Indigenous Veterans Honoured as Heart of Modern Powwow Traditions

Indigenous veterans remain the cornerstone of the powwow circle across North America, serving as the ceremonial leaders and guardians of cultural legacy. Reporting from ICT News, journalist Darren Thompson highlights how Native veterans lead all dancers into the arena during the Grand Entry, carrying the eagle staff and various flags to signal the protection of their nations. Mitchelene Bigman, an Army veteran of the Apsaalooké Nation who served in the Iraq War, told ICT that the title of warrior carries more weight than any military rank. She noted that being recognised by her people at a powwow serves as a profound acknowledgment of her service in protecting the community’s future. Bigman is a founder of the Native American Women Warriors, a nonprofit colour guard that supports Indigenous women in the military. While historically the recognition was male-dominated, Indigenous women now make up nearly 20 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native service members—a higher proportion than any other ethnic group in the U.S. armed forces. This shift is visible in the powwow circle, where all-Indigenous women colour guards like the Muscogee Nation Women’s Color Guard are now common fixtures. Cultural preservation remains central to these honours. Whitney Rencountre, CEO of Crazy Horse Memorial and a frequent powwow emcee from the Crow Creek Dakota Reservation, explained that specific victory songs are composed to carry forward the legacy of veterans. Some of these songs, such as those of the Lakota, date back to the 1876 Battle of the Greasy Grass, while others are newly composed for modern conflicts. Melissa Doud, a 20-year Army veteran of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, told ICT that although the number of older veterans is decreasing, Native Americans still enlist and serve at higher rates than any other group, ensuring their role as protectors of their way of life remains vital.