First Gathering of Native Veterans at Navajo Nation
Native Vets Learn and Celebrate
During the last weekend of September, veterans from the Navajo, Apache, and Hopi tribes
assembled at the Navajo Fairgrounds at Window Rock, Arizona, for the "First Annual Gathering of
Native American Veterans on Navajo Nation." Veterans heard speakers, attended ceremonies and
participated in celebrations of native history and service. Dan Lozano, National Field Coordinator
for Helmets to Hardhats was there.
The event, coordinated by John Wilson, Navajo Veterans Service Officer, Pat Olson, IHS
(Indian Health Center), and Homana Pawiki, VA Medical Center, had the objective to reach as many
veterans as possible at this first gathering. According to John Wilson, "We had a lot of help from
other organizations who donated their time to get this event together." Six-hundred forty five
(645) veterans from three tribes registered for the gathering. Including families, approximately
1,300 people were in attendance. Because of the large turn-out, the thirty-five promotional booths
had a hard time stocking brochures.
The gathering began with a Gourd Dance, which comes from the Plains tribes, to honor warriors
who have returned from battle. Mr. Wilson noted that the dance also celebrates those who are
currently in battle as well. According to the US Census, 381,000 American Indians and Native
Alaskans identify themselves as veterans. The next two days of the gathering were filled with guest
speakers and workshops.
The Navajo Nation is located in the four corners region of the southwest, which includes
Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. Building Trade Councils from all four of these states have
been involved in Helmets to Hardhats efforts. Dan Lozano, honored to be invited to the event,
connected with over 200 veterans at a Helmets to Hardhats booth and workshop. At his workshop, Mr.
Lozano took the audience on a tour of the website (www.helmetstohardhats.org) and explained the
features of the interactive job seeking tools. "We really appreciated [Dan] coming out," said Mr.
Wilson.
Mr. Lozano found that many veterans attending his workshop are concerned about employment but
are hesitant to leave the reservation. Building Trade Councils in the four corners region, Arizona,
Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, are working to get contracts to do reconstruction on the
reservations. They expect these projects will provide employment opportunities to those who live on
the reservations.
In 2006, when New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed a "Direct Entry" proclamation
supporting Helmets to Hardhats, the Navajo and Zuni Nations presented a similar proclamation signed
by their tribal councils. The Helmets to Hardhats presence at the Navajo veterans gathering bonded
the relationship even more. Mr. Lozano, who is part Apache himself, hopes that his presence at the
Navajo Nation event results in invitations from other tribes. "When you get invited somewhere it's
an honor and a privilege. Especially when you're talking about Native Americans. They are a very
honorable people," Mr. Lozano says. Mr. Lozano hopes to make himself available to other tribes in
the region to explain what Helmets to Hardhats can do for Native American veterans.
"A lot of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who are ready to get out, don't have a
job to come back to or know how to go about [finding a job]. From our office we try to refer people
to organizations… like Helmets to Hardhats." Mr. Wilson says.
Mr. Wilson, a veteran Army Staff Sergeant himself, hopes to streamline the event next year to
tackle other issues important to veterans in the Native communities including identifying new
veterans, improving veteran access to quality healthcare, sharing tribal resources and improving
communication with the VA. "Every day out there, you should thank a veteran for what they've done,"
says John Wilson. "Sometimes we forget or take them for granted but you should thank a veteran
every day."
