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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (November 4, 2008) - Equal
opportunity leaders hosted a National American Indian Heritage
Month observance, paying tribute to Native Americans, in the Zone 1
Chapel on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov. 4.
The contributions of Native American Indians were remembered
through historical information, games and a speech by a
servicemember of American Indian decent.
Staff Sgt. Raymond Duplesse, 160th Signal Brigade, hosted the
event and welcomed attendees by giving a brief overview of the
purpose of the observance.
"I am delighted to be here with you today to celebrate the
National American Indian Heritage Month," said Duplesse. "What
began at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of
recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans
made to the establishment and growth of the United States, has
resulted in the month of November being designated for that
purpose."
Following the opening remarks, a video was shown illustrating
the history of American Indians.
The audience was then quizzed on their knowledge of what they
learned from the video. Participants who answered correctly
received a prize.
A presentation was given by 10 servicemembers who were chosen to
represent 10 tribes of the American Indian Nations.
Each servicemember explained the cultural structure and role of
the tribe they represented.
An account of the life and history of the Comanche tribe was
presented by the guest speaker, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher
Chebahtah, Area Support Group-Kuwait.
The Comanche have been recognized for their contributions to
WWII, in which 17 young men, known as the code talkers, helped the
U.S. Army send sensitive information that could not be deciphered
by the Germans.
Chebahtah holds American Indian heritage close to his heart. He
is a registered member of the Delaware tribe, who can also trace
his ethnicity back to the Comanche.
"The Comanche tribe, as a whole, and the Comanche people, as
individuals, have gone through some very difficult times," said
Chebahtah. "But we are survivors."
Chebahtah also spoke of the contributions his grandfather,
father and sons have made to the military.
Sgt. Javier Andrade, recent graduating class leader of the equal
opportunity leaders course, played a part in setting up the day's
event and encourages others who have an opportunity to learn about
another culture to do so.
"We are in a workforce that has a lot of diversity," said
Andrade. "It's a neat thing to go out there and actually learn
about other people's cultures
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