Female American Indian veteran brings recognition to fellow warriors

By Mr. Derek Gean (Leonard Wood)November 26, 2014

Female American Indian veteran brings recognition to fellow warriors
Mitchelene BigMan, right, and her daughter, Tia Cyrus, perform at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood National American Indian Heritage Month observance, Friday at the Main Post Chapel. BigMan, president and founder of Nat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

An American Indian veteran visited Fort Leonard Wood Friday to help bring more recognition to Native American women warriors.

Mitchelene BigMan, president and founder of Native American Women Warriors, served as keynote speaker at the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood National American Indian Heritage Month observance hosted by the 3rd Chemical Brigade at the Main Post Chapel.

BigMan, who served as an Equal Opportunity advisor in the Army, spoke about her time in the military and how her organization came about.

"(Being in the military) was the best thing for me, it taught me how to be a better leader," BigMan said. "We fight side-by-side with people from all over, not only the United States, but from different countries. We learn so much from each other."

Following BigMan's retirement, what started as a garment-making project for an American Indian gathering, turned into something much bigger. In 2010, she made herself and two other military veteran women Native American dresses. The "jingle" dresses were red, white, blue and American Indian pink, which represents her patriotism to both her American and American Indian roots.

"I also put patches on my dress to signify I am a veteran," she said

BigMan, and the two other veterans, attended a Native American gathering to share in their culture. When they were getting ready for the "grand entry" in their attire, one of the tribal elders asked about their dresses and assumed they would be part of the color guard.

"I said we are not color guard, we are just veterans showing off our new dresses," BigMan said.

After being mistaken for members of the color guard several other times, the women were officially placed in the color guard.

"That was the best place to put us, after they announced all the other color guards and we stepped forward, that is where the doors opened for Native American women," BigMan said. She said they did not expect the response they received -- drums and war cries.

From that day, the organization was formed as the Army Women's Iraqi Freedom Veterans, but soon after American Indian women from other branches wanted to join, the named was changed to include all services -- the Native American Women Warriors were formed.

"As a woman veteran, I felt like during my time we were not really given recognition for our hard work. Amongst our own people, it seemed like we weren't really accepted or even noted," she said. "I took that step out of my comfort zone and really pursued it."

Since then, BigMan and members of her organization have travelled all over the United States promoting their cause. They had the opportunity to march in the president's inaugural parade in January 2013.

She said as a Native American veteran, she really appreciates the opportunity to gather at ethnic observances and learn from each other.

"I still try to share our culture, even with speaking engagements like this," she said.

BigMan also highlighted some of the accomplishments of American Indians and spoke about their contributions to the nation. She said many of the principles of the U.S. Constitution were based on principals of Iroquois Confederacy.

"Native Americans had something that seemed to catch the eye of the founding fathers," she said.

She said American Indians are now trying to promote their culture and teach their ways to the current generation.

"A lot of the tribal leaders are starting to step forward and try to bring back what we lost," she said. "Our people our trying to bring back the language and teach our children the ways before they lose it. We are going to keep it going -- our language, our traditions, our ceremonies."

Following the speech, BigMan and her daughter, Tia Cyrus, performed an American Indian Dance for the audience and even gave audience members the opportunity to participate.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood