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Tulsa District celebrates Native American Heritage Month

Published Nov. 2, 2015
Mr. Mark Bolin, Academic Advisor for Owasso Public Schools Indian Education, beats a drum for the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.
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Mr. Mark Bolin, Academic Advisor for Owasso Public Schools Indian Education, beats a drum for the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.

Lt. Col. Daniel Young, Deputy Commander, Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stands for a group photo with the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015. (Photo by Preston Chasteen/Released)
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Lt. Col. Daniel Young, Deputy Commander, Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stands for a group photo with the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015. (Photo by Preston Chasteen/Released)

Nelson "Scottie" Harjo, a tribal storyteller, played his flute and told stories of his Native American roots at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.
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Nelson "Scottie" Harjo, a tribal storyteller, played his flute and told stories of his Native American roots at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.

Eugene Goff, Kansas Area Operations Project Manager, delivers the keynote speech during a Native American Heritage ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office, Tulsa Okla. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.
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Eugene Goff, Kansas Area Operations Project Manager, delivers the keynote speech during a Native American Heritage ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office, Tulsa Okla. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.

Brionna Badoni, with the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group, does a jingle dance at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.
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Brionna Badoni, with the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group, does a jingle dance at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015.

Mark Bolin, Academic Advisor for Owasso Public Schools Indian Education, beats a drum for the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015. (Photo by Preston Chasteen/Released)
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Mark Bolin, Academic Advisor for Owasso Public Schools Indian Education, beats a drum for the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group during a ceremony held Nov. 2, 2015 at the Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office. The Tulsa District held the ceremony in recognition of National American Indian Heritage Month which is celebrated throughout the month of November 2015. (Photo by Preston Chasteen/Released)

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Tulsa - The Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers celebrated the kick-off to Native American Heritage Month Nov. 2, with an event featuring tribal storyteller, Nelson “Scottie” Harjo and the Owasso Indian Education Dance Group.

This year’s national theme, “Growing Native Leaders: Enhancing Seven Generations,” is the cornerstone for all the month’s celebration activities. The theme embraces the ancient Iroquois philosophy that decisions that we make today should be sustainable seven generations into the future.

 “We were very excited to put on the program today, because it not only showcases the diversity within our organization, but allows us to demonstrate the diversity within our own tribes,” stated Gloria Lowe, Tulsa District National American Indian Special Emphasis program manager.”

Approximately eight percent of the Tulsa District’s employees are American Indian.

There are 566 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., with Oklahoma being home to 38 of those tribes. Over 513,000 American Indians make their home in Oklahoma.

“Over the course of our nation’s rich and diverse history, American Indians have been an integral part of American culture and have made many lasting contributions,” stated Lt. Col. Daniel Young, Deputy Commander, Tulsa District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “They have left a legacy of selfless service and devotion to duty in defense of our nation and the freedoms we enjoy.”
Native American Heritage Month, celebrates the accomplishments of the Native American community and recognizes their contributions to the nation.

Prominent Native Americans include actor Graham Greene, astronaut John Herrington and most recently Keith Harper, who was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Human Rights Council in 2014, becoming the first American Indian ambassador.