The White Falcon - 17.11.2005, Blaðsíða 8

NAS Keflavik celebrates Native American Heritage Month
By Tech. Sgt. Sonya Hildebrand
Air Force Militaiy Equal Opportunity
& Cultural Awareness Committee
This year’s American Indian Heritage Month
theme is “Honoring Heritage...Strengthening Our
Nation’s Spirit.”
The term American Indian and Alaskan Native
refers to people having origins in any of the original
peoples of North and South America (including
Central America) and who maintain tribal affiliation
or community attachment. Their ancestors are often
referred to as the “first Americans” because they
were the original inhabitants of North America.
According to the Census Bureau, there are 2.5 mil-
lion American Indians in the United States. In the
military, they comprise 0.5% (1,800 people) of the
Air Force and 2.93% (10,900 people) of the Navy.
There are more than 500 American Indian tribes
recognized by the U.S. government and they all
have different languages and religious practices.
Here are some facts about American Indians:
MILITARY
There are a total of 24 American Indian Medal of
Honor recipients.
Many Navajo, Choctaw, and Comanche Indians
served as “Code Talkers” in World War I and World
War II by using their language to communicate
secret messages.
In 2003, Private First Class Lori Ann Piestewa
became the first woman killed in Iraq and the first
ever American Indian woman killed in any military
conflict.
AGRICULTURE/SCIENCE
American Indians introduced the world to prod-
ucts such as tomatoes, potatoes, com, sunflowers,
squash and peppers.
American Indian medicines effectively fought
malaria, dysentery, and scurvy during the time
Europeans were settling the New World.
A common plant used by the American Indians for
its pain numbing properties was later discovered to
be cocaine. In the 1880s, it was used as an anesthe-
sia for surgery and eventually became marketed as
Novocaine.
GOVERNMENT/POLITICS
The Iroquois Federation was a model of democra-
cy that may have influenced the U.S. Constitution.
In 1987, Ben Nighthorse Campbell became the
first American Indian to serve in Congress since
1929.
SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT
Billy Mills (Athlete) won a gold medal in the 1964
Olympics for his record setting performance in the
10 thousand-meter race. The movie Running Brave
was based on his life story.
Wes Studi (actor) is a well-known actor who has
appeared in such films as Dancing with Wolves, The
Last of the Mohicans, and Geronimo.
Buffy Sainte-Marie (singer, songwriter, activ-
ist, artist) won an Oscar for writing Up Where
We Belong, the theme song for An Officer and a
Gentleman (1982).
SPACE EXPLORATION
In 2002, John Bennett Herrington became the first
American Indian to walk in space.
To celebrate American Indian Heritage Month,
the Cultural Awareness Committee has placed trivia
questions in the White Falcon.
Also, during the committee’s Annual Talent Show,
to be held Nov. 30, questions will be asked about
American Indian History and prizes will be given
out to those with correct answers.
All are encouraged to learn more about American
Indian History so you can participate in these events
and broaden your knowledge about this group.
The Cultural Awareness Committee offers
the following American Indian Alaska Native
Heritage Month trivia:
What is the name of the American Indian
actor who starred in the 1993 film Geronimo?
(True or False) American Indians are referred
to as the “first Americans”?
These American Indians served with the
Marines in WWII by transmitting messages
through telephone and radio in their native
language?
In 1969, a small group of American Indian
students and urban Indians began the 19-
month occupation of what island in San
Francisco Bay?
Who originated the term “Indian”?
How many American Indians received the
Medal of Honor for service during WWII?
Who Am I? I am a Cherokee from North
Carolina. I was a Private First Class in Korea.
I threw myself on top of a grenade sacrificing
my own life, yet saving the lives of my fellow
comrades. I was killed in battle on 30 Nov
1952. I was posthumously awarded the Medal
of Honor in 1954.
There will be opportunities to win prizes at
the Cultural Awareness Committee Talent
Show, Nov. 30. Answers will be included in the
Dec 1 issue of The White Falcon.
MAYS Keflavik Ants (Corneal weekly update
IceXpo presents Honnun & Heimili, The Woman
and the Home, the domestic and lifestyle exhibi-
tion, Nov. 17 - 20.
This is the first show of its kind in Iceland showing
all new designs for the home of the millennium. The
exhibition will be held at the Sports Arena in
Laugardalur.
IceXpo is the exhibition department of Frodi
Publishing EHF, which is the publisher of several
top magazines in Iceland, including Nytt Lif (New
Life), and Hus og Hybyli (House and Dwelling
Spaces). The exhibition is open to the public Nov.
19 and 20.
Sigrun Lara Shanko will be showing her pillows
and couch throws at the exhibition.
She is offering a 15 percent discount on her pil-
lows from now until Christmas to anyone mention-
ing the Arts Council White Falcon column.
Don’t forget Inga Bjama is having her 30 percent
off sale, Saturday, for anyone who brings a copy of
this column or the one from last week. It is an easily
stop to her studio on the way to the Sports Arena.
Bergur Thorberg was unable to be at Three Flags
Club last Thursday, but we do expect to see him
tonight. If you have not seen him paint yet, you
really should pay a visit to the Club.
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The White Falcon
November 17, 2005