Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration

By Eric PilgrimNovember 15, 2023

Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
Staff Sgt. Stephanie Rainge, Current Operations NCO at U.S. Army Reserve Aviation Command, performs a traditional Native American dance at the Fort Knox Native American Heritage Month celebration in Sadowski Center Nov. 15, 2023. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Members of the Ohio Valley Native American Veteran Warrior Society devoted four hours Nov. 15 to teaching Fort Knox personnel some of the mysteries, beliefs, legends and artifacts of Native Americans.

Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Arizona, an Apache native and member of the Ohio Valley Native American Veteran Warrior Society, holds up a Native American prayer wheel, which holds many different meanings simultaneously. He explained that each “spoke” represents people of color, the directions of the Earth and the seasons, used by Native Americans to release “good medicine” during their prayers. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

Those who gathered at Sadowski Center learned about arrowheads, dream catchers, prayer and medicine bags, traditional dances and much more during the Native American Heritage Month celebration.

Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Eagleheart, commander of the Ohio Valley Native American Veteran Warrior Society, holds a staff that he said represents the equivalent of the American flag to Native Americans. A military veteran, he and other society members started the event by posting the colors. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL

Some Soldiers and civilians in attendance even joined in during a few of the dances.

Fort Knox honors Native American Heritage Month with educational celebration
Several Native American artifacts are displayed on a table in Sadowski, each of which members of the Ohio Valley Native American Veteran Warrior Society explained the significance. (Photo Credit: Eric Pilgrim, Fort Knox News) VIEW ORIGINAL