 01:48:14.100
defend . So stay

01:48:14.100 --> 01:48:18.020
committed , keep defending . With

01:48:18.020 --> 01:48:20.140
tribal and indigenous perspective

01:48:20.140 --> 01:48:23.160
present . We've tried to do that here

01:48:23.160 --> 01:48:25.160
in the Pentagon as well between

01:48:25.160 --> 01:48:27.629
quarters 1 and 2 on the 2nd floor ,

01:48:27.959 --> 01:48:30.439
thanks to the careful sight scouting of

01:48:30.439 --> 01:48:32.600
naval tribal and indigenous Affairs

01:48:32.600 --> 01:48:34.759
director Lisa Morales and then

01:48:34.759 --> 01:48:37.120
principal Deputy Assistant secretary of

01:48:37.120 --> 01:48:40.439
the Navy , Mr . Thompson . You'll see

01:48:40.439 --> 01:48:42.959
the Pentagon's first Native American

01:48:42.959 --> 01:48:46.169
service corridor . Honoring Native

01:48:46.169 --> 01:48:48.280
American service throughout history .

01:48:58.149 --> 01:49:00.093
Thank you Secretary Owens and Ms .

01:49:00.093 --> 01:49:02.260
Silvester for attending the opening in

01:49:02.260 --> 01:49:05.589
April and to my counterparts in Army

01:49:06.069 --> 01:49:08.310
Secretary Jacobson and the Air Force

01:49:08.310 --> 01:49:10.470
Secretary Chowdhury for contributing

01:49:10.470 --> 01:49:13.069
tribal gifts received by your services

01:49:13.069 --> 01:49:15.291
so that we can display them together in

01:49:15.291 --> 01:49:18.700
a place of honor . Please go visit the

01:49:18.700 --> 01:49:20.979
display , the newest addition to the

01:49:20.979 --> 01:49:24.490
official Pentagon tour . And by this

01:49:24.490 --> 01:49:27.169
time next year , I'm looking forward to

01:49:27.169 --> 01:49:29.569
the walls across from the display being

01:49:29.569 --> 01:49:33.049
filled with the flags of tribes , which

01:49:33.049 --> 01:49:34.930
we've invited , um , everyone to

01:49:34.930 --> 01:49:37.450
contribute to be part of our display .

01:49:39.439 --> 01:49:41.580
I'm so glad to spend time with you

01:49:41.580 --> 01:49:44.129
honoring a relationship that I

01:49:44.540 --> 01:49:47.020
individually and we institutionally

01:49:47.020 --> 01:49:49.399
hold so dear . Thank you .

01:49:58.299 --> 01:50:00.620
Ma'am , thank you so much for not just

01:50:00.620 --> 01:50:02.740
providing us your perspective but

01:50:02.740 --> 01:50:06.169
showing us what the future holds . For

01:50:06.169 --> 01:50:08.391
the Navy and the rest of the Department

01:50:08.391 --> 01:50:12.209
of Defense . Our next

01:50:12.209 --> 01:50:14.410
guest speaker is a young man I took

01:50:14.410 --> 01:50:16.188
under my wing a few years ago .

01:50:18.189 --> 01:50:20.300
We believe the Creator puts us in the

01:50:20.300 --> 01:50:22.522
path of someone . At the time and place

01:50:22.522 --> 01:50:25.459
of his choosing . For the betterment of

01:50:25.459 --> 01:50:27.359
other people . And that is what

01:50:27.359 --> 01:50:29.509
happened between Pat Sorenson and I .

01:50:32.009 --> 01:50:34.231
We began our journey a few years ago of

01:50:34.231 --> 01:50:36.453
educating . Informing and inspiring our

01:50:36.453 --> 01:50:38.453
Native American service members and

01:50:38.453 --> 01:50:41.290
non-native leadership . And challenging

01:50:41.290 --> 01:50:44.459
our Native American youth . To honor

01:50:44.459 --> 01:50:47.990
their warrior past . He is extremely

01:50:47.990 --> 01:50:49.879
passionate about advancing Native

01:50:49.879 --> 01:50:51.823
American service members and their

01:50:51.823 --> 01:50:54.046
ability to not have to hide our culture

01:50:54.149 --> 01:50:55.316
and our traditions .

01:50:58.629 --> 01:51:01.029
He's a pioneer for native service

01:51:01.029 --> 01:51:02.973
members . I'm proud of you , man .

01:51:05.109 --> 01:51:07.276
Major Pat Soresson was born in Hoopa ,

01:51:07.276 --> 01:51:09.387
California . But I grew up in Pacific

01:51:09.387 --> 01:51:11.276
Northwest . He is a member of the

01:51:11.276 --> 01:51:13.498
Confederate tribes of the Grand Rover ,

01:51:13.498 --> 01:51:15.665
Oregon . And is a tribal descendant of

01:51:15.665 --> 01:51:17.720
both Rogue River and Opaqua tribes .

01:51:18.149 --> 01:51:20.260
Ladies and gentlemen , please welcome

01:51:20.260 --> 01:51:21.649
Major Patrick Sorenson .

01:51:28.270 --> 01:51:29.270
Hm .

01:51:32.149 --> 01:51:35.890
Telecom . Rogue

01:51:35.890 --> 01:51:38.049
River , Telma Nica .

01:51:41.600 --> 01:51:45.600
P Oquanaa Naika papa wawa

01:51:45.600 --> 01:51:46.600
chuck chuck .

01:51:50.009 --> 01:51:52.919
I'm hearing all these great words and

01:51:52.919 --> 01:51:55.600
uh I just gave a pretty simple

01:51:55.600 --> 01:51:59.029
introduction in Chinook Wawa that's uh

01:51:59.029 --> 01:52:00.973
the native language of my people .

