>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS CLARISSA ALEXANDER,
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIST WITH THE
NATIVE AMERICAN PORTFOLIO AT THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.
I'M A RESEARCHER OF PUBLIC
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, ADVOCATE
FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES RESEARCH,
EQUITABLE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
TODAY I'M YOUR HOST AND MASTER
OF CEREMONY FOR CELEBRATION OF
RESILIENCE OF THE EVENT
COMMEMORATING NATIVE AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH 2024.
THIS COLLABORATIVE IN-PERSON AND
VIRTUAL EVENT MARKS THE LAUNCH
OF EDI'S INCLUSIVE CULTURAL
EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE
RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE
EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES, THAT PROMOTE
CULTURAL COMPETENCY WITH RESPECT
TO NATIVE PEOPLES.
TO SUPPORT US WE SOUGHT
OUTSTANDING SPEAKERS TO
HIGHLIGHT NATIVE AMERICAN
TRADITIONS AND TO ASSIST US IN
RECOGNIZING EXCEPTIONAL AWARDEES
ACCOMPLISHED IN THEIR FIELDS
DEDICATED TO PROMOTING
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION,
AND ACCESSIBILITY, TO ENSURE
PROGRESS OF NATIVE PEOPLES.
WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE AN ELECTED MEMBER OF
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
MEDICINE, IN THE PAST HAS SERVED
AS SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN OF
RESEARCH AND PROFESSOR OF
DENTISTRY, BIOCHEMISTRY,
BIOPHYSICAL -- BIOPHYSICS,
PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECT YORE OF
--
DIRECTOR OF NIH NIH, DR.
LAWRENCE TABAK.
>> THANK YOU, AND GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE.
THOSE OF YOU WHO BRAVED THE
ELEMENTS, VERY NICE OUT TODAY,
AND ARE HERE IN PERSON, AND OF
COURSE THOSE OF YOU ON THE
VIDEOCAST.
I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE AND
CELEBRATE THE REMARKABLE
RESILIENCE AND CULTURAL
STRENGTHS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
AND ALASKA NATIVES.
AND OF COURSE THIS BEING THE
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
AS WE GATHER IN THIS THE SPIRIT
OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION,
AND ACCESSIBILITY, IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT WE NOT ONLY
ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED BY
NATIVE COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO
UPLIFT AND LEARN FROM THEIR
ENDURING STRENGTHS, WISDOM, AND
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE.
AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA
NATIVES HAVE A PROFOUND LEGACY
OF RESILIENCE, DESPITE
GENERATIONS OF ADVERSITY, NATIVE
PEOPLES REMAINED STEADFAST
PRESERVING IDENTITIES,
LANGUAGES, TRADITIONS.
THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE
STRENGTH THAT IS WOVEN INTO THE
FABRIC OF EACH COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE CORNERSTONES OF THIS
RESILIENCE IS THE VALUE PLACED
ON COMMUNITY AND
INTERDEPENDENCE, I'VE LEARNED
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WHILE
WELL-BEING IS NOT SEEN AS AN
INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT, BUT A
COLLECTIVE ONE.
THIS COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH
IS SOMETHING FROM WHICH WE CAN
ALL LEARN.
TRADITIONAL PRACTICES LIKE
STORY-TELLING, DRUMMING, DANCE,
CEREMONIAL GATHERINGS, AND
TRADITIONAL HEALTH AND HEALING
PRACTICES ARE MORE THAN RITUALS.
THEY SERVE AS AN EXPRESSION OF
HISTORY, IDENTITY, HEALING, AND
WELL-BEING.
FOR MANY OF THESE PRACTICES
SERVE AS CRITICAL ANCHORS
REINFORCING A SENSE OF IDENTITY
AND BELONGING THAT CAN BE LIFE
SAVING.
NIH-SUPPORTED RESEARCH HAS
YIELDED POWERFUL EXAMPLES OF
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
INTEGRATING TRADITIONS INTO
HEALTH AND HEALING FROM
ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS TO
MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION
INTERVENTION.
SUCH RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT
WHEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE RECONNECT
WITH THEIR HERITAGE AND CULTURAL
PRACTICES, IT AIDS NOT ONLY
THEIR RECOVERY AND RETURN TO
HEALTH BUT IT ALSO NURTURES A
POWERFUL SENSE OF BELONGING AND
PURPOSE.
DESPITE THESE STRENGTHS, NATIVE
COMMUNITIES BEAR EXTREME ILL
EFFECTS, POVERTY, AND OTHER
STRUCTURAL DETERMINANTS THAT
HAVE LED TO THE LOWEST LIFE
EXPECTANCY OF ANY RACIAL OR
ETHNIC GROUP IN THE UNITED
STATES.
ONGOING EFFORTS AT NIH
DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO
THE NIH MISSION TO ENHANCE LIFE
AND REDUCE DISABILITY, WE STAND
IN SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES TO FULFILL MISSION
BY ENSURING THEY HAVE ACCESS TO
RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT
SELF-DETERMINED GROWTH AND
WELL-BEING.
THE TRIBAL HEALTH RESEARCH
OFFICE HAS LED TWO MAJOR
INITIATIVES THIS YEAR, FIRST IS
GALVANIZING TRIBAL SUPPORT AND
INPUT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF
INDIGENOUS DATA SOVEREIGNTY
POLICY AT NIH THAT RECOGNIZES
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AND HONORS
FEDERAL TRUST RELATIONSHIP.
THE SECOND IS THE UPCOMING
FEDERAL INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL
HEALING SUMMIT TO BE HELD AT NIH
ON DECEMBER 18-20, WHICH BRINGS
TOGETHER BOARDING SCHOOL
SURVIVORS, COMMUNITY
PRACTITIONERS, SCIENTIFIC
EXPERTS AND INTERGENERATIONAL
TRAUMA AND HEALING, AND FEDERAL
PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY GAPS AND
OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP NEW
INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE
INDIVIDUAL, FAMILIAL, COMMUNAL,
AND POPULATION HEALTH, HEALING
AND HEALTH.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE
THE EFFORTS OF THE NIH OFFICE OF
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND
INCLUSION, WHICH HAS PUT
TOGETHER TODAY'S EVENT, TO
RECOGNIZE THE RESILIENCE AND
CULTURAL STRENGTHS OF AMERICAN
INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES, AND
TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THESE
COMMUNITIES.
TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE THE
STRENGTHS OF AMERICAN INDIAN AND
ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES, LET'S
ALSO REFLECT ON HOW INDIGENOUS
KNOWLEDGES HAVE ALREADY SHAPED
SCIENCE AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO
EMBRACE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGES IN
CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE WAYS TO
PROMOTE SCIENCE AND HEALTH
INTERVENTIONS THAT FURTHER
CONTRIBUTE TO INDIGENOUS HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING AND DECREASE
HEALTH DISPARITIES.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, A
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR INVITED
GUESTS, HAPPY NATIVE AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. TABAK.
THAT WAS AN IMPRESSIVE WELCOME.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE
STAGE THE OLDER -- ELDER GIVINS
THE BLESSING FOR THIS PROGRAM OF
EVENTS FOLLOWED BY GRAND
OPENING.
HE'S THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE
NON-PROFIT CREATED TO PROVIDE
ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO AT-RISK
TRIBAL FAMILIES DURING HEIGHT OF
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THROUGH
PISCATAWAY EYES, HE'S THE CHIEF
OF THE PISCATAWAY CONOY PEOPLE,
ONE OF THE FIRST TRIBES OF
CONTACT IN WHAT WOULD LATER
BECOME THE UNITED STATES, LIVING
IN PRESENT-DAY MARYLAND, D.C.,
AND V. -- VIRGINIA.
I PRESENT TO YOU CHIEF JESSE
SWANN JR.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M NOT CHIEF SWANN, I'M HIS SON
KYLE SWANN WITH MY SISTER
JESSICA SWANN.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
YOUR IMPORTANCE, I CANNOT THANK
YOU ENOUGH FOR THE WORK YOU'RE
DOING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE
DOING WORK THAT IS NEEDED, NOT
JUST IN NARRATIVE PLACE UPON US
BUT FOR THE FUTURE.
I SAY THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU.
I ASK THAT EACH PERSON WILL
STAND UP SO WE CAN BEGIN AN
OPENING PRAYER.
CREATOR, WE THANK YOU FOR
BRINGINGS US HERE TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR GUIDANCE AND
KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED
TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE
ADAPTABILITY TO BE ABLE TO
STRIVE AND OF IN THE FACE OF
ADVERSITY THROUGHOUT OUR
HISTORIES.
SO MANY OF OUR STORIES COINCIDE
WITH WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH.
BUT TODAY WE CELEBRATE.
WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE
ABILITY TO CONTINUE ON IN OUR
CULTURES, TO CONTINUE ON IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND TO CONTINUE ON
WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO
GUIDE US THROUGH EVERY SINGLE
THING TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
WE THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY GIVING
US LIFE BUT GIVING US A
WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
MOTHER EARTH, WE THANK YOU FOR
THE VIABILITY TO LIFE THAT WE
POSSESS TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US
NOT JUST THROUGH TIME BUT INTO
THE FUTURE.
WE HOPE THAT THROUGH EVERYTHING
THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH, WE CAN
REACH A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR
CHILDREN, THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN
HAVE NOT ONLY THE SAME PRIDE WE
HAVE TODAY BUT MORE OF IT.
WE HOPE THAT WITH THE CONTINUITY
WE'RE TRYING TO SOW IN OUR
COMMUNITIES ONE DAY WE'LL BE
ABLE TO FULLY SAY THIS LAND IS
OURS.
WITH THE LAND STOLEN FROM MANY
NATIVE PEOPLES WE'VE SHOWN NOT
ONLY THAT WE ADAPT BUT THAT
WE'RE RESILIENT.
I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH AND
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY
TO LOOK OUT IN THE CROWD AND SEE
EVERY SINGLE PERSON, TO SEE
EVERY SINGLE STORY, EVERY
ANCESTOR THAT IS CARRIED ON NOT
JUST THEIR LIFE BUT THE LIVES
BEFORE THEM, TO THEIR
DESCENDANTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CREATOR.
THANK YOU, MOTHER EARTH.
WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN
YOUR BEST EFFORTS.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL
BLESSING.
AND THANK YOU FOR BLESSING OUR
PROGRAM OF EVENTS AND OUR
ATTENDEES, ALL OF THOSE HERE
ONLINE AND IN PERSON.
NEXT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
GRAND OPENING SESSION TO
RECOGNIZE THE TRIBAL LEADERS
THAT ARE HERE BY ALLOWING THEM
TO PLACE A FLAG IN A PLACE OF
PROMINENCE AND RESPECT.
WE PROCEED WITH THE PLACING OF
THE TRIBAL NATION FLAGS ON THE
STAGE.
>> HI, EVERYBODY.
I'M THE BRANCH DIRECTOR FOR THE
PORTFOLIO AT THE OFFICE OF
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
INTRODUCING DR. BRIAN LUCE,
SECOND SPEAKER, ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR FOR UNIVERSITY OF
ARIZONA FOX SCHOOL OF MUSIC,
PROFESSOR OF THE FLUTE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, YAMAHA
PERFORMANCE ARTIST, ACCOMPLISHED
SOLOIST, CHAMBER MUSICIAN.
I PRESENT TO YOU NOW DR. BRIAN
LUCE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD MORNING.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
♪
[ FLUTE MELODY ]
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WISH TO EXTEND MY GREETINGS
FROM THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA AND
MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.
THESE GREETINGS INCLUDE WISHES
AND BLESSINGS FROM THE EAST,
LOOK TO THE FUTURE,
POSSIBILITIES THAT BRINGS.
FROM THE SOUTH, CELEBRATING
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR FOREBEARS.
FROM THE WEST, SEEKING AND
REWARDING WORK AND EFFORTS THAT
LED TO THIS MOMENT.
AND FROM THE NORTH, WORKING TO
INSTILL ALL EFFORTS PAST,
PRESENT, FUTURE.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.
SALUTATIONS TO DIRECTOR OF NIH,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COLLEAGUES,
FAMILY, FRIENDS.
I'M HUMBLED TO BE ASKED TO SPEAK
DURING THIS EVENT AND HOPE MY
BACKGROUND AND PERSPECTIVE
BRINGS UNDERSTANDING AND IMPACT
FROM MUSICAL ENDEAVORS FROM THE
INDIGENOUS CULTURE AS IT HAS
DEVELOPED OVER THE MILENNIA.
THIS EVOLUTION HAS ACCELERATED,
I'M BIRACIAL IN EVIDENCE IN
HYBRIDIZATION, REINVIGORATING
CULTURE AND SHARING IT.
PRIMARY OUTLETS OF MUSIC WERE
INDIVIDUAL, NOW THE SOUND THAT
WERE ISOLATED ARE NOW FINDING A
PLACE IN THE LARGER GLOBAL
MUSICAL WORLD.
