Bismarck Powwow to honor Native Americans who served in WWI

By the Associated Press
via the usnews.com web site

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — One hundred years after World War I, a powwow in North Dakota will honor Native Americans who served in the conflict before they were even considered U.S. citizens.

They'll being remembered at the 48th annual International Powwow next weekend at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck. Several hundred family members and descendants of World War I Native servicemen are expected to participate in the ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 10, the Bismarck Tribune reported.

Sgt. John W. Smith from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, pictured in the WWI era (right) and as a member of the American Legion in the 1950's.The grand entry will feature honor guards and drum groups from the five governing tribes of the college: the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; the Spirit Lake Sioux; the Standing Rock Sioux; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.

"They'll sing songs in their language, World War I victory songs, that represent some of the deeds that their relatives have done," said Leander "Russ" McDonald, president of the college.

Names will be read of more than 355 veterans from the five tribes who served in World War I, including Sgt. John W. Smith from the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Before he left he wrote a note on a picture of himself that said, "Forget me not."

Native Americans didn't become U.S. citizens until 1924.

"I don't think the fact that they weren't citizens was really relevant to them at the time," said Marilyn Hudson, a relative of Smith and longtime director of the Three Affiliated Tribes Museum. "There's always been the desire to protect and serve the country where you live."

Read the entire article on the usnews.com web site here.

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