01:52:01.240 --> 01:52:03.351
We're confederated tribes of about uh

01:52:03.351 --> 01:52:05.407
confederation of about 30 tribes , 5

01:52:05.407 --> 01:52:07.830
major tribes and 25 other bands . Uh ,

01:52:07.879 --> 01:52:10.390
Chinook Wawa is a trade language . Uh ,

01:52:10.470 --> 01:52:12.359
it was spoken all up and down the

01:52:12.359 --> 01:52:16.299
Pacific Northwest . So when we uh Heard

01:52:16.299 --> 01:52:18.549
you speak a minute ago about the

01:52:18.549 --> 01:52:20.771
restoration of the rights to the rivers

01:52:20.771 --> 01:52:22.827
and collection . That's also talking

01:52:22.827 --> 01:52:24.827
about my people , the Umpqua on the

01:52:24.827 --> 01:52:27.490
Columbia River Gorge . That answer is

01:52:27.490 --> 01:52:29.546
Cestral line in the northern side of

01:52:29.689 --> 01:52:31.649
Oregon and Washington and then the

01:52:31.649 --> 01:52:33.871
Telma would be the native way of saying

01:52:33.871 --> 01:52:35.816
it or the Rogue River , that's the

01:52:35.816 --> 01:52:37.816
other river on the bottom of Oregon

01:52:37.816 --> 01:52:40.299
split in California . In that area ,

01:52:40.390 --> 01:52:42.557
and then , you know , that neck of the

01:52:42.557 --> 01:52:44.723
woods we're all tied to the rivers and

01:52:44.723 --> 01:52:46.879
uh . It was a real honor that I was

01:52:46.879 --> 01:52:49.040
invited to come here just for a few

01:52:49.040 --> 01:52:50.984
minutes to talk about my religious

01:52:50.984 --> 01:52:54.270
accommodation . Tell my story Uh , and

01:52:54.270 --> 01:52:56.326
I've , I've told it a few times in a

01:52:56.326 --> 01:52:59.669
few different places , but . I think

01:52:59.669 --> 01:53:02.189
the story is , it's really a story of

01:53:02.189 --> 01:53:04.356
other people , it's not really a story

01:53:04.356 --> 01:53:08.350
about me , um . And you know ,

01:53:08.390 --> 01:53:11.220
I , I always knew already about why

01:53:11.220 --> 01:53:14.129
natives we grow our hair . You know

01:53:14.129 --> 01:53:16.560
it's our medicine , it's our soul , it

01:53:16.560 --> 01:53:18.838
represents our connection to the earth ,

01:53:18.838 --> 01:53:21.004
to the Creator , to our . Brothers and

01:53:21.004 --> 01:53:23.171
sisters , cousins , uncles , aunties .

01:53:23.740 --> 01:53:27.700
Our people And

01:53:27.700 --> 01:53:29.811
so I already knew that , but I didn't

01:53:29.811 --> 01:53:32.990
know that . The US military would

01:53:32.990 --> 01:53:35.319
recognize our oral traditions as a

01:53:35.319 --> 01:53:38.970
valid . Religious thing .

01:53:39.799 --> 01:53:42.810
Right . But I was lucky enough to go to

01:53:42.810 --> 01:53:44.977
ASIS , the American Indian Science and

01:53:44.977 --> 01:53:47.199
Engineering Society National Conference

01:53:47.199 --> 01:53:49.459
in 2022 . And that's really where my

01:53:49.459 --> 01:53:51.930
story begins because I got the pleasure

01:53:51.930 --> 01:53:53.986
of meeting Ms . Jacqueline Melcher .

01:53:55.459 --> 01:53:57.569
And Master Sergeant , now retired .

01:53:59.009 --> 01:54:02.959
Francis Dupree . And they , they

01:54:02.959 --> 01:54:05.181
told me , they , they told me about the

01:54:05.181 --> 01:54:07.403
things they were doing in the Air Force

01:54:07.403 --> 01:54:09.515
and the in it team . And they told me

01:54:09.515 --> 01:54:11.792
about Airman Connor Kron , a young man .

01:54:12.640 --> 01:54:16.439
Who was Fighting tooth and nail so that

01:54:16.439 --> 01:54:18.495
he could grow his traditional hair .

01:54:19.439 --> 01:54:21.661
Because he joined the Air Force proudly

01:54:21.661 --> 01:54:23.883
to serve his country , but he also felt

01:54:23.883 --> 01:54:25.883
sadness when he had to cut his long

01:54:25.883 --> 01:54:28.050
beautiful hair off . And as soon as it

01:54:28.050 --> 01:54:30.161
happened and he joined , he didn't at

01:54:30.161 --> 01:54:32.383
all regret his service or joining . But

01:54:32.383 --> 01:54:34.606
he yearned to grow his hair back , so I

01:54:34.606 --> 01:54:36.661
got to meet him and he inspired me .

01:54:37.009 --> 01:54:39.342
Because he had the strength and courage .

01:54:41.009 --> 01:54:42.979
Fortitude to go out on his own

01:54:43.350 --> 01:54:45.572
apparently and you know go through this

01:54:45.572 --> 01:54:48.740
process to request it . And he put up a

01:54:48.740 --> 01:54:52.419
video and it went viral . And that's a

01:54:52.419 --> 01:54:54.641
little while later after I found them ,

01:54:54.641 --> 01:54:56.808
I put my packing and I said we need to

01:54:56.808 --> 01:54:56.740
be doing this in the army too we need

01:54:56.740 --> 01:54:59.439
to be growing our hair . So I put my

01:54:59.439 --> 01:55:01.979
packet in but then Connor's video went

01:55:01.979 --> 01:55:04.279
viral and the next thing I knew .

01:55:06.259 --> 01:55:08.315
Staff Sergeant Michael Stanfield was

01:55:08.315 --> 01:55:11.080
replying to him . Like he reshared his

01:55:11.080 --> 01:55:13.810
video and replied saying . Congrats

01:55:13.810 --> 01:55:17.470
cause I got my waiver too and so Staff

01:55:17.470 --> 01:55:19.637
Sergeant Stanfield , he's an EOD guy ,

01:55:19.790 --> 01:55:22.012
so he goes and , you know , disarms the

01:55:22.012 --> 01:55:24.189
bombs . And he's army and he already

01:55:24.189 --> 01:55:26.300
had a ponytail about 6 inches when he

01:55:26.300 --> 01:55:28.589
was congratulating Connor . Conor

01:55:28.589 --> 01:55:30.700
didn't know it though , you know , he

01:55:30.700 --> 01:55:32.867
was , he felt like he was on his own .

01:55:32.867 --> 01:55:35.689
I imagine that Sergeant Stanfield felt

01:55:35.689 --> 01:55:37.800
like he was on his own when he was he

01:55:37.800 --> 01:55:40.919
was requesting it as well . And and now

01:55:40.919 --> 01:55:42.975
I've seen , you know , the work that

01:55:42.975 --> 01:55:45.030
that from my perspective was started

01:55:45.030 --> 01:55:47.197
with the in it team . Not only seeking

01:55:47.197 --> 01:55:49.252
accommodations for individuals in in

01:55:49.252 --> 01:55:51.879
the Air Force but spreading the word ,

01:55:52.089 --> 01:55:54.640
the awareness , educating so the others

01:55:54.640 --> 01:55:57.209
would know hey this is a legitimate

01:55:57.209 --> 01:56:00.640
belief that we have . We hold our

01:56:00.640 --> 01:56:02.751
medicine , our strength in our hair .

