This interview is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment, hosted by Lori Walsh.
SDPB's Richard Two Bulls visits with members of The Lakota Women Warriors group.
The Lakota Women Warriors started as a concept in 2012 after Kella With Horn, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and U.S. Army Veteran and founding member, uncle passed away.
“After my uncle passed away, he was a Vietnam veteran, and I got his uniform and I asked my aunt if it was okay if I wore his jacket to honor him when I danced,” said With Horn. “So I would wear his jacket with my skirt, because I'm a traditional dancer. And when just a fellow veteran of mine seen me, she goes, "We should create our own group and we should wear our jackets.
In 2014, the Lakota Women Warriors group’s color guard made their debut at the Black Hills Pow Wow in Rapid City, S.D. They become so popular that when With Horn created their social media page, it had around 6,000 likes within in the first two hours.
“Yeah, so we were very welcomed into the veteran community,” said With Horn, “and I think the reason being is because you don't see a lot of all-female groups and you don't see the female group. You see females with the male veterans in a lot of functions, but when we came on board and we were wearing our uniform jackets and our ribbon skirts, people were like, ‘Wow, where did they come from?’ Which was pretty cool.”
The group travels around the nation going to a variety of events from pow wows, to engagement speaking that inspires young Native and Non-Native women as well as presenting the colors at a couple professional football games.
Marilee Spotted Wolf, Northern Cheyenne, served in the U.S. Navy as a Gunners Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer. Since getting out and moving on with her life, she knew that it was a matter of time before she would become a member.
“I've seen them around when I got out and my family is very pow wow oriented,” said Spotted Wolf, “and so I think it was just a matter of time before introductions were made and it being what it was, you just get out and it's like, ‘Well, what do I do?’ You have that little bit of hesitation. Yeah, hesitation, to really like, ‘Hey, I'm now actively, for real, a Veteran. I'm no longer active duty.’ So just having that to fall back on where it's like, ‘Hey, you meet other people.’ You meet other females, you meet other female veterans and given the circumstance of being at pow wows or at different cultural events, it definitely makes those relationships more meaningful.”
The Lakota Women Warriors group is a fusion of their cultural background as strong Native American women and that of their military background.
“It's one of those where we can look back and take pride in the fact that our ancestors had had that as well,” said Spotted Wolf. “They walked, the warriors walked around publicly, and they had the acknowledgement of both the regular people and also with the veteran community. So, to have that implemented today is huge for us. It's a huge honor to be able to represent, I wouldn't say, on their level, but something reminiscent of their level.”
Native Americans are one of the highest serving minorities in the United States Military, most volunteered when the country needed them. According to With Horn, she often gets questioned about why she would join military.
“’Why fight for a country that didn't care about us?’ So, we do get asked those questions,” said With Horn. “We do get asked questions like, ‘…if the military doesn't take care of the females, why would you want to talk about that? Why would you want to encourage younger women, native women, to join the military?’ And it all comes down to, for me, I want to serve my country regardless. And that's what I always wanted to do. And if I got asked to do it again, I'd do it in a heartbeat.”
The same sentiments were echoed by Spotted Wolf.
“I think for myself personally, it's been an honor to serve,” said Spotted Wolf. “Not only just in the military in general, but the way that we view serving our people, being the example, you might as well say, and to be able to help anybody that comes along who needs a little direction, needs a little guidance, maybe somebody who wants to know what it's like. It's always great to have anybody really come up and ask questions or maybe it's seems like a huge moment for them and for us to actually be able to offer a little bit of our experience, a little bit of encouragement, that's always an honor for us.”
With Horn recounts a moment she had when the group were out at an event in Minnesota.
“…they wanted to shake our hands and they wanted us to know that we did a good job,” said With Horn, ”and it was just adorable. And we had a mother that actually came up to us and she said, ‘My daughter's thinking about joining the military. And we really, really enjoy you ladies out there representing.’ So that means a lot to know that we're touching lives, whether they join the military or they know somebody that was in the military. If you can make an impact on one girl's life, where she becomes and does what she wants to do and lives her dream of serving her country, that's all that matters.”