I RECENTLY TRAVELED TO CHINA FOR
OUTREACH AND EXCHANGE, HUMBLED
TO JOIN A COLLABORATIVE
PERFORMANCE WITH A CONSERVATORY
MUSIC ENSEMBLE, MATCHING
PRAISING, AS WE KNOW FROM
ARCHEOLOGY INDIGENOUS AMERICANS
MIGRATED FROM SIBERIAN LAND
BRIDGE AND BIOLOGICAL TRAITS AND
CULTURE SOMEWHAT RELATED.
HOWEVER, WITH THAT EXPERIENCE
REVEALED TO ME WHAT SOME
CONSIDER PALEOLITHIC MUSIC HAS
ROOTS IN THE LARGER GLOBAL
EXPERIENCE OF ALL PEOPLES.
I CAN SAY AS A MUSICIAN MY MISS
- INSTINCTS HAVE A COLLECTION TO
A GROUP OF HUMANS.
I WAS AN ORPHAN CHILD, PIMA,
TRIBAL NATIVE CALL THEMSELVES
FATHER AND IRISH WHITE MOTHER.
AFTER MONTHS OF FOSTER CARE I
WON THE LIFE LOTTERY, ADOPTED.
RALPH AND ANN LUCE, MID WESTERN
TRANSPLANTS WERE EAGER TO START
A FAMILY.
AFTER THE COPPER MINE AREA AND
PHOENIX WE MOVED, MY EARLY
CHILDHOOD IN TRADITIONAL ARIZONA
COPPER WAS STILL KING.
ALONG MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND
SISTER GREW UP WITH ROUTINES OF
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, MY FAMILY NO
DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHERS OF THE
VALLEY, ALL WHITES, LATINOS,
MEXICANS, AS THEY PREFER TO BE
CALLED, NAVAJOS, APACHES, ZUMIS,
THE COMMON BOND BETWEEN THE
PEOPLE WAS THE WORK A DAY
TRAVAILS OF FEEDING, CLEANING
AFTER, INOCULATING, SHIPPING,
PROCESSING LIVE STOCK.
DURING THE MANY TIMES WE WORKED
TOGETHER TO HELP A NEIGHBOR MEND
FENCES, REBUILD CORRALS, BUILD
FEED TROUGHS, EACH ABLE-BODIED
BOY WAS REQUIRED TO WORK HIS
FAIR SHARE ALONGSIDE THE MEN.
FOR THOSE DAY-LONG COMMUNAL
EFFORTS EACH BOY HAD A NICKNAME.
TINY FOR TALL BOY, SLIM FOR
ROTUND FELLOW, SLICK FOR SHARP
WITTED ONE, LIKE MANY OTHERS,
HALF-BREED FOR ME.
WITH THOSE TIMES, MORE THAN ANY
OFFENSE TAKEN, WE ALL KNEW THE
NICKNAMES GIVEN BY ELDERS WERE
ALWAYS MEANT TO BE DIRECTLY
IMMEDIATELY POINTING OUT
SENSITIVE SPOTS WE ALL HAD, BUT
THAT WAS THE POINT.
TO TOUGHEN US UP.
AS MOTHER NATURE AND EARTH AND
LIVESTOCK GAVE NO QUARTER IN THE
DAILY SLOTH OF RANCHING AND
FARMING.
REGARDSLESS OF THE WORK
ENVIRONMENT THESE DAYS -- THOSE
DAYS ARE SOME OF MY AND MY
FRIENDS' FONDEST MEMORIES.
YOU SEE ON THOSE DAYS MEN FOLK
WORKED, WOMEN FOLK COOKED,
WORKED HARD, ATE WELL, AND IT
FUN IN ALL MANNER OF HIJINKS,
EACH SATURDAY ENDED IN CALF
CHASING, PIG CHASING, WATER
FIGHTS, AND MUSIC.
MY FATHER WAS A GIFTED SINGER
AND GUITAR PLAYER WHEN SOMEONE
CALLS ON THE CB, BREAKER BREAKER
ONE-NINE, WE DIDN'T HAVE PHONES
IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, ONLY THE
OPEN AIRWAVES.
THE COMMUNICATION, DON'T FORGET
YOUR GUITAR.
HE PERFORMED FOLK MUSIC
FOLLOWING THE WORKDAY.
THERE WAS NOTHING MORE HONEST,
DIRECT, FORTHRIGHT THAN MAKING
MUSIC FOR YOUR FAMILY,
IMMEDIATE, EXTENDED, BROTHERLY,
ADOPTED.
IT'S THE REASON I BECAME A
MUSICIAN, SO EVERYONE FEELS LIKE
FAMILY AROUND THE CAMPFIRE LATE
ON SATURDAY EVENING UNDER THE
STARS AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK.
I TOOK UP THE FLUTE BECAUSE IT
TOUCHED THAT WHITE PART OF MY
ETHNICITY.
LATE 1970s SAW AN IRISH
FLUTIST ON THE JOHNNY CARSON
SHOW, BLACK HAIR, COMMUNICATED
LIKE MY FATHER, I TRIED TO PLAY
GUITAR AND SING BUT WAS UNABLE
TO MAKE IT WORK AND TOOK UP THE
FLUTE.
OVER MANY YEARS OF STRUGGLING TO
GET IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY MY
FATHER NEVER ONCE QUESTIONED MY
DECISION TO BECOME A MUSICIAN.
HIS FATHER WAS A TRAINED
VIOLINIST, WHOSE CAREER WAS CUT
SHORT BY WORLD WAR I.
HE WAS THE MOST POPULAR FIDDLE
PLAYER IN THE SOUTHWESTERN AREA
OF WISCONSIN.
I'M HAPPY TO BEAR HIS UNUSUAL
MIDDLE NAME TO THIS DAY AS I WAS
ABLE TO WORK IN HIS CHOSEN
PROFESSION.
I NEVER HOW MUCH MY BACKGROUND
WOULD TEMPER MY BUT EVERY
PERFORMER I KNEW EXPERIENCED
CHILDHOOD STRUGGLE.
FOR ME, IN A FAMILY OF DANISH
CROATIAN AND GERMAN OFFSPRING
WAS NOT EASY WHEN ARIZONA WAS
COMING OUT OF ITS SEGREGATION
EFFORTS.
BECAUSE I WAS OLDEST, OFTENTIMES
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE, WHEN MY
FATHER'S WORK TOOK HIM AWAY FROM
HOME, MY WORK GAVE ME PURPOSE
AND PLACE.
I IDENTIFIED OVER THE YEARS AS
RANCH HAND, APPRENTICE AUTO
DIESEL MECHANIC.