01:56:03.879 --> 01:56:07.379
And I'm just so grateful for that . And

01:56:07.379 --> 01:56:10.250
later , I was lucky enough to get um

01:56:10.540 --> 01:56:12.500
nominated for the SAG Award and I

01:56:12.500 --> 01:56:14.500
needed to have a new official photo

01:56:14.500 --> 01:56:16.667
because I had gotten promoted since my

01:56:16.667 --> 01:56:18.556
last one . And so I went into the

01:56:18.556 --> 01:56:20.790
Photoshop . And I said , well , I need

01:56:20.790 --> 01:56:22.901
to get another photo that's with my ,

01:56:22.901 --> 01:56:25.012
my approved accommodation so that you

01:56:25.012 --> 01:56:27.123
can show people this is what it looks

01:56:27.123 --> 01:56:29.234
like in my formal photo . So we got a

01:56:29.234 --> 01:56:31.234
lot of service members out here and

01:56:31.234 --> 01:56:33.568
they're wearing pieces of regalia today .

01:56:33.568 --> 01:56:35.790
But I'm not doing uh this is not like a

01:56:35.790 --> 01:56:37.846
special ignore the rules thing right

01:56:37.846 --> 01:56:39.846
here . I'm authorized to wear these

01:56:39.846 --> 01:56:42.629
because of my accommodation . And so

01:56:42.629 --> 01:56:44.810
then it goes back to Master Sergeant

01:56:44.810 --> 01:56:46.921
Dupree because she said , Pat , I , I

01:56:46.921 --> 01:56:48.921
shared my photo on Facebook and she

01:56:48.921 --> 01:56:51.088
said , make that public so I can share

01:56:51.088 --> 01:56:50.870
it because I wasn't trying to get any

01:56:50.870 --> 01:56:52.926
attention but I said , OK , OK . And

01:56:52.926 --> 01:56:55.037
then , and then it blew up from there

01:56:55.037 --> 01:56:57.148
it got , it went completely viral and

01:56:57.148 --> 01:56:59.148
everyone found out . And the reason

01:56:59.148 --> 01:57:01.092
that's important is not to make me

01:57:01.092 --> 01:57:03.509
famous but . Your racial identity and

01:57:03.509 --> 01:57:05.810
your religious status are PII they're

01:57:05.810 --> 01:57:07.921
protected information so I can't walk

01:57:07.921 --> 01:57:09.921
into human resource and say , hey ,

01:57:09.921 --> 01:57:11.754
give me a list of all the Native

01:57:11.754 --> 01:57:14.459
American church folks . But what

01:57:14.459 --> 01:57:16.737
happened is with my photos going viral .

01:57:17.060 --> 01:57:19.339
It reversed it , it flipped the script .

01:57:19.419 --> 01:57:21.475
So now everyone saw and they reached

01:57:21.475 --> 01:57:23.720
out to me . And so since that time I've

01:57:23.720 --> 01:57:26.299
been able to share the process , show

01:57:26.299 --> 01:57:28.243
them the regulations , teach these

01:57:28.243 --> 01:57:30.299
youngsters exactly how to go through

01:57:30.299 --> 01:57:32.350
the process . And I've had over 70

01:57:32.660 --> 01:57:34.271
soldiers reach out to me for

01:57:34.271 --> 01:57:36.327
information and a handfuls of others

01:57:36.327 --> 01:57:38.549
from the other services , and I pointed

01:57:38.549 --> 01:57:40.716
back , um , to make sure they know the

01:57:40.716 --> 01:57:42.827
correct people in their service to go

01:57:42.827 --> 01:57:46.620
through the process . And uh It's just

01:57:46.620 --> 01:57:48.731
been a , a such an honor to be a part

01:57:48.731 --> 01:57:50.898
of it , you know , I don't think of it

01:57:50.898 --> 01:57:53.669
as um . Anything I've done really , I

01:57:53.669 --> 01:57:56.419
think of it as . All these other brave

01:57:56.419 --> 01:57:59.509
people that came before me . That like

01:57:59.509 --> 01:58:02.069
showed me it's OK to lean into your own

01:58:02.069 --> 01:58:04.750
identity , your own beliefs . Right .

01:58:07.950 --> 01:58:10.209
And I know a little bit touchy , but

01:58:10.209 --> 01:58:12.431
I'm just gonna , I'm gonna go there for

01:58:12.431 --> 01:58:14.376
a second . Um , some people have a

01:58:14.376 --> 01:58:16.629
little bit of trepidation about the

01:58:16.629 --> 01:58:18.851
change in leadership that's coming up .

01:58:19.470 --> 01:58:22.810
And uh I wanted to uh leave with uh a

01:58:22.810 --> 01:58:24.699
quote that I heard on a podcast a

01:58:24.699 --> 01:58:27.350
couple of weeks ago . And uh the

01:58:27.350 --> 01:58:30.339
gentleman talking , he said . In this

01:58:30.339 --> 01:58:33.060
country , we have the freedom of

01:58:33.060 --> 01:58:36.819
religion . Not a freedom from

01:58:36.819 --> 01:58:40.740
religion . And

01:58:40.899 --> 01:58:42.732
I'm grateful that the service is

01:58:42.732 --> 01:58:46.129
recognizing that even . Oral tradition ,

01:58:46.419 --> 01:58:48.979
old ways are being recognized and

01:58:48.979 --> 01:58:51.810
respected for the religious real

01:58:51.810 --> 01:58:55.270
religious practices that they are . And

01:58:55.270 --> 01:58:58.779
the person who said that . Was the

01:58:58.779 --> 01:59:01.870
incoming sect De Pete Hegseth .

01:59:03.629 --> 01:59:05.819
And so I thank him for those words and

01:59:05.819 --> 01:59:08.319
I'm gonna remember those words . And

01:59:08.319 --> 01:59:10.375
I'll , you know , I'm gonna sit back

01:59:10.375 --> 01:59:13.740
and I'm gonna watch and I . Hope that

01:59:13.740 --> 01:59:16.229
he keeps moving us forward in that way

01:59:16.229 --> 01:59:18.470
and I , I , I really appreciate that

01:59:18.470 --> 01:59:21.859
wisdom . So with that said , thank you

01:59:21.859 --> 01:59:24.026
for letting me be a part of this and .

01:59:24.470 --> 01:59:26.526
I'm gonna toot my horn because I got

01:59:26.526 --> 01:59:28.637
the mic . This is all is this is this

01:59:28.637 --> 01:59:30.748
is what I've been saying for the last

01:59:30.748 --> 01:59:32.581
couple of years . Find me in the

01:59:32.581 --> 01:59:34.581
program , share my name with anyone

01:59:34.581 --> 01:59:36.359
who's looking to do a religious

01:59:36.359 --> 01:59:38.526
accommodation , grow their traditional

01:59:38.526 --> 01:59:40.526
hair , and that includes females to

01:59:40.526 --> 01:59:42.526
wear your regalia . In , you know ,

01:59:42.526 --> 01:59:44.637
appropriate ceremonies we'll help you

01:59:44.637 --> 01:59:47.220
find the way to do that . Right , so

01:59:47.220 --> 01:59:48.442
thank you very much .

01:59:59.580 --> 02:00:03.290
Thanks , Pat . Together We will

02:00:03.290 --> 02:00:06.379
educate and inform . And grow Native

02:00:06.379 --> 02:00:08.779
American and Alaska Native cultural

02:00:08.779 --> 02:00:10.946
understanding across the Department of

02:00:10.946 --> 02:00:13.279
Defense . I really appreciate you , man .

