American Indian Patriots: A Paradox?

Indians fought long and hard against the U.S.,

but they also show great loyalty and patriotism to the nation.

This time of year, in a little over a month, four events are significant in Indian Country. Late May is Memorial Day, June 2 marks the anniversary of Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, June 25 marks marks the anniversary of an iconic moment of American history: the Battle at Little Bighorn in 1876, and July 4th is celebrated around Indian Country with powwows and other events.

I have always been amazed at what seems to be a paradox with Indian people. They are perhaps the most loyal and patriotic of people, despite the fact that most Indian Tribes were at war with the United States during much of the 19th Century. And it wasn't pretty. There were massacres, broken treaties, the breaking of an ancient culture, and untold atrocities by the Americans, that quite frankly was a policy of genocide.

Victims of genocide during Indian-European wars is estimated to be up to 13 million indigenous people. Using conservative estimates, 2/3 of indigenous people in North America were exterminated between 1500-1900, according to Dr. Rosemary White Shield.

Yet, it is well recognized that, historically, Native Americans have the highest record of military service per capita when compared to other ethnic groups.

I have wondered why this seeming paradox exists, and I might have found a few answers, but before, allow me to illustrate. Back to 1876.

Tatanka Iyotake, Sitting Bull, Hunkpapa Lakota

What few know is that among Custer's men were 35 American Indians, mostly Arikaras but also Crow and Santee Sioux. What almost no one knows is that men from the same tribes that fought against Custer would, one year later, be riding with the U.S. Army as scouts against the Nez Perce -- or that the Indian scouts who served the Army in the 19th century became one of the precursors to the Army Special Forces, also known as Green Berets.

Tȟašúŋke Witkó, Crazy Horse, Oglala Lakota

artist rendition approved by descendants

This history means that patriotism is rarely simple in Indian Country. American Indian communities have some of the highest rates of enlistment in the U.S. military, yet their leaders also defend the principle of tribal sovereignty -- which holds that the tribes should enjoy political and economic autonomy. So at the same time that they are sending men and women to fight on behalf of the United States, many American Indian communities continue to claim their independence from it.

At the site of the Little Bighorn battle in Montana, this contradiction becomes manifest on the anniversary of the battle. Indians from across the northern Plains come to celebrate the history of resistance to the United States, but they include color guards of Native American veterans, often in their service uniforms, carrying American flags.

In this, America's season of intense patriotic display, those of us who are not Indians may be able to learn a few things about patriotism from the Little Bighorn celebration. The first is that American patriotism is not something that you simply have or do not. What that flag means to you will depend heavily on how you regard the history behind it.

The other insight is that genuine patriotism can still take place amid divided loyalties. Americans are capable of more nuanced thinking about what it means to be an American than we usually give ourselves credit for. Non-Indians who attend celebrations like the Little Bighorn anniversary (or any powwow across the land) are often surprised by the exhibitions of U.S. patriotism. But for more than a century, American Indians have understood that their love of country can contain both their struggles to achieve tribal autonomy and their deeply felt attachments to the United States.

Indian Citizen Act of 1924

Until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Indians occupied an unusual status under federal law. Some had acquired citizenship by marrying whites, or in other ways. But many were still not citizens, and they were barred from the ordinary processes of naturalization open to foreigners. Congress, on June 2, 1924 granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States.

The granting of citizenship was not a response to some universal petition by American Indian groups. Rather, it was a move by the federal government to absorb Indians into the mainstream of American life, the logical extension and culmination of the assimilation policy.

At powwow, one will see a tribal flag at the center, but an American flag at every entrance to the powwow grounds. The colors head Grand Entry. The first song is always the Veterans Song.

Dr. Joseph K. Dixon, an active proponent of assimilating the "vanishing race" into white society, (with seeming good intentions) wrote:

"The Indian, though a man without a country, the Indian who has suffered a thousand wrongs considered the white man's burden and from mountains, plains and divides, the Indian threw himself into the struggle to help throttle the unthinkable tyranny of the Hun. The Indian helped to free Belgium, helped to free all the small nations, helped to give victory to the Stars and Stripes. The Indian went to France to help avenge the ravages of autocracy. Now, shall we not redeem ourselves by redeeming all the tribes?"

