Tressa Brown, coordinator for the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, speaks about negative stereotypes faced by Native Americans at an Observance ceremony at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Nov. 25.
Native American History, Negative Stereotypes Highlighted During National American Indian Heritage Month Observance
Story and photos by Lynsie Dickerson, USAREC, Public Affairs Office
Nov. 26, 2014
In celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month, which occurs each November, U.S. Army Recruiting Command hosted a National American Indian Heritage Month observance Nov. 25 at the Patton Museum on Fort Knox.
National American Indian Heritage Month honors the contributions of American Indians for building the nation and supporting military services. It also acknowledges the legacy of resilience taught by the American Indians’ painful history.
“These men and women are laying it all on the line for the land they love, and they are providing our men and women in uniform exposure to rich and vibrant customs,” said Maj. Gen. Allen Batschelet, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. “It’s our responsibility to pause today and thank them for their service and cultural contributions to our armed forces.”
American Indians currently represent roughly 2 percent of the military population and 1 percent of the Department of Defense civilian workforce, and 28 American Indians have received the Medal of Honor, Batschelet said.
“There are roughly 150,000 American Indian veterans living today,” he said, “with Kentucky being home to more than 300.”
Tressa Brown, coordinator for the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, was the event’s keynote speaker. Brown discussed stereotypes and myths about Native Americans and the need for society to make changes to eliminate stereotypes and offensive imagery.
“Native people have been dealing with stereotypes from the get-go,” Brown said.
The stereotypes we see today can be traced back to old writings and paintings of American Indians, the Plains Indian War of 1860-1890, and Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West shows, Brown said. The result is the image of all American Indians as horse-riding warriors dressed in beads and feathers.
Brown added that as kids are taught about American Indians hunting buffalo and living in teepees, some kids don’t see this happening anymore and so believe that American Indians must not be around anymore.
“There’s a history here that needs to be brought up to date,” Brown said. “Everybody moves, everybody advances, everybody progresses. We’re all just people.”
Following Brown’s presentation, Scott Middle School students Mackenzie Parker, Maddison Rollings and Eleanor Abbott read essays they wrote about what they’ve learned about American Indians. The students were winners of an essay writing contest held at the school.
Samplings of traditional American Indian food—including succotash (sweet corn and lima beans), wojape (berry pudding) and turkey—were provided after the presentations.
Story and photos by Lynsie Dickerson, USAREC, Public Affairs Office
Nov. 26, 2014
In celebration of National American Indian Heritage Month, which occurs each November, U.S. Army Recruiting Command hosted a National American Indian Heritage Month observance Nov. 25 at the Patton Museum on Fort Knox.
National American Indian Heritage Month honors the contributions of American Indians for building the nation and supporting military services. It also acknowledges the legacy of resilience taught by the American Indians’ painful history.
“These men and women are laying it all on the line for the land they love, and they are providing our men and women in uniform exposure to rich and vibrant customs,” said Maj. Gen. Allen Batschelet, commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. “It’s our responsibility to pause today and thank them for their service and cultural contributions to our armed forces.”
American Indians currently represent roughly 2 percent of the military population and 1 percent of the Department of Defense civilian workforce, and 28 American Indians have received the Medal of Honor, Batschelet said.
“There are roughly 150,000 American Indian veterans living today,” he said, “with Kentucky being home to more than 300.”
Tressa Brown, coordinator for the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission, was the event’s keynote speaker. Brown discussed stereotypes and myths about Native Americans and the need for society to make changes to eliminate stereotypes and offensive imagery.
“Native people have been dealing with stereotypes from the get-go,” Brown said.
The stereotypes we see today can be traced back to old writings and paintings of American Indians, the Plains Indian War of 1860-1890, and Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West shows, Brown said. The result is the image of all American Indians as horse-riding warriors dressed in beads and feathers.
Brown added that as kids are taught about American Indians hunting buffalo and living in teepees, some kids don’t see this happening anymore and so believe that American Indians must not be around anymore.
“There’s a history here that needs to be brought up to date,” Brown said. “Everybody moves, everybody advances, everybody progresses. We’re all just people.”
Following Brown’s presentation, Scott Middle School students Mackenzie Parker, Maddison Rollings and Eleanor Abbott read essays they wrote about what they’ve learned about American Indians. The students were winners of an essay writing contest held at the school.
Samplings of traditional American Indian food—including succotash (sweet corn and lima beans), wojape (berry pudding) and turkey—were provided after the presentations.
Scott Middle School student Mackenzie Parker reads her essay about what she’s learned about Native Americans. Parker is one of the winners of an essay writing contest at the school.
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Native American items sit on display at the observance.
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