02:00:13.950 --> 02:00:16.359
Our next guest speaker . Master

02:00:16.359 --> 02:00:18.689
Sergeant Darryl Charlie is Dana .

02:00:19.879 --> 02:00:22.149
Navajo . It currently serves as the

02:00:22.149 --> 02:00:24.371
enlisted lead for the Department of Air

02:00:24.371 --> 02:00:26.649
Force's barrier analysis Working Group .

02:00:27.479 --> 02:00:29.590
The indigenous equality equity team ,

02:00:29.879 --> 02:00:31.935
uh , equality , excuse me , equality

02:00:31.935 --> 02:00:34.359
team , INET . Advocating for indigenous

02:00:34.359 --> 02:00:36.779
representation and equity . INET's

02:00:36.779 --> 02:00:38.946
mission is to provide pivotal advocacy

02:00:38.946 --> 02:00:40.946
for the American Indian and Alaskan

02:00:40.946 --> 02:00:40.589
natives throughout the Department of

02:00:40.589 --> 02:00:42.756
the Air Force Mayor Sergeant Charlie .

02:00:47.359 --> 02:00:51.350
Mm . A hoe and yate ,

02:00:52.459 --> 02:00:56.049
uh , shieddine . They're trying the

02:00:56.049 --> 02:00:58.680
slant , touching the slant . This guy ,

02:00:58.890 --> 02:01:01.779
this loud . Sobain

02:01:01.779 --> 02:01:04.540
Keanniche Bannianella .

02:01:05.439 --> 02:01:07.661
Uh , thank you everyone for , for , for

02:01:07.661 --> 02:01:09.717
allowing me to be here . Uh , I just

02:01:09.717 --> 02:01:11.383
want to , uh , awesome to see

02:01:11.660 --> 02:01:13.716
everyone's face here . Um , I was on

02:01:13.716 --> 02:01:15.938
the bus over here with the , uh , women

02:01:15.938 --> 02:01:18.180
color guard , and , uh , it was pretty

02:01:18.180 --> 02:01:22.100
rowdy . Yeah , we got , we got

02:01:22.100 --> 02:01:24.322
on the bus and uh they went straight to

02:01:24.322 --> 02:01:26.322
the back and , uh , you know , just

02:01:26.322 --> 02:01:28.433
hearing that auntie laugh that was uh

02:01:28.433 --> 02:01:30.211
that was that was that was good

02:01:30.211 --> 02:01:32.378
medicine and I thought , I thought , I

02:01:32.378 --> 02:01:34.544
felt like this is where I belong , you

02:01:34.544 --> 02:01:36.711
know , um . So , uh , I've been in the

02:01:36.711 --> 02:01:38.933
Air Force for 17 years and for 17 years

02:01:38.933 --> 02:01:40.878
I had an inner conflict of how I'm

02:01:40.878 --> 02:01:44.419
going to really merge my traditional

02:01:44.419 --> 02:01:47.720
values with the military today . And

02:01:47.720 --> 02:01:49.887
there's an old saying that says , uh ,

02:01:49.887 --> 02:01:51.887
you never know which spark is gonna

02:01:51.887 --> 02:01:55.029
ignite the fire . Uh , for me , that

02:01:55.029 --> 02:01:58.810
spark was having my son Theodore . Once

02:01:58.810 --> 02:02:02.200
my son was born . I thought about how

02:02:02.209 --> 02:02:04.560
how I'm going to raise them . What's

02:02:04.560 --> 02:02:07.299
important to me now is . Traditional

02:02:07.629 --> 02:02:10.169
values and how am I going to teach him

02:02:10.169 --> 02:02:12.509
to walk the red road when I could've

02:02:12.509 --> 02:02:15.689
walked out myself . He sees his dad

02:02:16.220 --> 02:02:18.331
cutting his hair every every Sunday .

02:02:21.290 --> 02:02:24.770
After I had my son , I did my freedom

02:02:24.770 --> 02:02:27.040
of religion , computer-based training ,

02:02:27.410 --> 02:02:29.521
and just for the past 17 years , like

02:02:29.521 --> 02:02:31.688
everybody else has click click , click

02:02:31.688 --> 02:02:31.240
click , click , click , you know , like ,

02:02:31.250 --> 02:02:33.472
yeah , it's fine . Yeah , I can , I can

02:02:33.472 --> 02:02:35.639
pass I want it's fine , uh , but since

02:02:35.639 --> 02:02:37.750
I had my son , I really thought about

02:02:37.750 --> 02:02:39.861
that and what that really meant . And

02:02:39.861 --> 02:02:41.972
so I thought about how , how am I how

02:02:41.972 --> 02:02:44.028
am I going to pursue growing my hair

02:02:44.028 --> 02:02:46.290
long . For those who don't know ,

02:02:46.580 --> 02:02:48.524
having long hair in the indigenous

02:02:48.524 --> 02:02:50.636
community is incredibly significant .

02:02:51.270 --> 02:02:53.750
For the Navajo , for , for dinner for

02:02:53.750 --> 02:02:56.060
me . I'm gonna grow my hair out and put

02:02:56.060 --> 02:02:58.540
into a bun and call that CA . And

02:02:58.540 --> 02:03:00.873
that's supposed to represent your power ,

02:03:00.919 --> 02:03:03.086
represent your spirituality represents

02:03:03.086 --> 02:03:05.141
your experience , it represents your

02:03:05.141 --> 02:03:07.979
ancestors . And for me , I wanna carry

02:03:07.979 --> 02:03:11.700
that everywhere I go . Into the office

02:03:11.990 --> 02:03:14.830
to down range to anywhere I go when I

02:03:14.830 --> 02:03:17.052
do I can do certain ceremonies and I'll

02:03:17.052 --> 02:03:19.219
keep that with me and I wanna teach my

02:03:19.219 --> 02:03:22.250
son . Now my sons , I have a 6 year old

02:03:22.250 --> 02:03:24.279
son now , um , my dad , my dad's

02:03:24.279 --> 02:03:25.279
watching that .

02:03:31.430 --> 02:03:33.890
So on on this path to figuring out how

02:03:33.890 --> 02:03:35.946
I'm gonna get my hair to grow long ,

02:03:35.946 --> 02:03:38.479
that's when I found in it . And that's

02:03:38.479 --> 02:03:41.470
also a play on the word in it in it .

02:03:42.149 --> 02:03:44.427
It's hot in here , isn't it , you know ?

