Arizona made history this weekend. This weekend, the state and, perhaps more importantly, the Hopi nation were the first to lose a Native American woman in combat.
I have maintained that it is an entirely tenable position to question a war while supporting our troops. I will continue to question the wisdom of the Bush administration's foreign policy and its ramifications for the future, but the death of Pfc. Lori Piestewa in combat deserves pause and reflection.
Here in the Valley, we tend to be isolated from much of the large Native American culture that exists in our state. Of course, the bright lights and colorful billboards of the casinos are abundant, reminding us that they are close by; but slot machines are merely sources of much needed income, not indications of a proud heritage.
The roots of all Native American tribes in Arizona extend far beyond any of our ties to the United States. As children, most of us learned the truth about what happened during the settling of the West. Time and time again, the federal government has betrayed Native American people throughout this country.
Without lapsing into a history lesson, the simple conclusion to be drawn here is that on the face of it, Native American people owe very little to the government of the United States. Yes, they are citizens of this country and have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else, but is there any real reason for them to get all worked up about the stars and stripes?
After all, the policies of the United States and even the state of Arizona have resulted in diminished economic opportunity and limited possibilities for Native American people.
Yet, we have a 23-year-old Hopi woman who was willing to travel halfway around the world to fight for us. In spite of all the times her people may have been wronged by the government, despite all of the resentment that she may be entitled to harbor, she set it all aside and put on the same uniform as so many of her fellow Americans before her.
Because of the long history of tension between tribal governments and the federal government, there seems to be a popular perception that Native Americans are thankless for their citizenship. I would contend this case proves otherwise.
During World War II, the Navajo nation sent its finest young men into battle as code talkers, which provided an invaluable service to the Allied forces. Once again, Americans of all races and creeds have been called upon to serve, and many Native Americans have answered the call.
With her passing, Pfc. Piestewa has focused her attention not only on the service of Native Americans, but of women as well. Not once, but twice during this conflict, women have been placed in harm's way as members of ground forces in Iraq, and both times they have served admirably.
Pfc. Jessica Lynch was captured and sustained serious injuries during her service in Iraq. It looks like she would have been fine with proper treatment, but sadly no one could get to Piestewa in time.
Arizona Republic columnist E.J. Montini wrote that the Hopis believe that the souls of people who have led good and honorable lives return to their land in the form of precipitation. How appropriate that the day the Army confirmed Piestewas' death, snow fell in her hometown of Tuba City.
Christopher Kotterman is a journalism and political science junior. Reach him at chris.kotterman@asu.edu.
