EXHIBITION
WHY WE SERVE
EXPLORING THE LEGACY OF NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S. ARMED FORCES
BY ALEXANDRA HARRIS AND MARK HIRSCH A
t first glance, the long tradition of Native American service in the U.S. military doesn’t seem to make sense: why would American Indians fight for
a country that broke nearly every promise made to tribal nations? “Why We Serve: Na- tive Americans in the United States Armed Forces,” the new exhibition adapted from the book of the same name from the National Museum of the American Indian, tackles this question while telling engaging stories of Na- tive military service during the last two-and- a-half centuries. As the book’s authors and editors as well as the exhibition’s curators, we encountered unexpected stories and surpris-
Naluahine Kaukaopua (on right), age 89, and James Kekahuna (both Native Hawaiian) demonstrate “lua,” a traditional Native Hawaiian martial art. Historically, lua masters were highly respected members of elite armies. On this occasion, Naluahine demonstrated and shared a technique that involved “‘ai” (holds) specific to the Kona area. Kona, Big Island of Hawaii, July 1950.
ing insights while researching this remark- able––some might say, paradoxical—legacy. The “Why We Serve” book and exhibition
honor the thousands of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the U.S. military in every war from the time of the American Revolution. Addition- ally, the exhibition—which is available to view on the museum’s website (AmericanIndian.
si.edu) and previewed here—features historical and contemporary photographs, artworks and stories that consider the various reasons why so many American Indians have worn the uniform of the United States The stories, whenever pos- sible, are told in the words of Native servicemen and servicewomen from both past and present.
36 AMERICAN INDIAN FALL 2020
PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY WALKER
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