Native American Women Warriors post colors at Obama’s Dec. 5 tribal meeting

PUEBLO, Colo. – When Mitchelene BigMan retired from the U.S. Army, the transition to civilian life had its difficulties.

“I had to learn to walk in heels and it was a challenge. It was really hard for me,” said the former sergeant first class, more comfortable in front of a diesel engine and in the company of combat engineers than with a tube of lipstick.

For more than two decades, BigMan (Crow-Apsáalooke) lived a spare routine of efficiency that included few accessories to her standard issue fatigues: Head gear, dog tags, maybe a watch and her wedding ring. Now representing the Native American Women Warriors, she’s adapted to a new uniform of business attire with dress slacks, make-up and high-heel shoes.

“Thank goodness my daughter is good at it,” said BigMan from her home in Pueblo, Colo.

BigMan founded the NAWW to help Native American women veterans when they leave the service. Cosmetics aside, help can mean finding resources for housing for their children. Sometimes it means making a local contact for information on veterans’ benefits. Other times it means helping a woman find a way out of an abusive relationship. Help is also about instilling pride. Fitting back into civilian life following the rigid structure of military service is not a concern exclusive to Native Americans or women, but the world can seem a lonely place for some women soldiers out of ranks and on a reservation.

On Dec. 5, BigMan, Julia Kelly and Sarah Kristine Baker went to Washington, D.C., to attend the 2012 White House Tribal Nations Conference at the U.S. Department of Interior building. The three officers of the NAWW served as color guard for the event. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar asked everyone to stand as the trio presented the colors.

“Some of the people in the crowd started hooting and clapping,” BigMan said. “We were excited when we heard that. We were getting a lot of support again. It was encouraging and it felt good because they seemed to recognize us.”

The organization began with the color guard - a color guard that had an accidental beginning.

At the 2010 Denver March Powwow in Colorado, BigMan and two other Native women veterans wore jingle dresses she had made. The dresses were red, white, blue and Cheyenne pink, and each bore patches showing rank, unit, branch of service and combat. She chose jingle dresses for their significance in embracing prayer and healing. When an elder woman noticed them standing together in line preparing for the grand entry into the arena, she asked them why they weren’t in the color guard. The woman then went to the arena directors and told them about BigMan and her friends. Before grand entry, the three were asked to join the rest of the color guard. Although they were not in uniform, they were reassured that the dresses were testament of their service and qualified.

They were announced to the arena as the Army Women’s Iraqi Freedom Veterans and as an historical first all-female Native American color guard. The name was later changed to the NAWW and a mission put in place: To bring awareness of the many women, especially Native American women, who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and to honor these veterans. The goal became clear, to assist these women in taking charge of their lives in all areas – from locating child care to employment and beyond. The purpose was to empower Native women veterans.

Kelly, vice president of the NAWW, joined the organization’s color guard at the 2010 Veteran’s Day Parade in New York City. A U.S. Army Cmd. Sgt. Maj., Kelly had retired from 28 years in the service only a few weeks prior to the march through Manhattan. She said she was still living in active-duty mode.

“It was different but exciting,” Kelly (Crow-Apsáalooke) said. “It was breathtaking actually, and an honor … Going down Fifth Avenue in moccasins, we marched the soles off.”

Kelly and BigMan are cousins and grew up on the Crow Reservation near Billings, Montana. Kelly currently resides in Billings.

“Being with the color guard has been a journey for me exiting the army. It’s almost like good medicine,” Kelly said.

Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Kelly found that participation in NAWW makes her feel honor and pride. The camaraderie, talking and relating with other Native women veterans has done more for her than any prescription drug.

“Coming back home and in (my) Native ways, I kind of lost the path. I’m coming back on it now,” Kelly said.

Baker (Muscogee-Creek/Euchee) served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Originally from Jenks, Okla., she left service after six years in which she was a sergeant specializing in small computer systems. She now lives with her family at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., where she hosts a radio show (Two Worlds: Natives Helping Natives by Sarah Kristine Baker) and operates her magazine, Tha Trail.  She joined NAWW after learning about the group online and its secretary.

“I’ve wanted to be a Marine since I was a little kid,” Baker said. “Being Native American, I’m very proud of my service in the military.”

Joining NAWW became a way for Baker to continue her service in some respects and reach out to other Native women veterans. She envisions the organization someday having regional resource centers around the country where women can take advantage of existing programs such as small business for minorities classes or temporary housing for the homeless.

The color guard is the public face of NAWW, but there is much in the works for the growing nonprofit – it received tax exempt status in August. The group also has a new website, www.nativeamericanwomenwarriors.org.

BigMan said membership in NAWW is growing, and with that growth comes more appreciation for the services of Native American women veterans. Yet, there will always be another purpose for the organization.

“If we can assist at least one woman, we’ve made our goal.”




COURTESY PHOTO

From left to right: Julia Kelly, Sarah Kristine Baker and Mitchelene BigMan of the Native American Women Warriors color guard presented the colors at the 2012 White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The NAWW is an organization created to serve and recognize women veterans.