Native Warriors

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Warrior societies have always been a part of Native American culture. Considered a highly respected and sacred role, Native warriors took life long vows to protect their people, their ancestral lands and traditions.

As tribal lands became part of the larger United States, Native warriors joined forces with other Americans although often times they were not recognized as Americans themselves.

In this lens, I'd like to pay honor to these warriors and to the role of the warrior within a traditional context.

Honoring Our 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.

Comanche Code Talkers 

Most people are not aware that the Navajo were just one of the many different groups that were used as Codetalkers in WWII. Among them were the Comanche, Choctaws, Hopis, Cherokees and Menominee as well as many other tribes.

Comanche Code Talkers

Comanche Code Talkers of World War II

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Native Languages Used in World War I & II 


  • 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


Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.
~Michel de Montaigne

Know a Native American Veteran that you'd like to honor here? 

Just because I couldn't find your relative
listed online, we'd still like to honor them. If you know of a Native warrior, please list their name below.

Please share their name,nation and any honors below.

Sgt. Brandon Benton, Menominee,Purple Heart

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Major Montoya, Navajo

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PFC. Jason Whitehorse, Navajo, Purple Heart II

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William Albert EagleBlanket, Nez Perce

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PFC Ray Little Whiteman, Oglala Sioux

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Sgt. Manny Torres, Wintu

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Native American Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients 

In the 20th century, five American Indians have received the United States highest military honor: the Medal of Honor.
  1. Jack C. Montgomery, Cherokee, Oklahoma
  2. Ernest Childers, Creek, Oklahoma
  3. Van Barfoot, Choctaw, Mississippi
  4. Mitchell Red Cloud Jr.,Winnebago, Wisconsin,
  5. Charles George,Cherokee, North Carolina,

NWIN Honoring Our Veterans 

NWIN Episode #31 - Seg 3

• "Native veterans" Native warriors hold a special place of honor within Indian society. NWIN attends the Lummi Stommish, a gathering that pays high tribute to veterans and active service men and women. • "Around Indian Country" includes these stories(24:00 minute NWIN includes #1and #4 AIC story only): "Puyallup Wetlands Regeneration" The Gog le hi te II wetlands site is rehabilitated into a healthy ecosystem. "Celebration" Is one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaskan Native peoples. "Dances With Dependeny" 'Indigenous success through self reliance' is the underlying theme of book. "Tulalip Tribes Salmon Ceremony""Haik Saib Yo Bouch" honors the return of the migrating salmon. "Lummi Stommish Water Festival" war canoe races and other activities. "In the Spirit Native art exhibit" A Native art exhibit celebrates a grand opening in Tacoma

Runtime: 392
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War & The Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from PTSD 

I was introduced to this book by my daughter-in-love. In this book, the author Edward Tick, Ph.D. discusses the value of traditional Native American practices as part of a treatment process for all Veterans. Current research about PTSD indicates that the use of ritual, art and music may be more effective at providing actual healing for our Veterans than traditional mainstream therapies. A great book for all to enjoy and learn from.

War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation's Veterans from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/28/2009)Buy Now

More about Native Warriors 

Gourd Dancing | MGourd Dancing
This is a picture of a Gourd Dance. This dance occurred on the Castillo Mountains near Tecc Nos Pos, AZ. Pictured are Lorenzo Jim, Michael Whiting and Raymond Redhouse among others. This partic
Native Words Native Warriors
This is a companion website to the traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibition, Native Words, Native Warriors. Private First Class Preston Toledo (left) and Private First Class Frank Toledo, Navajo Code Talkers. 1
Dur
AICCO.ORG - Troops
The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma invites you to support the brave service men and women who have committed their lives in service to our country. To further this, the chamber maintains the "Support Our Troops" page on its website - www.aicco.org. We welcome your submissions!
Indianz.Com > News > Navajo Nation welcomes soldier injured in Iraq
Indianz.Com - Your Internet Resource. Your American Indian and Native American news, information, and entertainment resource. Indianz.Com provides up-to-date, relevant resources about Native American / American Indian tribes in the United States and Alaska and First Nations communities in Canada.

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by gbenton789

Writer, artist, activist. More than any and all, I am forever the optimist! My friend's call me tenacious which helps. Sooner or later things usually... (more)

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