Spartan Brigade hosts celebration of Native American culture, heritage

by Sgt. Brian Ragin
4-25th IBCT Public Affairs

11/20/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson hosted a celebration of Alaska Native and Native American history and culture Nov. 13.

The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and the JBER Equal Opportunity Office hosted the event of song and dance at JBER's Frontier Theater.

Alaska Natives set up several displays about their culture, showing clothing, toys, jewelry and instruments.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center and Naaludisk Gwaiiyatki Dance groups performed songs and danced with service members from the Air Force and Army.

Native artwork was exhibited in the rear of the theater by a Native American artist, and cake and rybread were served after the event.

The celebration's guest speaker was Cindy Pennington, an Anchorage native who is of Sugpiaq heritage.

"We are hoping, the Sugpiaq people are hoping, that some day that we won't have people look at us with a blank look," Pennington said. "That you will know exactly who the Sugpiaq people are of Alaska."

Pennington was the first Alaska Native woman to be accepted nto the Anchorage Police Department Academy.

She has worked for Alaska Native profit and nonprofit organizations such as the Alaska Native Heritage Center, for more than 30 years.

An active community member, Pennington has also helped to reate the Alaska Native Women's Sexual Assault Committee, which  deals with the issue of violence committed against Alaska women.

Underlining the importance of National Native American Heritage Month, President Barack Obama recently stated Americans must not ignore the painful history Native Americans endured - a history of violence, marginalization, broken promises, and upended justice.

"When I was growing up I really didn't know about my ulture," Pennington said. "That was because of the era when I was growing up [1970s].

"You weren't supposed to be native - you were supposed to try to be American. A lot of people say I came from a culture that had an identity crisis."

"As we observe National American Indian Heritage onth, we must build on this work," Obama said in his proclamation.

"Let us shape a future worthy of a bright new generation. And together, let us ensure this country's promise is fully realized for every Native American."