Phoenix VA Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
The Phoenix VA hosted an opening ceremony to kick off Native American Heritage Month, with guest speaker Natiana King, of the Navajo tribe, and elected 1st Attendant to Miss Indian Arizona, and the Blue Sage drummers at the 32nd Street Clinic, Nov. 1.
Each November, the VA proudly joins the nation in celebrating Native American Heritage Month to recognize the rich and diverse history and traditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives and their critical contributions to our country. The event drew in an audience of more than 300 people, both in person and virtually.
The guest speaker, Natiana King, gave a traditional Navajo introduction in the Navajo language, which she translated for the audience.
“I am a proud member of the Navajo nation,” said King. “My clans: I am of the Bitter Water clan, born from the Tangle people clan, but I was raised by the Bitter Water clan. That’s how I identify myself as a Navajo woman, and a five finger being.”
She shared her story and what her culture and Veterans mean to her.
“I know you all as Veterans probably experience a lot in active duty, that we civilians will never experience,” said King. “I have two uncles who have served in the military, my uncle Rex Harvey served in the U.S. Navy, but we unfortunately lost him to suicide. And when I see Veterans, it really touches my heart,” she said.
Anick Flores, VA Equal Employment Manager, talked about volunteering for training TERO officers (tribal employment rights ordinance), a tribal employment rights office that is a unit within the tribal government that monitors and governs tribal employment rights for Native Americans.
“I volunteered to do a lot of training for our TEROs,” said Flores. “We would go out there and teach on EEO, and I’m excited to start that cooperation and working together and to see how we can collaborate in not only employment, but also bringing Veterans here for patient care.”
The ceremony closed with The Blue Sage drummers playing traditional Native American songs, whose drummers are Native Americans of various tribes.
King expressed her gratitude of all Veterans and their service for our country.
“And I thank our Veterans every day. My uncle was a stern man, as I think a lot of Veterans are. I think it just comes with your Veterans’ experience. To this day there’s people that still recognize him, and for that our family is so thankful. I want you to know, Veterans, that you’re not alone. That all Veterans struggle with things that we will never understand, but you have my deepest respect and I honor you every day, and because of you I live my life the way I want to, I can eat the food I want, I can pray and sing my traditional songs the way I can.”