WELL DRILLER, NOW MUSICIAN.
WE SHARE SOME VERY INTERESTING
TRAITS.
SINCE MY EARLIEST TRAINING I'VE
WRITTEN MUSIC, STRANGELY MANY OF
THOSE PIECES RECTIFY THEMSELVES
IN THE KEY OF E, MAJOR, MINOR,
OR MODALITY.
I'VE BEEN TOURING WITH WORK BY
DR. BLACKHORSE, LAKOTA SIOUX,
ALSO IN THE KEY OF E MAJOR.
HE AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT
WONDERED WHERE THE SOUNDS COME
FROM, AND OFTENTIMES IT'S JUST A
RECITER TONE THAT SEEMS TO
PERMEATE OUR ESSENCE.
FREQUENCIES ARE VERY SPECIFIC.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF WORKING
WITH PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS IN
A MUSIC PROGRAM AND FOUND MANY
ANTECEDENTS TO NATIVE AMERICAN
MUSIC.
MY WORKS FOCUS ON PITCH SETS
THAT INCORPORATE A MAJOR, MINOR
PENTA TONIC SCALE, AT THE HEART
OF INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICAN
CHINESE MUSIC FREQUENCY SETTING.
I CANNOT ESCAPE, TO THIS DAY,
THAT FREQUENCY.
AS MY CAREER BEGAN IN TEXAS AND
DEVELOPED IN COLLEGIATE
TEACHING, IT NOW APPEARS TO BE
MORE THAN JUST COINCIDENCE THAT
I RETURN TO MY BIRTH STATE TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.
I RECONNECTED WITH MY ROOTS.
NOW MANY BIRACIAL INDIGENOUS ARE
CONSIDERED PART OF THE TRIBE.
MY OUTREACH TO MANY NATIONS
THROUGH TEACHING HELPED ME
REFOCUS ON OUTDOOR LOVED ONES
FOCUSED MUSICAL GOALS.
ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING EVENTS
TO AFFECT MY OUTPUT IN TEACHING
WAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA WAS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF TESTING AND
THAT EFFORT HELPED ME AND
STUDENTS RETURN TO LIVE
INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE LONG
BEFORE MUCH OF OUR COLLEAGUES
WORLDWIDE.
HOWEVER, IT WAS THE LARGE
DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN MY STUDENTS
AND NATIVE PEOPLES PRINCIPALLY
THOSE FROM MY NATIVE APACHE
COUNTIESY WHO SUFFERED MOST.
WE HAD CONSTANT MONITORING OF
STUDENTS, AFFORDING OPTION OF
RETURNING TO DISTANCE LEARNING.
MANY RANCHERS AND FARMERS FROM
MY HOME COUNTIES COULD NOT.
TO THAT END MY RANCH HAND MODUS
OPERANDI TOOK OVER, ESTABLISHING
A FORUM WITH TEACHERS FROM R-1
AND LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES WITH
THOSE LONGSTANDING LONDON
CONSERVATORIES, AND BEGAN TO
BROADCAST ON ZOOM AND FACEBOOK
LIVE, THE THE OUTGROWTH, 337,000
CUBIC FOOT AUDITORIUM, VERY
IMPORTANT, WAS MAKING THE
AUDIENCE DISTANCE GOAL
PERFORMANCE.
I THOUGHT OF MY CHILDHOOD,
FORTUNATELY VIDEO AND AUDIO
TECHNOLOGY CAUGHT UP WITH THAT
CORE NEED.
WE PLACE AUDIENCE AT THE CENTER
OF 360 VR AND AMPASONIC AUDIO.
THE AUDIENCE, OUR FAMILY, IS NOW
BACK WHERE IT BEGAN, THOSE
THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, AT THE
CENTER OF THE PERFORMANCE.
WE SEE TIMELESS COMMUNITY OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, COMMUNITY OF
LESS SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER
CULTURALLY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY
AND THEREFORE NEVER PLACED
OBJECTS OF MUSICAL EFFORTS TO AN
AUDIENCE SEPARATED BY DISTANCE
OF 20 TO 200 FEET IN A CONCERT
HALL, AUDIENCE IS ALWAYS A PART
OF THE PERFORMANCE, UNITED
STATES ADOPTED TRADITIONS, AND
NOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS
REVEALING THE NEED TO ADOPT THIS
CLOSE COMMUNITY THAT IS
INTRINSIC TO OUR NATIVE NATIONS.
FOR ME AND MY WORK I INVITE MY
STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES TO BRING
AUDIENCES INTO MUSIC.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION TO SPEAK.
AND ESPECIALLY THE WORK OF
PRINCIPAL STRATEGIST CLARISSA
ALEXANDER.
I HOPE THIS FURTHERS THE IMPACT
OF MY COMMUNITY.
I LEAVE YOU WITH MY INNATE
HONEST THOUGHTS THROUGH MUSIC,
AS I BEGAN.
THIS TIME, NOT FROM THE NATIVE
INSTRUMENT THAT HAS BEEN HERE
FOR WELL OVER 3,000 YEARS ON
THIS CONTINENT, BUT SOMETHING
NOVEL AND MORE NEW, BUT JUST AS
OLD, FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, STILL
TRANSDUCES AND CREATES SOUND BY
AIR.
I INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF MY
FAMILY.
[ FLUTE MELODY ]
[APPLAUSE]
>> CAN WE GIVE HIM ANOTHER
HAND-CLAP PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TOUCHING
STORIES AND SOUND.
WE'VE CHANGED THE PROGRAM.
WE'LL NOW BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE TRIBAL
NATIONS REPRESENTATIVES BY
POSTING OF THE FLAGS.
>> THANK I YOU VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
KNOW WE HAVE -- NOW WE HAVE OUR
SCHEDULED BREAK, STARTING AT
10:45, IF YOU COULD BE BACK IN
PLACE BY 11:00 WE WOULD
APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AGAIN.
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET STARTED WITH
OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, THE
INDIGENOUS CULTURE EXHIBITION,
THE INDIGENOUS DANCER AND STORY
TELLING EXHIBITION.
WE'LL INVITE THEM TO THE STAGE
RIGHT NOW.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Y'ALL ARE IN MARYLAND.
YOU GOT VOCAL CORDS.
I'M KEN IT SHIRLEY WE'RE TO
SHOWCASE THE NATIVE AMERICAN
CULTURE.
IT'S GOOD TO GIVE A PROPER LAND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND LET
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE KNOW AND FEEL
OUR LAND IS STILL HERE.
