Native Warriors

In ancient times, before Native warriors were sent out to battle Elders and Veterans helped prepare the young man for battle; physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

Ceremonies were prepared that would later comfort these soldiers in the dark nights that would be ahead of them. Memories of relatives faces, words that they said, blessings and songs would all keep them warm on those long nights.

On their return, these warriors would be welcomed back into their communities and brought back into balance through use of traditional practices and ceremony.

During World War II, Native American Church ceremonies often served this role. Services were held to pray for the safe return of our Native warriors before the warriors left home. And then on their return Native warriors would get "doctored" in services to help bring these warriors back in balance, leaving behind the mental, emotional, spiritual wounds of war.

Today, as more of Native families leave their reservations for jobs and schools in the cities, they leave behind the cultural context for healing that is available as young men and women take on this sacred role.

And back on the reservation, as young people leave others feel little need to take the time needed to learn their language or learn the songs needed for these type of ceremonies.

So often these ceremonies take place in urban community centers and at social gatherings. Intertribal communities such as pow-wows, sweatlodge and Native American Church communities that do the best they can to replace tribally specific ceremonies and traditions.

At every Pow-Wow across the country, Native veterans precede the dancers, symbolizing the way the old warrior societies would walk before the women and children to "make clear the way". It is an honor for them to protect their people in this way.

The "color guard", walking in unison carry the US flag, POW flag, State flag as a way to recognize this importance of this designation, for themselves of course, but also for those who have gone on or wounded, cannot dance.

Gourd Dance is also a Veterans Honor Dance used at gatherings and pow-wows to remember and honor the sacrifice these young men and women make for their people. Veteran men dance, also in unison dance with red and blue man's robe, in honor of a special soldier that they may are praying for.

Native American Church and sweatlodge ceremonies offer a place for families to come together to support Native warriors in healing the deep wounds that war often brings as well as creating a society of warriors that are able to reestablish dignity and honor to this sacred role within Native societies.

• Assiniboine
  
• Cherokee
  
• Chippewa/Oneida (17)
  
• Cheyenne
  
• Choctaw
  
• Comanche (17)
  
• Hopi (11)
  
• Kiowa
  
• Menominee
  
• Muscogee/Creek and Seminole
  
• Navajo (about 420)
  
• Osage
  
• Pawnee
  
• Sac and Fox/Meskwaki (19)
  
• Sioux - Lakota,Dakota & Yankton Sioux dialects