111th MI Brigade hosts Native American Indian Heritage Observance

Fort Huachuca, AZ. - Fort Huachuca celebrated Native American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 9 at Thunder Mountain Activity Centre with a video presentation spotlighting Native American veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble, a cultural dance demonstration and two special guest speakers.

Col. Brian Lieb, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade Commander, opened the event reminiscing about growing up in southern Minnesota.

"I had Lakota friends and Chippewa friends from Minnesota," Lieb said. "One day we found ourselves bumbling down a gravel road in the back of an Amish buggy shooting pheasants. The first joint combined operation I took part in was with a Lakota friend, a Chippewa friend, an Amish friend and myself," he joked. "We couldn't hunt out of motorized vehicles in Minnesota, but there was no provision for horse-drawn buggy."

Lieb was followed by a video highlighting the life and military career of Native American veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble. Keeble was a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, located in both North and South Dakota.

Staff Sgt Joseph Daniel Oldfield Cochran, S6 noncommissioned officer in charge, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade, was the first guest speaker.

"I know that some of you might be wondering, he doesn't look Native American," Cochran said. "What is this white guy with blond hair and gray eyes going to talk about?" Cochran explained he was over an eighth Cherokee.

"You see like other native nations, the Cherokee heritage is not just a bloodline but is nationality." he said. "The Cherokee Nation is its own sovereign nation with its own constitution. And like other nations of the world like France or England, the Cherokee Nation has recognized treaties with the United States of America."

Cochran shared stories and photos of his ancestors and their achievements highlighting that "through their stories, I hope to prove that regardless of any discrimination or hardship you endure, you have the choice to rise to any heights you are capable of in this great nation."

Cochran related his family history to the 2017 national theme for Native American Indian Heritage Month of Standing Together.

"I believe that you will see that my ancestors lived their lives to the fullest, contributing to the development of America by working equally with their peers, even though politically, they did not have the same rights."

Cochran reminded the audience that while November has been set aside for Native American heritage, they "do not put natives on a pedestal or any other race of people for that matter. For true equality to happen, we must see each other as humans, not as races of people.

"We can honor each other's background by having an understanding of cultures different than ours. But in order to serve each other and to live in harmony, we must not elevate or downgrade other races above or below our own."

The Yellowhouse Dancers entertained the audience with a variety of dances, including a hoop dance. Members from the audience were invited to participate and the Yellowhouse Dancers led Soldiers through the steps of a dance.

Robert Valencia, chairman, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, was the second guest speaker. Valencia spoke of the respect paid to those who serve through hundreds of tribes, but "when it comes to veterans, we all have the same notion of honoring our veterans."

Valencia pointed out that Native American Indians had only recently been able to serve in the military. He said "one of the last [American Indian War] skirmishes in 1918 [was] with the Buffalo Soldiers from Fort Huachuca.

"Our people really didn't get into the military until the second World War," Valencia said, but as an ethnic group they have the highest record of military service per capita. He shared the stories and experiences of different veterans in a photo and video presentation.