I INVITED A SPECIAL GUEST, HIS
FIRST TIME IN MARYLAND, D.C.,
DMV, HE WILL BE SINGING A
WELCOMING SONG.
PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE
MR. MANNY HOLLY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY.
I'LL BE SINGING A SONG COMPOSED
BY JEREMY DEARY, TRANSLATING OUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WILL BE
HERE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
IT'S IN THE OJIBWE LANGUAGE.
♪
[ SINGING IN OJIBWE LANGUAGE ]
♪
>> MAKE SOME NOISE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, FOR MANNY!
MAKE SOME NOISE!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[ SINGING CONTINUES ]
>> MAKE SOME NOISE!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'LL BE SHOWCASING
INDIGENOUS CULTURE, WE STARTED
THIS COMPANY IN 2015, JUST
TURNED NINE YEARS OLD, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN.
[APPLAUSE]
STARTED WITH A MISSION TO BE
ABLE TO UPLIFT INDIGENOUS
CULTURE, TO BRING FORTH
REPRESENTATION FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
IT WASN'T LONG AGO OUR PEOPLE
WERE BEING THROWN IN JAIL,
PROSECUTED FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING
TODAY.
TO BE ABLE TO FAST FORWARD TO
2024 AND WE'RE BEING CELEBRATED
BY YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE,
ACKNOWLEDGED LIKE THIS ON THE
PLATFORM MEANS A LOT TO US, A
WHOLE LOT TO OUR ANCESTORS, SO
MAKE SOME NOISE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'LL
ACTUALLY HAVE MR. MANNY HOLLY,
YEAH, HE'S GIVING ME A THUMBS
UP.
PLAY, BROTHER.
THUMBS UP.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE'RE GOING RIGHT INTO OUR SOUND
RIGHT QUICK.
HIT PAUSE, BROTHER, HIT PAUSE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID WE'LL
ALREADY MR. MANNY HOLLY SHOWCASE
MEN'S GRASS DANCE, THE ORIGIN
STORY COMES FROM THE OMAHA
PEOPLE.
IT WAS SAID THIS DANCE WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE THE FIRST DANCERS
TO COME IN, WE'RE HAVING
MR. MANNY GO FIRST.
WHEN YOU SEE HIM DOING HIS
MOVES, TO THE RIGHT, THE LEFT,
KEEPING SYMMETRY AND BALANCE,
FOOT WORK AND GRACE.
HIT PLAY, BRO.
I WANT TO BRING FORTH CHAMPION
DANCERS, HIS FIRST TIME, SO MAKE
SOME NOISE FOR MANNY ONE TIME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪
>> HELLO.
LIKE HE SAID, THIS IS A GRASS
DANCE THAT CAME ORIGINALLY FROM
THE OMAHA PEOPLE.
IT GETS TO MY PEOPLE, FROM
MONTANA WHERE I COME FROM,
HONORED TO DANCE THE STILL THAT
IDENTIFIES WHO I AM.
AND I'LL BE DANCING ONE OF MY
FAVORITE SONGS FROM ANDRIY
SINGERS.
>> TURN IT UP, BROTHER.
WE CAN'T HEAR IT OVER THE BELLS.
MAKE SOME NOISE, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN.
♪
>> HEY, MAKE SOME NOISE, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN.
MAKE SOME NOISE!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪
>> AWESOME.
I DON'T THINK HE CAN HEAR YOU
GUYS.
CAN YOU MAKE SOME MORE NOISE FOR
MR. MANNY HOLLY?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WE'RE NOW SHOWCASING WHAT IS
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE A HORSE,
YOU'LL SEE ME DOING FAST FOOT
WORK AND MORE UPBEAT.
THE STORY I HEARD ABOUT THIS
DANCE, LIKE IN THE EARLY 1900S,
LATE 1800s, BUFFALO BILL
BROUGHT DANCERS TO EUROPE.
WHEN THEY WERE PERFORMING IN
PARIS AND LONDON NOTICED
AUDIENCES WERE GETTING SLEEPY
LIKE THEY TOOK A MELATONIN OR
SOMETHING.
HE WENT TO THE DANCERS, THE
AUDIENCE IS BORED, PEP IT UP A
LITTLE BIT AND MAKE IT MORE
FANCY.
YOU SEE THE EVOLUTION FROM
THERE, NOW YOU'RE SEEING FANCY
DANCERS DOING CARTWHEELS, FLIPS,
FOOT WORK, THE UPBEAT SHOWMAN
TYPE DAYS, BUT IT'S A HEALING
DANCE TO BRING A GOOD FEELING,
GOOD MEDICINE.
READY FOR SOME FANCY DANCING?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪
>> THEY GOT THE JUICE, LET'S
TURN 'EM LOOSE, THUNDER HILL.
LET'S BRING IT ON, BOYS.
HERE WE GO!
♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> COME ON UP THE LINE.
>> HELLO.
I'M REDBEAR CLOUD, MEN'S
TRADITIONAL DANCE.
I'M AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE
TRIBE, GREW UP ON THE YAKIMA
RESERVATION IN WASHINGTON STATE,
YEAH, I'M THE MEN'S TRADITIONAL
DANCER, THE OLDEST STYLE OF
DANCE WE HAVE, THE AIM, THE
PURPOSE OF IDENTIFY, IS TO TELL
A STORY.
AND THE STORY WE WANT TO TELL IS
THE STORY OF OUR WARRIORS.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT SONGS.
WE HAVE THE CROW HOP, SECOND
DIVE, EACH HAS DIFFERENT
MOVEMENTS THAT TELL DIFFERENT
STORIES.
WE MIMIC MOVEMENTS OF WARRIORS
IN A BATTLE, A HUNT, OR VICTORY.
AND SO SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR
IS LIKE MEN'S TRADITIONAL
DANCER, DUCK DOWN, COME BACK UP,
LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDER.
THAT'S TO EXPLAIN THE DANCE.
ALSO THE OUTFIT MIMICS THE
WARRIORS WITH THE HEADDRESS, THE
FEATHERS.
FOR US, TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
FEATHERS, ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD
HEART AND GOOD MIND.
THANK YOU.
♪
[ NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC ]
♪
>> DO YOU GUYS WANT TO SEE US DO
ONE MORE?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN HEAR
YOU.
THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME IN
MARYLAND.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE US DO ONE
MORE?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I WANT TO EXTEND A HUGE THANK
YOU TO NIH FOR BRINGING US.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR NIH ONE
TIME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
TO BE ABLE TO BRING INDIGENOUS
REPRESENTATION, YOU KNOW WHAT I
MEAN, WE SAY NATIVE AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH IS NOVEMBER BUT
TO US INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THAT'S
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
IF YOU'RE HERE AND NATIVE, FEEL
PROUD AND HAPPY, FEEL UPLIFTED.
