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Dec. 4, 2015 FEATURE Thunderbolt
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November: Native American Heritage Month
Tribes educate,
feed Thunderbolts
E\$LUPDQ display and sell the goods they Ryon Polequaptewa, left, Native American Hopi Tribe kachina
3('52027$ make as well as bring authentic doll carver, drummer and singer; and Lane Jensen, Native
Native American food.” American hoop dancer, perform together Nov. 19 at the Native
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs American Heritage Month celebration at Luke Air Force Base.
Displays included a Navajo The hoop dance combines technique and special moves to cre-
Luke Air Force Base in- Tribe silversmith and Haulapai ate shapes representing animals or symbols of nature. Jensen
vited a group of Arizona Native Tribe basket weaver. Other and his son compete in local and national Native American
Americans to celebrate Native demonstrations included Na- dance championships.
American Heritage Month Nov. vajo Tacos and fry bread, and
19 outside the base theater. Hopi Tribe dances. LEFT: Navajo Tacos and fry bread are staples in the Navajo
Tribe and other Native American communities. Because of its
“We took the time to rec- “On a military base, it is a popularity outside the Native American community, fry bread
ognize the Native American different kind of environment, has become a modern-day traditional food.
culture,” said Master Sgt. Jes- so we didn’t really know what
sica Jolan, 56th Component to expect,” said Shaliyah Ben,
Maintenance Squadron as- Heard Museum education and
VLVWDQWSURSXOVLRQÁLJKWFKLHI outreach program manager.
“We invited Native American “But, we applaud Luke AFB for
artists from different tribes to wanting to educate their com-
munity about Native American
Janet Jamerica, Hualapai culture.”
Tribe, weaves a basket. The
NAHM event presented an The event also included a
array of Native American performance by a Native Amer-
customs and goods. ican singer and drummer, and
a dancer who shared tradi-
tional Native American dances.
“The presentation we shared
was meant to show some of our
culture and to also pay respect
to military and servicemen
and women,” said Ryon Pole-
quaptewa, Native American
traditional Hopi Tribe kachina
doll carver. “We, the people, are
surrounded by spiritual beings
such as plants, animals and
insects, which lived here before
any human contact. We pray to
them and borrow from them.
For our children’s sake, we
must take care of everything
that is around us.”
Sheilah Nalwood, Navajo Tribe silversmith, shows Lt. Col. Scott Hall, 56th Equip- Thunderbolts participate in the around-the-world dance at the celebration. The dance is
ment Maintenance Squadron commander, a piece of silver jewelry. Nalwood meant to bring together all who attended the festival.
cuts, stamps and designs the pieces by hand with tools that were passed down
through generations.
