$$$%('$'(%#"%#**("#)%('$'(%#"&&% **! *! !!** POTAWATOMI TRAVELING TIMES Volume 21, Issue 6 • WATE BGYA GISES • LEAVES TURNING COLOR MONTH • SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 Native Americans in the Military Spanish American War (1898) %*.*)-.1**(--.,10)"1/(1*$1/"-+(1/)1 1 ! .,$$,&.,',##,+.")-*-(&")+(.-$-'+$.!--%++$*.&'#.),%.!- ).!,#+(%.&*.*)+.*-".-.*)+.),$$.),).*)+.&"* (+#. &**$+.-. &'. &'. .(,'*%.&'#.)-*-(&")%.,,%,-' ,(&(.-.-'(+%%.!+"(-# *,-'.' +(. by Val Niehaus Out of all the wars talked about in actually quite important in the course significant ways. But after the Civil tical training. One Shoshone woman this series so far, the Spanish American of U.S. history and also in the history War, there were a number of conflicts actually graduated from a nursing War certainly was the shortest lived of the Native Americans in the mili- with Indian tribes as the Euro-Ameri- school but at the age of 25 was turned war. Initially, it really did seem that it tary. can population spread across the con- down because nurses had to be be- wouldn’t be worth researching as it This war was fought in Cuba and tinent. Prior to these conflicts, the tween the ages of 30-50 years old. only lasted approximately three and a the Philippines in the South Pacific. It Army actually formally recruited Na- As previously mentioned, one of half months. What is there to talk was preceded by Cuban attempts to tives into their forces primarily as the big problems at the time of the about when a war lasted such a short gain independence from Spain and the scouts. However, after the Wounded Spanish American War was that the period of time? However, this war was United States’ support of those revolu- Knee battle on December 29, 1890, top positions in the U.S. Army were tionaries against Spain. While also in- the Army’s policy changed. There were filled by veteran leaders of the army volving the Philippines, in the end, more restrictions on how Natives were who served in the late 1800s in wars the United States signed the Treaty of recruited into the armed forces in view against the Native tribes. How could Paris, which gave Cuba its independ- of their having been considered “the one recruit soldiers into their own ence. It also resulted in Spain giving enemy” during those years with this armies when they had fought against Guam and Puerto Rico to the United resulting in reservations on the part of these men in the recent past? How States as well as allowing the United commanders when it came to Natives could one trust a man who fought States to purchase the Philippines joining their ranks. against you to now have your backside from Spain. This war established the Some of the other changes to- while he was fighting beside you? United States as a worldwide power wards the end of the 1890s included Some well-known examples and and removed the Spanish colonial tribal women entering the armed names are as follows: Nelson Miles de- presence from our shores. forces as nurses. The four that I found feated Crazy Horse, chased Sitting With this bit of background about mentioned were Susan Bordeaux, Ella Bull into Canada, and was part of the issues involved with the war, it is Clark, Anna B. Pleets and Josephine Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce’s surren- now time to dig a bit deeper into the Two Bears. These women were not der. Native Americans’ involvement. paid as much as men in similar posi- continued on pg. 3... As discussed in previous articles, tions, but they were paid more than Natives had taken part in United some other matrons who worked in States military operations prior to the the armed services. They were not for- Civil War in sometimes informal but mally medically trained but had prac- 2 | Potawatomi Traveling Times • September 15, 2014 Community Robert Giroux Named COO at PBDC As Chief Operations Officer (COO), Giroux will draw from his decades of experience in construction and deferal contracting to help estab- lish a Strategic Business Unit in Alexandria, Va., to house the Potawatomi Federal Solutions (PFS) team. PFS will provide “shared serv- ices” such as DCAA compliant ac- counting and finance, human resources, recruiting, program compli- ance, information technology, network management, quality, legal, contract- ing, marketing and communications to all PBDC subsidiaries engaged in fed- eral contracting. Young Adults from Spotted Eagle, Inc. Secure Jobs at the Wgema Campus David Lemieux Jr. and James Flores started their *1/+*$1+/, 1!#%1% new positions on the Wgema Campus on Monday, Au- ,0.(1/,1'%!1,+/0.1-."-+1/..& gust 25. The two young men are utilizing the job place- #0)/-.(1+10,1'%!1'0/.