WEBVTT

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[Pulsating Music]
2
(Navy Petty Officer

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I am MC2 Anita Chebahtah. I am half Arapaho and half Comanche.

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Both tribes from Oklahoma.

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So, in my dad's family

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Chivato was the first Comanche to enlist in the United States military. He was an Indian scout.

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On my mom's side, I am a descendant of Chief Little Raven.

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My grandpa served in the Navy, and my uncle also served in the Navy

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and he is currently the Arapaho Chief.

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I'm extremely proud to come from a long lineage of military history, both on my mom's side and my dad's side.

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[Traditional Native American Music]

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I'm the Cheyenne-Arapaho tribal governor.

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Tonight, the event is...we're hosting a powwow in honor of all the people who served in all the armed forces, all the men and women.

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[Soft, moving music]
14
(Navy Petty Officer

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We have always, doesn't matter what we're doing, we always honor our veterans.

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Knowing that I'm with...and part of...that group, it feels good to stand

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and be recognized as part of that group.

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Because, I know, for the U.S. population, it's not a very big population, but for natives, it's...

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You can't throw a dime in a native crowd and not hit a veteran.

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[Drum beat]

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When they asked me to be the head woman dancer, I was very honored

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and nervous at the same time.

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Dancing is an expression.

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There's a spiritual aspect to it. It's not just going out there and having a good time.

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[Subtle tribal music with horns]

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It's...

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connecting with who I am and expressing that and

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[music tempo picks up]

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covering friends and family in prayer while I dance.

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I think I am so passionate about my culture, my heritage, my family history because

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not everybody gets to grow up knowing

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who they are and where they come from.

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Who their family is and where their family comes from, the history.

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Realizing how important that is because

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[soft Native music with windpipes]

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if I don't

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learn these things and I don't pass them on then the culture dies.

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And that's not something I ever want to lose.

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[music fades]