So, the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 proclaimed:

"BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and house of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all non citizen Indians born within the territorial limits of the United States be, and they are hereby, declared to be citizens of the United States: Provided That the granting of such citizenship shall not in any manner impair or otherwise affect the right of any Indian to tribal or other property. (Approved June 2, 1924)"

The Warrior Tradition

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor seemed to waken an ancestral warrior spirit in many Native Americans. Thousands of young Indians went into the armed forces or to work in the war production plants that abruptly emerged during military and industrial mobilization. A 1942 survey indicated that 40 percent more Native Americans voluntarily enlisted than had been drafted. Native American Indians, who flocked to the colors in defense of their country. No group that participated in World War II made a greater per capita contribution, WWII Nearly all the able-bodied Chippewas at the Grand Portage Reservation enlisted. There were no segregated Indian units as there were for African Americans.

Navajo Code Talkers receiving the Medal of Honor

Many know of the WW II Navajo code-talkers but there were also Comanche, Choctaw, Cherokee and even Basque units. (Basqueland, a fiercely independent "non-country" between France and Spain) Johnny Cash paid tribute to Ira Hayes, a Pima, who was among those who raised the flag at Iwo Jima: the first woman to die in the Iraq War was a Hopi; the list goes on.

During the Vietnam War, close to 90% of the 86,000 Indians who enlisted volunteered, giving Native Americans the highest record of service per capita of any ethnic group. Over half served in combat.

Powwow. The first dance after Grand Entry is always The Veterans Song

Today, there are nearly 190,00 Native American military veterans. Again, it is well recognized that, historically, Native Americans have the highest record of service per capita when compared to other ethnic groups. The reasons behind this disproportionate contribution are complex and deeply rooted in traditional American Indian culture. In many respects, Indians are no different from others who volunteer for military service. They do, however, have distinctive cultural values which drive them to serve their country. One such value is their proud warrior tradition.

Ojibwe Warriors

In part, the warrior tradition is a willingness to engage the enemy in battle. This characteristic has been clearly demonstrated by the courageous deeds of Native Americans in combat. However, the warrior tradition is best exemplified by the following qualities said to be inherent to most if not all Native American societies: strength, honor, pride, devotion, and wisdom. These qualities make a perfect fit with military tradition.

For their part, Native Americans can be expected to carry on their centuries-old warrior tradition- serving with pride, courage, and distinction.

The Highground is honored to have been chosen as the home of The National Native American Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Unanimous approval for this decision was given at the annual Congress of Native American Indians held in Denver, CO in 1994.

Dedicated in 1995, The National Native American Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the first national memorial to come to The Highground. Harry Whitehorse, Madison sculptor and WW II veteran, created this bronze sculpture.

Mounted on a red granite base, the sculpture depicts an Native American Soldier in jungle fatigues, holding a rifle in one hand and an Eagle Feather Staff in the other. The names, rank, home of record, date of casualty-how they died (Still to be completed is the tribal affiliation.) of all Native American Indians who died as a result of the Vietnam war etched into two of the four black granite panels which skirt the base of the entire statuary.

Ojibwe Warriors

The Ojibwe

"The Ojibwe were the largest and most powerful Great Lakes tribe; perhaps the most powerful east of the Mississippi; and quite possibly the most powerful in North America, according to author William Whipple Warren. The Lakota (Sioux) and Apache have gotten better press, but it was the Ojibwe who defeated the Iroquois and forced the Sioux to leave Minnesota. Very few Americans realize that the Ojibwe were a major power. Their location was well north of the main flow of settlement,.

A variety of names (Ojibwe, Chippewa, Bungee, Mississauga, and Saulteaux) and division of their population between Canada and United States has masked their true size. In addition, the Ojibwe never fought with Americans after 1815. Considering the prowess of Ojibwe warriors, this was probably just as well for the Americans. However, this does not mean they have been ignored by government. As the Chippewa, they signed more treaties with the United States than any other tribe, fifty-one!

CODA:

Perhaps Indian patriotism is not a paradox at all, but just pure patriotism. A loyalty to and love of this land. Indian Nations are nations within a nation. This land was Indian long before the arrival of Europeans. Turtle Island is indigenously their country, and all but the Indigenous population are immigrants. We may think of it as the United States, but when all is said and done, we all live in Indian Country.