WE'RE JUST SO HAPPY TO SHOWCASE
CULTURE AND BRING THIS WITH YOU
GUYS TODAY, LITERALLY LIKE AFTER
WE GET OUT WE'RE CATCHING A
FLIGHT, GOING TO FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA.
WE WERE ONLY HERE FOR 17 HOURS
BUT WANTED TO STOP HERE FOR
Y'ALL.
[APPLAUSE]
YEAH, FOLLOW US ON INDIGENOUS
ENTERPRISE IF YOU HAVE
INSTAGRAM.
WE GOT AN AGREEMENT FOR THE
MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
IN TWO WEEKS.
[APPLAUSE]
WITH THAT BEING SAID WE'RE GOING
TO GET OUT OF HERE.
MAKE SOME NOISE WITH THE HAND,
SIGN LANGUAGE PERSON.
[ NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC ]
♪
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU GUYS ONCE AGAIN.
YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT DAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WOW, WHAT AN AMAZING
PERFORMANCE, WHAT GOOD MEDICINE
THAT WAS!
THANK YOU, INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE
LLC FOR THE MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY
OF TRUE INDIGENEITY AND HONORING
OUR TRADITIONS.
IT SEEMS TRULY FITTING TO FOLLOW
A PERFORMANCE SUCH AS THAT WITH
AN AWARD CEREMONY TO RECOGNIZE
INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, TRIBAL COMMUNITIES,
AND INDIGENOUS-RUN ENTITIES WHO
PROGRESS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND
INCLUSION, DEIA, WITHIN NATIVE
COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND.
TO HELP US RECOGNIZE THE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THESE
EXCEPTIONAL AWARDEES, I WOULD
LIKE TO CALL TO THE STAGE THREE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THE
FIELD OF DEIA HERE AT NIH.
THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS A
VETERAN WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY,
AFFIRMATIVE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
AT EDI AT NIH, Ph.D. FROM
KINGDOM BUILDERS SCHOOL OF
THEOLOGY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE
DIVISION OF DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION AT EDI, DR. DANNY
DICKERSON.
THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
COMING TO THE STAGE IS A FORMER
PRESIDENT OF DEAF IN GOVERNMENT,
WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN LEADING
THE DEAF NIH EMPLOYEE RESOURCE
GROUP, A GRADUATE OF CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, BRANCH
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EMPHASIS
PORTFOLIOS AT EDI, MR. DAVID
RICE.
AND NEXT WE HAVE THE CO-CHAIR OF
THE NIH UNITE INITIATIVE TO END
STRUCTURAL RACISM, THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICER LEADING THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND
INFECTIOUS DISEASES DEIA
COUNCIL, SCIENTIFIC REVIEW
OFFICER AT NIH, INTERNATIONAL
SCHOLAR WITH A Ph.D. FROM
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY IN
MICROBIOLOGY, DR. MOW HAMILTON
AIYEGBO.
DR. DANNY DICKERSON WILL BE
GIVING THE AWARDS TO THE
AWARDEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN
GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
MR. DAVID RICE WILL BE GIVING
AWARDS TO AWARDEES FOR
EXCELLENCE IN INDUSTRY.
AND DR. MOHAMMED AIYEGBO FOR TE
PISCATAWAY CONOY TRIBE.
I PRESENT TO YOU OUR SPEAKERS.
>> THANK YOU, CLARISSA.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
MY NAME IS DANNY DICKERSON,
PRESENTING AWARDS TO GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES AWARDEES, WHO HAVE
SHOWN EXCELLENCE IN DEIA WITH
RESPECT TO NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES THROUGH THEIR CAREER
AND HERE AT NIH.
EACH RECIPIENT HAS SHOWN A
PASSION FOR THEIR WORK.
TODAY WE STRIVE TO RECOGNIZE
COMRADES AND ALLYSHIP WITH
RESPECT TO DEIA IN THE NATIVE
AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
FIRST WE HAVE DR. KATRINA
WALTERS.
I'M SORRY, DR. KARINA WALTERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
AGAIN, CAN WE GIVE DR. WALTERS A
HANDCLAP.
[APPLAUSE]
I LOVE HER SPIRIT.
WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY SAID
KATRINA, SHE SAID IT'S ALL
RIGHT, I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO BE A
HURRICANE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE HAVE THE SECOND AWARDEE, A
MEMBER OF THE NAVAJO NATION, WHO
WAS APPOINTED AS POLICY ADVISER
TO WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL TO NATIVE
AMERICAN AFFAIRS, A PROFESSOR
AND INAUGURAL CHAIR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF INDIGENOUS HEALTH
AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA,
WHERE HE ALSO SERVED AS VICE
PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, A GOOD
FRIEND, DR. DAVID R. WILSON, A
GOOD FRIEND TO NIH.
COME ON UP, DR. WILSON.
[APPLAUSE]
CAN WE HAVE APPLAUSE FOR DR.
WILSON.
NEXT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR.
RITA DEVINE.
WORKED MORE 27 YEARS IN DEIA,
RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPANSION AND
CREATION OF NINDS SUMMER INTERN
PROGRAM TO INCLUDE NATIVE
AMERICANS, ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR
CREATING NOTIFIES, A DISTANT
LEARNING PROGRAM WITH TRIBAL
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY,
DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE,
ADMINISTRATION, INTRAMURAL
RESEARCH, DR. RITA DEVINE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
CAN WE GIVE ALL OUR AWARDEES IN
THAT CATEGORY ONE MORE
HAND-CLAP?
[APPLAUSE]
WE HAVE DR. MOHAMMED.
>> HELLO, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYONE.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING
TO GRACE AND BEING PART OF THIS
CELEBRATION TODAY.
MY NAME IS MOHAMMED AIYEGBO, THE
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PERSON
AT NIAID AT THE NIH.
I WILL BE PRESENTING AWARDS
TODAY FOR TWO AWARDEE
CATEGORIES.
THE FIRST CATEGORY WILL BE
AWARDED TO EXCEPTIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS, WHO HAVE WORKED
AND USED DIVERSITY, EQUITY,
INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY,
DEIA, TO ADVANCE NATIVE PEOPLES
IN THE FIELDS OF SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND
MATHEMATICS.
SO STEM.
SECOND CATEGORY WILL BE
PRESENTED TO EXCEPTIONAL TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN
REGION WHO HAVE USED DEIA TO
ADVANCE NATIVE PEOPLES.
