The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian honors the service and sacrifice of Native American, Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native veterans with a full day of programming at the Washington, D.C., museum Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s event, “Service and Sacrifice: Veterans Day,” features ceremonies, talks, films and hands-on activities. All programs are free and open to the public.
Welcoming Remarks and Presentation of the Colors
The event begins at 10:30 a.m. in the museum’s Potomac Atrium with welcoming remarks, followed by the Presentation of Colors by the Native American Women Warriors (NAWW). Founded in 2010 by U.S. Army veteran Mitchelene BigMan (Apsáalooke [Crow]/Hidatsa), NAWW was established as the first recognized all-Native, all-women military color guard in the United States. The nonprofit organization honors, serves and empowers Native American women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. Its members wear distinctive jingle dress regalia that honors Native cultural traditions and military service.
Two Talks: WWII Indigenous Code Talkers and Lloyd “Kiva” New’s WWII Story
At 11 a.m., Acoma Pueblo scholar Christine Sims (Acoma Pueblo) will present “WWII Indigenous Code Talkers: The Contributions of Pueblo Indian Language Speakers.” Sims will discuss the role Pueblo men played as Code Talkers during World War II and will recognize the contributions of two New Mexico Pueblo Code Talkers, Staff Sgt. Paul Histia Sr. of Acoma Pueblo and Joseph R. Day of Laguna Pueblo. These men used their Native Keres language to relay critical military information as part of a secret network of Indigenous-language speakers from various American Indian tribes serving as Code Talkers during the war. Sims is an associate professor in the Department of Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies in the College of Education & Human Sciences at the University of New Mexico and director of the American Indian Language Policy Research and Teacher Training Center, which she established in 2008.
At 1 p.m., Ryan S. Flahive, archivist and museum studies faculty member at the Institute of American Indian Arts, will present “War, Identity, & Design: Lloyd ‘Kiva’ New’s WWII Story.” The talk explores how New’s experiences as a Navy Seabee during World War II shaped his later designs, philosophy and advocacy for Native arts education. Through archival photographs, documents and New’s own writings, Flahive will examine how wartime trauma and discipline became woven into New’s creative practice and how New transformed camouflage into couture, blending resilience and design into a distinctly Indigenous modernism. Flahive is the editor of the book The Sound of Drums: A Memoir of Lloyd Kiva New.
Both talks take place in the Potomac Atrium and will be livestreamed.
Film Screening of Why We Serve and Hands-On Activities
The film Why We Serve will be screened in the Rasmuson Theater at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and visitors can view the Why We Serve banner exhibition on the Level 4 Overlook.
Other activities offered throughout the day include fashioning tobacco grown on the museum’s grounds into “prayer ties” to remember and honor loved ones who served in the military; making a paper-star quilt pattern inspired by a Native tradition that honors generosity, achievement and service; and visiting a teaching cart where museum staff will share more about the dresses currently on view in the “Making a Statement” exhibition.
Lighting the Veterans Memorial Flame and Retiring of the Colors
At 3 p.m., the museum will light the flame at the National Native American Veterans Memorial in recognition of the service of Native veterans. The flame will remain lit until 5 p.m.
The day concludes with the Retiring of Colors at 4:30 p.m. in the Potomac Atrium.
Veterans are invited to visit the Veterans Hospitality Suite in the Patrons Lounge on Level 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Major support for the program is provided by The Boeing Company.
All programming is free and open to the public. No reservations are required. Programs and schedule are subject to change. For updates and more details, visit the website.
The National Native American Veterans Memorial
The National Native American Veterans Memorial sits on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian and was commissioned by Congress to give “all Americans the opportunity to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans in the Armed Forces of the United States.” Native Americans have served in every major military conflict in the U.S. since the Revolutionary War. This is the first national landmark in Washington, D.C., to focus on the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the military.
About the Museum
In partnership with Native peoples and their allies, the National Museum of the American Indian fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples. Through two locations, it features exhibitions and programs in New York City and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For information about the museums, including hours and directions, visit americanindian.si.edu. Follow the museum on social media @SmithsonianNMAI.