02:03:44.859 --> 02:03:46.748
And that's when I met some of the

02:03:46.748 --> 02:03:48.970
leaders some of the leadership and that

02:03:48.970 --> 02:03:52.700
really . Catapulted me into being

02:03:53.149 --> 02:03:55.830
a better person , a better airman , a

02:03:55.830 --> 02:03:58.270
better husband , a better brother , a

02:03:58.270 --> 02:04:01.959
better father . When I was growing

02:04:01.959 --> 02:04:04.520
up I was surrounded by military all all

02:04:04.520 --> 02:04:06.879
the time my dad , my uncles , my

02:04:06.879 --> 02:04:09.629
aunties , my brothers , my sisters ,

02:04:09.919 --> 02:04:12.086
and at at a young age it was instilled

02:04:12.086 --> 02:04:14.252
to me that the warrior spirit does not

02:04:14.252 --> 02:04:16.890
necessarily mean violence it represents

02:04:17.200 --> 02:04:19.422
warrior spirit really is protection and

02:04:19.479 --> 02:04:20.560
and resilience .

02:04:24.080 --> 02:04:28.080
So after getting in contact with Aaron

02:04:28.080 --> 02:04:30.439
Cron and the leadership and and the

02:04:30.439 --> 02:04:32.550
leadership of NA , I was able to grow

02:04:32.550 --> 02:04:34.720
my hair out and I am one of 10 airmen

02:04:34.720 --> 02:04:36.720
right now that has a combination to

02:04:36.720 --> 02:04:37.720
grow my hair .

02:04:44.419 --> 02:04:46.475
And it's also important to know that

02:04:46.475 --> 02:04:49.109
with long hair comes a lot of prep work .

02:04:49.399 --> 02:04:52.350
No one told me that . Uh , you know ,

02:04:52.430 --> 02:04:54.652
people think that just having long hair

02:04:54.652 --> 02:04:56.652
means you're out of , you're out of

02:04:56.652 --> 02:04:56.549
regulation . It's not . I still have to

02:04:56.549 --> 02:04:58.899
follow a female standard for the hair .

02:04:59.419 --> 02:05:01.530
Uh , that means I gotta wake up a lot

02:05:01.530 --> 02:05:03.586
earlier just to get my hair combed ,

02:05:03.586 --> 02:05:05.863
fix my hair , make sure it looks great .

02:05:05.863 --> 02:05:07.919
It is hard . Oh my gosh . I miss the

02:05:07.919 --> 02:05:10.141
days where I just get up and just , you

02:05:10.141 --> 02:05:12.197
know , uh , drop my head and and out

02:05:12.197 --> 02:05:14.308
the door , uh , I go , but now it's ,

02:05:14.308 --> 02:05:16.252
it's not that's not so much , um .

02:05:16.252 --> 02:05:18.950
Another way we actually help out um to

02:05:18.950 --> 02:05:20.617
harmonize the two values of a

02:05:20.617 --> 02:05:22.617
traditional value with the military

02:05:22.617 --> 02:05:24.561
value , as you can see I'm wearing

02:05:24.561 --> 02:05:26.728
regalia . And I'm , I'm I'm wearing my

02:05:26.728 --> 02:05:28.672
bogar to signify and represent the

02:05:28.672 --> 02:05:30.839
warrior spirit within our people , the

02:05:30.839 --> 02:05:32.894
dine . I'm wearing turquoise to show

02:05:32.894 --> 02:05:35.172
that this is , this is my land as well .

02:05:35.172 --> 02:05:37.339
I'm wearing moccasins if you can't see

02:05:37.339 --> 02:05:39.228
it , you can see over here , uh ,

02:05:39.228 --> 02:05:41.394
that's just to showcase that I am from

02:05:41.394 --> 02:05:43.839
the earth as well . And so some of

02:05:43.839 --> 02:05:46.879
these initiatives really helps me being

02:05:46.879 --> 02:05:49.279
able to merge merge the two worlds for

02:05:49.279 --> 02:05:51.240
a long time you always hear it of

02:05:51.240 --> 02:05:53.462
modern natives walking in two different

02:05:53.462 --> 02:05:56.220
worlds . And it takes its toll

02:05:58.169 --> 02:06:00.225
And with some of these initiatives ,

02:06:00.225 --> 02:06:02.447
I'm , I'm able to help bridge the gap .

02:06:03.859 --> 02:06:06.089
Another thing we're doing is uh the

02:06:06.089 --> 02:06:08.729
educational piece as well . Been in Air

02:06:08.729 --> 02:06:10.896
Force for 18 years , almost 17 years ,

02:06:10.896 --> 02:06:13.007
and there's a lot of people who don't

02:06:13.007 --> 02:06:15.118
know a lot about Native Americans . A

02:06:15.118 --> 02:06:16.896
lot of the education comes from

02:06:16.896 --> 02:06:19.118
Hollywood and we all know that's not as

02:06:19.118 --> 02:06:21.180
accurate . You know , so that's

02:06:21.180 --> 02:06:25.020
something we , we also do as well . And

02:06:25.020 --> 02:06:27.370
I also want to give a highlight to uh

02:06:27.370 --> 02:06:29.819
the veterans out there uh without our

02:06:29.819 --> 02:06:31.708
veterans paving the way for us we

02:06:31.708 --> 02:06:32.763
wouldn't be here .

02:06:42.810 --> 02:06:44.866
I also find it fitting that Veterans

02:06:44.866 --> 02:06:46.930
Day is in Native American Heritage

02:06:46.930 --> 02:06:47.930
Month .

02:06:53.640 --> 02:06:55.862
18% of all Native Americans have either

02:06:55.862 --> 02:06:57.973
served or they're currently serving .

02:06:57.973 --> 02:07:00.660
And I put that into a visual right now

02:07:00.660 --> 02:07:03.060
1 in 5 of you have served in the

02:07:03.060 --> 02:07:05.004
military . That's it , it's a huge

02:07:05.004 --> 02:07:07.470
amount of people . And those veterans

02:07:07.470 --> 02:07:09.526
and those veterans right now they're

02:07:09.526 --> 02:07:11.637
finding a different enemy . The enemy

02:07:11.637 --> 02:07:13.910
is not always a man . The enemy can

02:07:13.910 --> 02:07:16.660
come in different forms . Alcoholism ,

02:07:16.990 --> 02:07:20.520
depression , suicidal thoughts . And so

02:07:20.520 --> 02:07:22.631
one of our goals really is to prepare

02:07:23.140 --> 02:07:25.251
the younger generation to ensure that

02:07:25.251 --> 02:07:27.569
they're not alone . That they have

02:07:27.569 --> 02:07:29.791
representation and will always be there

02:07:29.791 --> 02:07:31.791
for them when they come back home .