I WILL NOW START WITH THE AWARDS
TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE
EMPOWERED NATIVE PEOPLES IN
STEM.
THE FIRST AWARDEE IS RUN BY
SARAH ECO-HAWK, PAWNEE NATION OF
OKLAHOMA, DEDICATED TWO DECADES
TO ADVOCATING FOR INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES.
ECHOHONK HAWK WAS EXECUTIVE
PRESIDENT OF FIRST NATIONS
DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE,
CONTRIBUTOR TO AMERICAN INDIAN
COLLEGE FUND, PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR AND CO-INVESTIGATOR
ON SEVERAL NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION GRANTS, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE AAMERICAN INDIAN SCIENCE
AND ENGINEERING SOCIETY, FOUNDED
IN 1977 BY NATIVE AMERICAN
SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, EDUCATORS
TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACADEMIC
SUCCESS FOR NATIVE STUDENTS.
SARAH ECHO HAWK.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SARAH, FOR
ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK.
THE SECOND AWARDEE IS RUN BY
ANGELIQUE ALBERT, MEMBER OF THE
CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI
TRIBES WHO DEDICATED
PROFESSIONAL CAREER TO SERVICE
TO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
ALBERT IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
NATIVE FORWARD SCHOLARS FUND,
THE NATION'S LARGEST SCHOLARSHIP
PROVIDERS TO NATIVE STUDENTS.
NATIVE FORWARD SCHOLARS FUND
PROVIDED OVER $350 MILLION IN
SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS FROM
OVER 500 TRIBES IN ALL 50
STATES.
THE NATIVE FORWARD SCHOLARS
FUND.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT'S THE NATIVE FORWARD
SCHOLARS FUND.
THE THIRD AWARDEE IS A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED
IN 1968 WITH THE MISSION TO
ASSIST AND SUPPORT AMERICAN
INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
FAMILIES MOVING INTO URBAN
ENVIRONMENT AND ADJUSTING TO THE
CULTURAL CHANGE THAT THEY WILL
EXPERIENCE.
THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN INDIAN
CENTER, BAIC, LOCALLY KNOWN AS
THE RESERVATION, PROVIDES
SERVICES THAT INCLUDE EDUCATION,
SKILL TRAINING, WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT, CHILD CARE, AFTER
SCHOOL ARTS AND SENIORS
PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS HEALTH AND
HEALING SERVICES.
THE BAIC PRIORITIZES CULTURAL
HERITAGE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
ANYBODY FROM THE BALTIMORE
AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR FOURTH AWARDEE TODAY HAS 36
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE
FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING, OVERSEEING
INDIGENOUS RUN AND OPERATED
COMPANY THAT USES INDIGENOUS
KNOW-HOW TO OVERSEE THE U.S.
ARMY SUPERFUND PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT AND LEAD
INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATE EFFORTS FOR U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, PRESIDENT
AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
BS ENVIRONMENTAL INCORPORATED,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JUAN S.
BOSTON.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE NEXT AWARD CATEGORY I
WILL BE PRESENTING IS AWARDS FOR
EXCEPTIONAL -- TO EXCEPTIONAL
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WHO IN THE
EASTERN REGION HAVE WORKED AND
USED DEIA TO EMBODY THE SPIRIT
OF RESILIENCE AND OVERCOMING
BARRIERS BY WORKING TIRELESSLY
TO PROGRESS TO ADVANCE NATIVE
PEOPLES BY CREATING PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE WIDE-REACHING IMPACT.
THE FIRST AWARDEE IS PISCATAWAY
CONOY TRIBE WHO HAS WORKED TO
ENSURE PRESERVATION OF
PISCATAWAY CONOY CULTURE,
TRADITION, AND COMMUNITY LIFE,
WHILE WORKING TO ESTABLISH A
FOUNDATION TO SERVE AS A VITAL
SAFETY NET FOR LOW INCOME AND
AT-RISK TRIBAL FAMILIES AND
YOUTH THAT ALSO PROVIDE MEDICAL
CARE AND CONTINUED EDUCATION
RESOURCES, PISCATAWAY CONOY
TRIBE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
THE SECOND AWARDEE IS THE SAPON
TRIBE TO BRING TRANSFORMATIONAL
TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING
EXPERIENCES TO THE TRIBAL
SCHOOL, THE TRIBE HAS WORKED IN
COLLABORATIVE DOCUMENTARIES WITH
PUBLIC BROADCAST NETWORK PBS TO
USE ARTS TO BRING AWARENESS TO
NATIVE PEOPLES AND CONTINUE ON
PROJECTS WITH LASTING IMPACT TO
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SEEMS WE DON'T HAVE A REP SO
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE THIRD
AWARDEE.
THE THIRD AWARDEE IS THE
NANTICOKE COMMUNITY TO RAISE
AWARENESS OF CULTURE IN RURAL
AREAS, THE ASSOCIATION NOT ONLY
RUNS THE ONLY NATIVE AMERICAN
MUSEUM IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE,
THEY ALSO BUILD A CLINICAL
FACILITY TO PROVIDE CARE TO THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THE NANTICOKE INDIAN ASSOCIATION
INCORPORATED.
[APPLAUSE]
THE FOURTH AWARDEE'S MISSION IS
TO HONOR THE PAST, BUILDING A
FUTURE.
WORKS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY
ABOUT THE TRIBE'S ENVIRONMENTAL
AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND
PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTHCARE SERVICES OFFERED FOR
FAMILY WELLNESS,UMIT HEALTH
SERVICE HAS A CLINIC THAT
PROVIDES FREE SERVICES TO NATIVE
AMERICAN FAMILIES IN THE AREAS
WHERE THE MATAPONY SHALL HEALING
EAGLE CLINIC.
HELP US CONGRATULATE THE UPPER
MATIPONY TRIBE FOR THIS AWARD.
[APPLAUSE]
IT APPEARS WE DON'T HAVE A REP
FROM THE TRIBE SO I WILL SAY
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WELL DONE,
GREAT WORK TO ALL THE AWARDEES.
CAN WE HAVE ONE MORE ROUND OF
APPLAUSE CONGRATULATING ALL OF
THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU TO ALL THE AWARDEES
THAT WERE RECOGNIZED HERE TODAY
FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO
ADVANCE NATIVE PEOPLES THROUGH
DEIA.
WE WILL NOW HAVE THE GRAND
CLOSING SESSION FOLLOWED BY
CLOSING REMARKS.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE KEVIN
WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR FOR THE
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
OFFICE, AT THE NIH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS HAS BEEN GREAT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO JOIN
IN AN IMPORTANT CELEBRATION FOR
US AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE.