&1'$)1#0& ment program Spotted Eagle, Inc., which has been providing comprehensive employment and training services to the off-reservation Indian community in southeast Wisconsin since 1974. Formerly known as the Milwaukee Area American Indian Manpower Council, Inc., the organization has grown in size and sophistication in order to provide additional workforce development and educational program services to the community. Lemieux and Floress are currently working with Greenfire Management Services - removing debris from the basement and first floor of the Bgemagen Building *1#-/)-1.- , 1!#%1% 1,0.( in preparation for build-out of the space for new tenant, Milwaukee Police Department. The Internal Affairs division of ,*1,*1&*$)1.0"/-(10,1'%!1'0/.& the Milwaukee Police Department will occupy the space when the project it completed in early December. '$)1#0& Lemieux and Flores will work through the Spotted Eagle program for six months and will then have the opportunity to work directly for Greenfire Management Services in the areas of groundskeeping or general labor on the Wgema Campus. A number of Greenfire’s subcontractors are exploring apprenticeship programs for the young people using the Spotted Eagle program as well. 00(10)"1*.*+/)1**(10+- "/(,+/$,-"1&1!#%10,1'%!1'0/.& '$)1#0& Community September 15, 2014 • Potawatomi Traveling Times | 3 FCPC History Presentation: “A Witness to Change” by Val Niehaus The purpose of this event was to ing all over Indian Country. A few offer FCP Elders an opportunity to changes that will be made are: separa- speak about how history has changed tion of powers, newly formed/strength- from the years of their youth to the ened judiciaries, restricted tribal present day, particularly with respect to councils, longer staggered terms, and tribal traditions. The focus of the pre- election reform. The FCP Ordinance sentations by these speakers was to Department has been working hard on show the audience that the FCP tribal reforming this constitution so that it constitution should be reformed by fits with today’s society and the needs pointing out that the last one was writ- of the people within Indian Country ten by the BIA (Bureau of Indian Af- here in Forest County. There is a re- fairs) in 1982. The FCP elders who vised drafted constitution that is avail- spoke at this event were Jim Thunder, able on-site during these informational Billy Daniels Jr., and Hartford She- meetings that are held by FCP Ordi- gonee. Brooks Boyd, HWC Cultural nance. If you are interested in seeing a Liaison, also had a powerful and mov- change or just have questions about /..&1#0)/-.(1+1,0./)10*$,1/(1./ -1/(,*+& ing presentation about Native Ameri- what it’s all about, don’t be afraid to cans in the White Bison program and stop by. The next informational meet- FCPC Ordinance Department on reforming the FCPC Tribal Consti- the effect that boarding schools had on ing is going to be held on Sept. 16, held a presentation at the FCP Execu- tution. Attendance at this event was people in Indian Country. 2014, at Potawatomi Carter Casino tive Building on Aug. 21, 2014, per- relatively light though it was open to Constitutional change is happen- Hotel from 5 -7 p.m. taining to their long process of work only FCP tribal members. was comprised of troops from Indian ual examples of Native American serv- Spanish American War (1898) Territory (Oklahoma) and the territo- ice in this war. continued from pg. 1... Pratt used the Native wartime experi- ries of Arizona and New Mexico. Two In conclusion, tribal members Despite the personal history he ences during this war to vindicate his other regiments were formed from contributed and sacrificed significantly had battling Natives, he was known to approach to educating and assimilating Wyoming and the Dakota Territory. during this brief war with Spain with have commented on the fact that prior the Natives. He and others believed Natives from several tribes of the Oklahoman John Alley noting that of to being changed by contact with the the socio-economic salvation for the southwestern United States volun- the 34 battle casualties among Okla- white men, the Natives showed dig- Natives lay in cultural assimilation teered as wartime military service men homa’s troops, the Indian Territory nity, hospitality and gentleness towards under the direction of honest and which was a family tradition for many, component reported more than half of strangers. He commented that what qualified federal personnel. Roo- but they may have also wanted to seek these casualties. changed from this initial manner of sevelt—who became president after adventure as did many young men Many American leaders and com- the Natives was not entirely a result of the war—initially felt this represented both then and now. Others joined in mentators still did not value indige- actions on the part of the Natives but a new era for Natives in this country. hopes that their experiences in the nous cultures so old mentalities from rather related to the needs of “higher However, now a politician, he was re- armed forces would help them obtain a before the war again emerged.