02:07:32.080 --> 02:07:34.370
When I was down range I was at the uh

02:07:34.919 --> 02:07:37.086
cop shark in the Logar province and it

02:07:37.086 --> 02:07:39.252
was , it was Thanksgiving and uh I , I

02:07:39.252 --> 02:07:41.252
was the lowest I've ever been in my

02:07:41.252 --> 02:07:43.530
life . I didn't know anyone there . Uh ,

02:07:43.530 --> 02:07:45.752
it was my 1st , 1st 1st day there and ,

02:07:45.752 --> 02:07:47.975
uh . I thought about what my dad always

02:07:47.975 --> 02:07:50.030
told me um when you're feeling sad ,

02:07:50.080 --> 02:07:52.259
you feel disconnected , go outside ,

02:07:52.370 --> 02:07:54.819
touch touch the earth . That same earth

02:07:54.819 --> 02:07:58.100
is is is the same piece of land that we

02:07:58.100 --> 02:08:00.850
all share . When you're sad , look at

02:08:00.850 --> 02:08:02.906
the moon , that's the same moon that

02:08:02.906 --> 02:08:02.870
you're gonna see .

02:08:11.660 --> 02:08:14.100
Within it we also provide a sense of

02:08:14.100 --> 02:08:16.839
community . For example , once we get a

02:08:16.839 --> 02:08:19.620
name of an indigenous person , we give

02:08:19.620 --> 02:08:21.870
that name to our drill instructors ,

02:08:21.939 --> 02:08:24.709
our technical instructors in BASIC . We

02:08:24.709 --> 02:08:26.931
try to connect them with the indigenous

02:08:26.931 --> 02:08:30.020
instructor so they know when that uh

02:08:30.020 --> 02:08:32.580
potential recruit has a tidine bag or a

02:08:32.580 --> 02:08:35.509
corn pollen bag they know that that's

02:08:35.509 --> 02:08:37.231
for their resiliency and their

02:08:37.231 --> 02:08:39.830
spirituality . And also when that

02:08:39.839 --> 02:08:42.229
trainee becomes an airman they airman

02:08:42.229 --> 02:08:44.229
or a guardian , they go to the next

02:08:44.229 --> 02:08:46.285
base we connect that person with the

02:08:46.285 --> 02:08:48.451
engines person at that base so they're

02:08:48.451 --> 02:08:52.160
always . With someone they can talk to .

02:08:56.250 --> 02:08:58.472
So I really appreciate you guys . Thank

02:08:58.472 --> 02:09:00.694
you for having me up here . um , really

02:09:00.694 --> 02:09:00.649
trying to not get emotional because

02:09:00.649 --> 02:09:02.371
this is something I was really

02:09:02.371 --> 02:09:04.538
passionate about , you know , um , and

02:09:04.538 --> 02:09:06.760
for , for anyone that's watching online

02:09:06.760 --> 02:09:08.982
right now , um , if you're down range ,

02:09:09.120 --> 02:09:11.064
if you , if your loved one is down

02:09:11.064 --> 02:09:13.342
range , uh , I really encourage you to ,

02:09:13.342 --> 02:09:15.509
uh , reach out to me , um , Massar Joe

02:09:15.509 --> 02:09:17.453
Charlie , you can look out for the

02:09:17.453 --> 02:09:20.089
Disquality team , uh , reach out to us ,

02:09:20.399 --> 02:09:22.510
and , uh , we will always connect you

02:09:22.510 --> 02:09:24.510
and we will always stay in touch to

02:09:24.510 --> 02:09:26.621
make sure you're not alone . Uh , one

02:09:26.621 --> 02:09:28.677
of the things I , I , I , I , I love

02:09:28.677 --> 02:09:30.732
saying is , uh , whenever indigenous

02:09:30.732 --> 02:09:32.899
people introduce themselves , they say

02:09:32.899 --> 02:09:35.121
they're clans , and that's , and that's

02:09:35.121 --> 02:09:37.343
and that's to ensure that you are never

02:09:37.343 --> 02:09:39.510
alone . You always have family . I , I

02:09:39.510 --> 02:09:41.566
just met my some of my uncles and my

02:09:41.566 --> 02:09:43.621
aunties here today . I didn't know I

02:09:43.621 --> 02:09:46.759
had . Uh , so I appreciate it . Thank

02:09:46.759 --> 02:09:49.970
you so much again , um , I was , I was

02:09:49.970 --> 02:09:52.137
in my speeches by saying that , uh , I

02:09:52.137 --> 02:09:55.439
truly believe that . Resiliency is our

02:09:55.439 --> 02:09:59.109
superpower as indigenous people . Yeah ,

02:09:59.310 --> 02:10:00.310
go . Thank you .

02:10:10.810 --> 02:10:14.709
May Sergeant Charlie . Your words

02:10:16.089 --> 02:10:19.240
Resonate to all of us . You know , I've ,

02:10:19.330 --> 02:10:21.689
I've been in the army 30 , I don't know ,

02:10:21.930 --> 02:10:25.549
lost count years . At this point and

02:10:25.919 --> 02:10:29.160
walking two worlds . It's something

02:10:29.160 --> 02:10:32.279
that we've we've had to do . But now we

02:10:32.279 --> 02:10:34.557
don't , we don't have to do it anymore .

02:10:35.629 --> 02:10:38.839
We see ourselves in your words . And we

02:10:38.839 --> 02:10:41.120
thank you for your articulating the

02:10:41.120 --> 02:10:43.398
feeling and thoughts of all of us here ,

02:10:43.459 --> 02:10:44.792
native and non-native .

02:10:47.660 --> 02:10:50.669
Ladies and gentlemen , One more time

02:10:51.319 --> 02:10:53.208
for the Hamish Valley High School

02:10:53.208 --> 02:10:54.208
dancers .

02:10:56.839 --> 02:10:59.580
So this is their last , this is their

02:10:59.580 --> 02:11:01.850
last performance for us today .

02:11:03.819 --> 02:11:05.875
However , there is not , this is not

02:11:05.875 --> 02:11:07.930
the last performance in our nation's

02:11:07.930 --> 02:11:09.986
capital . They will be performing at

02:11:09.986 --> 02:11:09.790
the White House on Friday .

02:12:01.709 --> 02:12:03.509
Yeah work .

02:12:08.759 --> 02:12:09.759
Where

02:12:47.169 --> 02:12:50.649
it . Oh

02:12:58.160 --> 02:13:00.919
Yeah . Oh

02:13:11.709 --> 02:13:14.600
Yeah I

02:13:46.410 --> 02:13:47.120
Oh .

02:14:22.879 --> 02:14:23.879
Yeah .

02:16:22.229 --> 02:16:22.569
Oh

02:16:27.410 --> 02:16:28.000
Oh

02:16:32.679 --> 02:16:33.139
Oh

02:19:29.569 --> 02:19:30.029
Oh

02:20:08.849 --> 02:20:09.849
Oh

02:20:25.940 --> 02:20:26.940
Go on .

02:20:29.530 --> 02:20:29.980
Oh

02:20:34.440 --> 02:20:38.280
Go no . Who I

02:22:20.290 --> 02:22:24.059
Oh Oh

02:22:49.809 --> 02:22:50.820
Oh

02:23:04.809 --> 02:23:05.040
On

02:23:12.780 --> 02:23:13.900
Go go

02:23:30.120 --> 02:23:31.120
Uh

02:23:35.389 --> 02:23:36.389
go away

02:23:44.700 --> 02:23:47.610
that Yeah .

