Local warrior society honors veterans with powwow

PABLO — While many Veterans Day ceremonies feature the solemn sound of bugles and horns, the honoring held by the Veteran Warrior Society of the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes took on a much livelier tone.

The rhythm of drum beats and tradition singing filled the Joe McDonald Gymnasium in Pablo on Nov. 11 as the group held it’s 24th annual powwow recognizing the sacrifice of service members.

Warrior Society Commander Dan Jackson said the powwow carries on the longstanding tradition of commending military service among Native American communities, which have produced the most veterans per capita when compared with other ethnic groups.

“We have served in every war since Columbus,” he said.

Dancers of all ages, clad in regalia decorated with animal feathers and immaculate bead work circled the gym floor as they honored the warriors of both past and present.

“It’s a family thing,” Jackson said. “You see great grandfathers dancing with their kids.”

This inclusiveness was particularly appealing to several participants.

Bobbie Orr, who served in the Women’s Army Corps during the Vietnam War, said that it’s assuring to see widespread support for service members. Orr said many of her fellow veterans received a cold welcoming when they returned home in the 1970s due to strong anti-war sentiment.

“People said maybe I shouldn’t wear my uniform around,” she said. “But I told them ‘no way.’ I’m proud of it.”

This pride, she said, runs deep among tribal members. Orr said at least one person from every generation of her family has served in the military.

“Because this was our land, I think we really want to protect it,” she said.

Jackson, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard, echoed the sentiment of pride over prejudice, noting that many elders were against involvement in the Vietnam War because tribal members were not included in the draft at the time. Nevertheless they enlisted and endured the experience of war.

“There’s a difference between a veteran and a non-veteran,” he said. “It take a long to time to get over what you’ve seen and done.”

Providing an opportunity for healing was one of the reasons for the foundation of the warrior society more than two decades ago.

“There have always been warrior societies,” he said. “But as we came into modern warfare, everybody started forming other groups like the (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and people forgot about warrior societies.”

Jackson said the local chapter was the first modern warrior society established in the Northwest. Now, however, nearly every tribe has its own. He said public events such as powwows are an important reminder that support exists for veterans, especially as service members return home from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from post-traumatic stress and other mental disorders.

“We’re loosing more boys at home to suicide than we did over there,” Jackson said.

Jackson said it takes an inclusive community to provide a path to recovery. Contrary to common belief, Jackson said a member of the Veterans Warrior Society does not have to be part of the tribe.