Did you know that "large numbers of Native Americans enlist for military service and represent the highest per capita enlistment of any ethnic group in the United States?" It's true.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Administration for Native Americans, "Tribes view service, sacrifice, and courage as important values and part of an individual’s journey to becoming a leader, protector, and agent of change for his/her family or tribe." I'd heard through the grapevine that a national museum devoted to Native American culture had a special exhibit about warrior veterans telling their stories. The Smithsonian exhibit, "Native Words, Native Warriors," is still on tour, through 2011. (In January through July of 2011, it will be at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.) Find out more about the exhibit, here.In the meantime, I've uncovered some good resources about Native American warriors as veterans, and the extent to which their culture celebrates them and welcomes them home.
From the National Museum of the American Indian (part of the Smithsonian), a "workbook" online called "Coming Home: Strength through Culture."
From a segment entitled, "Healing after the War":
"According to American Indian traditional beliefs, war affects a soldier’s well being, and makes it difficult for him to live in the everyday world. For American Indians, returning home means returning to a place — a land, a community, a family, and a culture — that you are part of, a place that you have a special relationship with. Participating in war interferes with your ability to be part of this place. It upsets the balance of life. This is why American Indian cultures have special ceremonies to help bring the soldier’s life back into balance — to make it possible for the soldier to once again live in peace and to be physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally healthy."
From a segment entitled, "Giving Honor to Veterans":
"American Indian communities remember their veterans’ sacrifices forever. Veterans are always respected and honored. Sometimes they are remembered in special songs that are sung in their honor. Native people often go to veterans for advice because they have strong mental abilities as a result of their many experiences. Depending on the community, veterans are given special prominence at different kinds of tribal events. For example, at powwows veterans always lead the grand entry of dancers. They carry the American Indian Eagle Staff, the flag of the United States, their tribal flag, and other important banners. Veterans are recognized and honored on special occasions with ceremonies and dances that relate their sacrifices to the community. For example, the Comanche Gourd Dance honors veterans. Sometimes a family member or a friend might hold a special dance or ceremony to honor a veteran. These are the lasting traditions that show respect to veterans for what they have done for the people."In another section it describes how a Native American Marine Corps veteran of World War II, Navajo Code Talker Carl Gorman, experienced a ceremony upon returning home that helped allow him to put the past behind him and move on with his life:
"After the war, Carl Gorman returned home to Arizona for a short time. Even though he had been raised as a Christian, he talked about how the traditional Navajo ceremonies for warriors became important to him: "I didn't have a ceremony when I came home," he said. "I didn't quite believe in it anymore. A medicine man that was an old friend suggested that I have one, but I didn't have the money to pay him to perform it. He agreed to do a one-night sing over me for free. I participated in the sing and felt a great weight leave my mind and body. I felt very rested afterwards. I realized then that I needed to make peace with what I had experienced during the war." (Navajo Weapon by Sally McClain, 2001)And from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Administration for Native Americans, an entire resource guide online about storytelling for Native American veterans. Segments include:
- The healing power of stories;
- Tips on using storytelling for healing (with facilitation questions);
- Native American service in the U.S. military;
- Resources for Native veterans; and a
- Native American Veterans: Storytelling for Healing DVD that can be ordered, here.
We'll be developing this segment more in the weeks and months ahead, but for now this should provide some useful resources to start thinking about Native Americans and ceremony -- particularly storytelling -- for healing in community.
Editor's note: The painting at top is "First Furlough," by Native American artist Quincy Tahoma.