02:23:56.000 --> 02:23:57.000
Yeah

02:24:04.889 --> 02:24:05.889
go .

02:24:10.219 --> 02:24:10.500
Oh ,

02:24:16.410 --> 02:24:17.410
Uh

02:24:22.230 --> 02:24:22.480
the

02:24:27.620 --> 02:24:30.190
Hey Uh

02:24:36.530 --> 02:24:37.530
No

02:24:41.370 --> 02:24:41.709
Uh

02:24:50.849 --> 02:24:51.179
Yeah

02:25:02.610 --> 02:25:04.769
That's all right . That's all right .

02:25:07.299 --> 02:25:09.521
One more time for Hamish Valley Youth .

02:25:09.639 --> 02:25:13.309
Isn't that amazing ? Warms the heart ,

02:25:13.389 --> 02:25:16.849
doesn't it ? Warms the heart . Ladies

02:25:16.849 --> 02:25:19.071
and gentlemen , now we're joined by the

02:25:19.071 --> 02:25:21.290
woman who brought us all together for

02:25:21.290 --> 02:25:23.234
this joyous occasion , this joyous

02:25:23.234 --> 02:25:26.620
celebration of our Native American and

02:25:26.620 --> 02:25:29.419
Alaska Native culture . Mr . Alicia

02:25:29.419 --> 02:25:30.419
Sylvester .

02:25:40.259 --> 02:25:43.719
Good afternoon everyone . I am deeply

02:25:43.719 --> 02:25:45.497
honored to join you today as we

02:25:45.497 --> 02:25:47.441
celebrate National Native American

02:25:47.441 --> 02:25:50.110
Heritage Month . Say not uh nipa

02:25:50.110 --> 02:25:53.339
bo he I say that time he hawala the way

02:25:53.339 --> 02:25:57.059
suing . My name is Alicia Madalena

02:25:57.059 --> 02:25:59.980
Sylvester . I am the senior travel

02:25:59.980 --> 02:26:02.730
adviser and liaison for the Department

02:26:02.730 --> 02:26:05.490
of Defense , as well as a proud member

02:26:05.580 --> 02:26:08.379
of the Poblo of Hamas . I am a living

02:26:08.379 --> 02:26:10.330
testament to the resilience of my

02:26:10.330 --> 02:26:14.139
people . It's like thank

02:26:14.139 --> 02:26:14.500
you .

02:26:18.959 --> 02:26:21.080
As I look around this room , I am

02:26:21.080 --> 02:26:23.400
filled with warmth and pride seeing so

02:26:23.400 --> 02:26:26.480
many indigenous smiles . Our collective

02:26:26.480 --> 02:26:29.360
presence here speaks volumes about how

02:26:29.360 --> 02:26:33.110
far native people have come . We are

02:26:33.110 --> 02:26:36.540
doctors , lawyers , teachers , tribal

02:26:36.540 --> 02:26:39.150
leaders , lieutenant colonels , staff

02:26:39.150 --> 02:26:42.320
sergeants , master sergeants , majors ,

02:26:42.330 --> 02:26:45.709
and even real admirals . Yet

02:26:46.080 --> 02:26:48.839
even as we excel in these roles we

02:26:48.839 --> 02:26:51.320
never forget who we are , know where we

02:26:51.320 --> 02:26:54.250
come from . We draw strength from our

02:26:54.250 --> 02:26:57.019
elders teachings and carry their wisdom

02:26:57.019 --> 02:26:59.129
forward to ensure that future

02:26:59.129 --> 02:27:01.351
generations continue to carefully steer

02:27:01.351 --> 02:27:04.360
the boat of life guided by respect ,

02:27:04.610 --> 02:27:07.559
responsibility , reciprocity ,

02:27:07.969 --> 02:27:10.440
reverence , interrelatedness and

02:27:10.440 --> 02:27:13.209
synergies , values that are familiar to

02:27:13.209 --> 02:27:16.549
so many indigenous communities . I

02:27:16.549 --> 02:27:18.709
would like to take a moment to give

02:27:18.709 --> 02:27:21.389
special recognition to those who have

02:27:21.389 --> 02:27:24.099
made this celebration possible today .

02:27:24.629 --> 02:27:26.669
Your contributions reflect the

02:27:26.669 --> 02:27:29.629
endurance enduring spirit of our native

02:27:29.629 --> 02:27:32.709
communities to the performers , the

02:27:32.709 --> 02:27:36.610
native women lawyers . The

02:27:36.610 --> 02:27:38.849
Honorable Lawrence Spotted Bert and the

02:27:38.849 --> 02:27:41.219
Kiowa Black Leggings Layor Society .

02:27:42.230 --> 02:27:44.450
Ralph and Dennis Zolta and the Zoa

02:27:44.450 --> 02:27:47.629
singers . The Hamus Valley High School

02:27:47.629 --> 02:27:50.629
dance group , the artissery celebrates

02:27:50.629 --> 02:27:52.480
the vitality of our culture ,

02:27:52.910 --> 02:27:55.309
demonstrating how tradition grows

02:27:55.309 --> 02:27:57.509
stronger through visibility and shared

02:27:57.509 --> 02:27:59.459
connection . Thank you .

02:28:07.480 --> 02:28:09.759
To our leaders and supporters , the

02:28:09.759 --> 02:28:11.481
Honorable Kathleen Hicks , the

02:28:11.481 --> 02:28:13.990
Honorable Brandon Owens . Principal

02:28:13.990 --> 02:28:16.339
Deputy Assistant secretary Bob Thompson ,

02:28:16.709 --> 02:28:19.030
Dasty Ronald Tickle , the Honorable

02:28:19.030 --> 02:28:21.950
Burger , Rear Admiral Foster , Staff

02:28:21.950 --> 02:28:25.269
Sergeant M . Hola , Major Sawyerson .

02:28:26.200 --> 02:28:28.480
Major Northway , Master Sergeant

02:28:28.480 --> 02:28:30.790
Charlie , and Ms . Mollie Butner , your

02:28:30.790 --> 02:28:33.959
commitment amplifies native voices and

02:28:33.959 --> 02:28:35.792
ensures that leadership reflects

02:28:35.792 --> 02:28:38.719
service and inclusion . To the Native

02:28:38.719 --> 02:28:40.997
American Heritage Month planning Group ,

02:28:40.997 --> 02:28:43.900
Erica Joseph , Jan Hardy , Lisa Morales ,

02:28:44.000 --> 02:28:46.719
and Chief Master Sergeant Rockbert and

02:28:46.719 --> 02:28:48.919
the building management and auditorium

02:28:48.919 --> 02:28:50.863
staff , your collaborative efforts

02:28:50.863 --> 02:28:52.975
highlight the power of servants , the

02:28:52.975 --> 02:28:55.030
collective leadership in making this

02:28:55.030 --> 02:28:58.320
celebration possible . To my support

02:28:58.320 --> 02:29:01.280
team from Keras Consulting , Terry

02:29:01.280 --> 02:29:04.309
Cowley , Young Brinson and Kate Gordon ,

02:29:04.559 --> 02:29:06.679
your study guidance amplifies the

02:29:06.679 --> 02:29:09.349
string felt in unity and shared purpose .

