Columbus Day Piece Highlights Native American Military Patriotism
A Columbus Day essay argues that Native American military service and patriotism offer a counterpoint to academic narratives centered on colonialism and grievance. It points to a 2026 Black Hills Powwow video showing Native veterans and dancers entering behind American, tribal, and military flags. The article notes that Native Americans have served in every major U.S. conflict since the Revolutionary War, including more than 12,000 in World War I, with a casualty rate far above the national average.
The essay responds to campus discussions that often frame Native American history mainly through colonization and grievance. It contrasts that with a 2026 Black Hills Powwow clip in which Native veterans and dancers enter behind U.S., tribal, and military flags.
The piece also notes long military involvement: Native people fought in every major U.S. war from the Revolution onward. In World War I, over 12,000 served, including about 6,000 volunteers and 6,500 draftees; roughly 5 percent died, five times the national rate. Many were not citizens until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act.
This framing may resonate with readers who see military service as unifying, and could challenge assumptions among students or educators exposed to narrower historical narratives. It may also affect Native veterans and communities by highlighting their contributions, though others might view the essay’s political framing as oversimplifying ongoing debates over Columbus Day and colonial history. Its impact likely depends on whether audiences treat it as a counterpoint or as partisan commentary.