MANY TIMES YOU CAN SAY ONE
THING, AND YOUR ACTIONS INDICATE
SOMETHING ELSE BUT YOUR PRESENCE
HERE TODAY LETS US KNOW THAT
WE'RE MODELING EXCELLENCE FOR
ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE
NIH, AND TO LET EVERYONE KNOW
THAT WE VALUE THE DIVERSITY OF
OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR
COMING.
I JOTTED DOWN A FEW REMARKS, AS
I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN
APPROPRIATE CLOSING FOR TODAY'S
EVENT.
RESILIENCE IS DEFINED AS THE
CAPACITY TO WITHSTAND OR TO
RECOVER QUICKLY FROM
DIFFICULTIES.
OR TO PUT IT DIFFERENTLY, A
SYNONYM FOR RESILIENCE IS
TOUGHNESS.
TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE THE
TOUGHNESS OF NATIVE PEOPLES, WE
HONOR AND APPRECIATE THE NATIVE
AMERICANS FOR MODELING
RESILIENCE FOR HUNDREDS OF
YEARS, IN THE FACE OF COUNTLESS
HORRORS AND TRAGEDIES.
AS A CHILD, ONE OF THE MANY
THINGS THAT I ALWAYS WANTED FOR
CHRISTMAS WAS A WEEBIL-WOBBLE.
WHO REMEMBERS WEEBIL-WOBBLES?
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
1970s BABIES.
I WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THIS
TOY BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT MY
HEIGHT.
[LAUGHTER]
AND CURIOUSLY, NO MATTER WHAT
WAS DONE TO IT, IT WOULD AS
STAND UPRIGHT.
MONIQUE, I CAN HEAR YOU
SPEAKING.
IN THE INSIDE OF THE
WEEBIL-WOBBLE, AT ITS BASE, WAS
A STABILIZING MECHANISM THAT WAS
THE SECRET TO THE
WEEBIL-WOBBLES'S ABILITY TO
STAND UPRIGHT REGARDLESS OF
ADVERSITY, THE NUMBER OF TIMES I
HIT IT, OR THE NUMBER OF TIMES I
PUSHED IT.
THE SECRET TO RESILIENCE IS
NURTURING AND DEVELOPING WHAT IS
ON THE INSIDE.
THIS FORMS THE FOUNDATION WHICH
WE NEED IN THE FACE OF ALL THE
THINGS THAT WILL SEEK TO PREVENT
US FROM MAKING PROGRESS AND EVEN
EXISTING.
AND SO TODAY, AS WE CLOSE THE
CELEBRATION OF RESILIENCE, I
CHALLENGE YOU TO REMEMBER WHAT
IS INSIDE EACH OF YOU AS
CHALLENGES WILL INEVITABLY ARISE
IN THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS,
MONTHS, AND YEARS.
AND AS THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
BLOW, THE HOPE IS THAT EVEN IF
YOU FALL DOWN, THAT YOU GET
RIGHT BACK UP LIKE THE
WEEBIL-WOBBLE.
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, YOU
NEVER GIVE UP.
THAT YOU WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER
THROWING IN THE TOWEL OR WAVING
THE WHITE FLAG.
REMEMBER THE ANCESTORS.
REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE NATIVE CULTURES, AND DIAL
INTO YOUR CAPACITY TO WITHSTAND
ANY AND ALL DIFFICULTIES.
I PROMISE YOU THAT IS WHAT THE
OFFICE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND
INCLUSION WILL BE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
AND BE WELL.
[APPLAUSE]
I WILL TURN THE PROGRAM OVER TO
CLARISSA ALEXANDER WHO WILL
CLOSE US OUT OFFICIALLY.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, KEVIN, FOR
THOSE VERY MOVING WORDS.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY
THAT THE NEXT SPEAKERS WE'RE
GOING TO BRING TO THE STAGE SO
WE CAN CLOSE THE NATIVE WAY TO
GIVE OUR CLOSING BLESSING, I
THINK THERE'S NO MORE
APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS THAN
KYLE SWANN AND JESSICA SWANN TO
GIVE US OUR CLOSING BLESSING AND
FOR THE GRAND CLOSING TO
PROCEED.
AND, AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO THANK
YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
THANK YOU ALL THE AWARDEES AND
SPEAKERS FOR THE HARD WORK
YOU'VE DONE IN THIS FIELD TO
ADVANCE NATIVE PEOPLES.
WE ALSO HAVE AN AWARD FOR DR.
BRIAN LUCE FOR HIS CONTINUED
WORK AND CONTINUED DEMONSTRATION
OF HIS DEDICATION TO FURTHERING
NATIVE PEOPLES, BOTH IN HIS
LOCAL COMMUNITY AND GLOBALLY
WITH HIS MUSIC, AND WITH HIS
SPEAKING.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL HAVE THE
FINAL AWARD PRESENTED, AND OUR
GRAND CLOSING AND CLOSING
PRAYER.
>> MAN, I'VE GOT SOME POWER IN
THIS ROOM.
[LAUGHTER]
I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO
CELEBRATE NOT ONLY NATIVE
AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BUT THE
RESILIENCE WITHIN THE LOCAL
TRIBES WITHIN THE REGION.
NATIVE PEOPLE ARE ONE THE ONLY
PEOPLE THAT STILL HAVE TO PROVE
THEY ARE DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN,
PROVE THEIR IDENTITY.
WE'RE EITHER NOT NATIVE ENOUGH
OR JUST SOME NATIVE.
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE WE HAVE
THAT GOING ON IN THE YEAR OF
2024.
BUT WE ARE WORKING OUT OF IT AND
APPRECIATE YOU GUYS' CELEBRATION
FOR RESILIENCE AND APPRECIATE
THE RESILIENCE OF OTHER TRIBES
PRESENT.
ON BEHALF OF CHIEF SWANN,
PISCATAWAY CONOY TRIBE AND MY
FAMILY I THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US TODAY.
AND EVERYBODY HAVE A GREAT
NOVEMBER.
THANKS FOR COMING OUT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BEFORE WE LEAVE EVERYONE HERE
GO OUT THE DOOR, YOU'LL SEE A
SIGN TO THE RIGHT, WE HAVE
CULTURAL FESTIVAL FOOD SAMPLING
TO GIVE EVERYONE, SO PLEASE JOIN
US. THERE WE'LL ALL BE OVER
THERE IN A COUPLE MINUTES HERE.
THANK YOU.
HAVE