02:29:09.919 --> 02:29:12.240
To our MC , Lieutenant Colonel Bryce ,

02:29:12.480 --> 02:29:14.591
your voice has carried the essence of

02:29:14.591 --> 02:29:16.647
this celebration and ensuring native

02:29:16.647 --> 02:29:19.360
leadership and resilience are seen and

02:29:19.360 --> 02:29:20.719
heard . Thank you .

02:29:28.940 --> 02:29:31.490
Thank you all for honoring our past ,

02:29:31.660 --> 02:29:34.400
empowering our present , and uplifting

02:29:34.400 --> 02:29:36.900
the promise of our future generations .

02:29:37.419 --> 02:29:39.540
Together we will continue to affirm

02:29:39.540 --> 02:29:42.049
native voices through visibility ,

02:29:42.379 --> 02:29:44.570
leadership and service . Thank you .

02:29:57.440 --> 02:30:01.250
Alicia , On behalf of the hundreds in

02:30:01.250 --> 02:30:03.530
this room and the rooms filled up , and

02:30:03.530 --> 02:30:05.530
uh however many hundreds are out in

02:30:05.530 --> 02:30:09.169
virtual land , I wanna say . Oh ho ,

02:30:09.639 --> 02:30:13.049
Boscany . Mwitch Odo Pillama .

02:30:15.089 --> 02:30:18.240
A he You cut , oh yeah .

02:30:19.559 --> 02:30:23.259
Thank you . From so many nations All

02:30:23.259 --> 02:30:25.203
that all those words mean the same

02:30:25.203 --> 02:30:27.820
thing thank you . So thank you , thank

02:30:27.820 --> 02:30:28.820
you , thank you .

02:30:34.900 --> 02:30:36.769
And ladies and gentlemen , to

02:30:36.769 --> 02:30:40.129
officially close out our ceremony . Our

02:30:40.129 --> 02:30:42.200
benediction is being provided by

02:30:42.200 --> 02:30:45.830
Chaplain Major Lisa Northway . Chaplain

02:30:45.830 --> 02:30:47.774
Northway is the Fort Sill Garrison

02:30:47.774 --> 02:30:50.070
Chaplain . Fort Sill , the heart of

02:30:50.070 --> 02:30:53.589
Indian country , as we say . So

02:30:53.900 --> 02:30:56.870
Chaplain Northway is not just the Fort

02:30:56.870 --> 02:30:59.160
Sill Garrison chaplain . She's also my

02:30:59.160 --> 02:31:01.669
auntie sister . Huh .

02:31:03.500 --> 02:31:05.500
We took her in our family a couple

02:31:05.500 --> 02:31:07.940
years ago . It's been going strong ever

02:31:07.940 --> 02:31:10.669
since . So she's a cherished member of

02:31:10.679 --> 02:31:13.700
of our Indian family of our Comanche

02:31:13.700 --> 02:31:17.509
and Kiowa family . Chaplain

02:31:17.509 --> 02:31:19.676
Northway is passionate about equipping

02:31:19.676 --> 02:31:22.150
military service members , veterans ,

02:31:22.269 --> 02:31:24.349
civilians and their families with

02:31:24.349 --> 02:31:26.559
spiritual preparedness to navigate

02:31:26.870 --> 02:31:30.009
life's mission . Chapin Northway , the

02:31:30.009 --> 02:31:31.009
floor is yours .

02:31:35.500 --> 02:31:37.556
I invite you to pray with me in your

02:31:37.556 --> 02:31:39.500
hearts according to your own faith

02:31:39.500 --> 02:31:41.719
tradition as I pray in mine .

02:31:43.650 --> 02:31:46.410
Dear Heavenly Father , we thank you for

02:31:46.410 --> 02:31:50.410
this day you created for us and how you

02:31:50.410 --> 02:31:52.799
delivered us from the North , the South ,

02:31:53.040 --> 02:31:55.929
the East and West for our good , the

02:31:55.929 --> 02:31:58.690
good of our future generations , and

02:31:58.690 --> 02:32:01.809
ultimately your glory . May we

02:32:01.809 --> 02:32:03.730
collectively be a people who make

02:32:03.730 --> 02:32:07.400
visible what you intend to be revealed .

02:32:08.709 --> 02:32:11.349
Co-lead with our country's leaders for

02:32:11.349 --> 02:32:14.580
what and who and how

02:32:14.990 --> 02:32:18.469
you've designated us to be better

02:32:18.469 --> 02:32:22.250
off . While we serve each other

02:32:22.540 --> 02:32:26.139
and our nations , so we may be

02:32:26.139 --> 02:32:28.469
spiritually and physically ready to

02:32:28.469 --> 02:32:31.980
fight and win each mission you entrust

02:32:31.980 --> 02:32:35.780
to us , and may we carry on gloriously

02:32:35.780 --> 02:32:37.947
between the pillars of forgiveness and

02:32:37.947 --> 02:32:40.769
blessing so that all people of our

02:32:40.769 --> 02:32:44.049
beloved country may be healed and whole

02:32:44.419 --> 02:32:48.030
in a manner that only a holy God can

02:32:48.030 --> 02:32:50.870
make so . It is in your holy presence ,

02:32:50.879 --> 02:32:52.389
I pray . Amen .

02:32:58.250 --> 02:33:00.472
So ladies and gentlemen , for those who

02:33:00.472 --> 02:33:03.580
did not know , Chaplain Northway . Is

02:33:03.580 --> 02:33:07.580
the 2nd Native American woman

02:33:07.580 --> 02:33:09.747
active duty chaplain in the history of

02:33:09.747 --> 02:33:11.136
the United States Army .

02:33:17.980 --> 02:33:20.519
Our ceremony is concluded and based off

02:33:20.519 --> 02:33:22.686
the rehearsal yesterday I don't really

02:33:22.686 --> 02:33:25.019
think they're gonna kick us out at 1600 ,

02:33:25.019 --> 02:33:27.075
so I would encourage us all to visit

02:33:27.075 --> 02:33:29.241
and share stories and get to know each

02:33:29.241 --> 02:33:31.408
other just a little bit better than we

02:33:31.408 --> 02:33:33.519
have in the last couple of hours . So

02:33:33.519 --> 02:33:36.179
again , but uh , thank you . Please be

02:33:36.179 --> 02:33:37.009
safe going home .