ARLINGTON, Va.- As we walked along a path near ancient burial and ceremonial mounds beside the Arkansas River, my young son grabbed my hand and said, "Dad, we're not real Native Americans." "Of course we are," I said. "So where's our feathers and bows and arrows?" he asked.
Through the laughter, I realized I had my work cut out for me, starting with teaching my children more about our own tribe, the Cherokee.
Our visit to the mounds was a great way to start off Native American Heritage month. The site is not only sacred to us as Native Americans but also historic to the National Guard. The Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park has served as a meeting place to discuss mutual issues among sovereign area tribes with the Arkansas and Oklahoma National Guard.
Over the past 500 years, Native Americans have endured enormous adversity, genocide and forced relocation known as the Trail of Tears, where approximately 6,000 of our Cherokee ancestors perished over the 1,000-mile trek during the dead of winter.
Given the tumultuous past and resulting distrust, it is interesting to note that Native Americans ironically have the highest record of military service per capita than any other minority group, according to the Department of Defense. Today in the Army and Air National Guard alone, more than 3,800 Native American men and women are currently serving.
This is not surprising. For millennia, Native American tribes have been culturally engrained with the best of the warrior ethos, and also possess an unparalleled love for this nation with a deep connection to the land itself.
While we only comprise one percent of the America's military forces, Native Americans have made significant contributions and have participated in every major conflict during our nation's history.
Recent history shows us that even though America has made tremendous progress in the acceptance of diversity, there is still much work to do in building mutual trust and understanding. The old saying to "bury the hatchet" is more than a phrase to Native Americans. Actually burying the hatchet was a literal and powerfully symbolic gesture, for example, when negotiating treaties or ending wars between tribes. It displayed a quiet strength that complemented the warrior ethos and helped lead to healing. It's synonymous with the season of Thanksgiving upon us.
Giving thanks means many things - forgiveness, humility, putting aside differences - and coming together as a nation, one people, despite previous injustices or broken promises.
As we culminate a month of honoring Native American heritage and contributions, and enter into the holiday season, I believe there is no better time than now for all Americans to "bury the hatchet."