Native American Nations during WW2

Societal Changes During WWII: Native Americans

By : Instructor Manbeck

Native Americans

Reservations

Indigenous

Classified​

​Declassification

​

​

Vocabulary

Objective and Vocabulary

Essential Question: What are the social changes experienced by Native Americans during WWII, and how did they impact future events?

Objective

​Students will demonstrate understanding of the social changes that Native American peoples experienced during WWII by engaging in discussion and producing original content on the subject.

​

One-third of all able-bodied Native American men from 18 to 50, 10% of the total Native American population, would serve in WWII. This was the first large scale movement of indigenous peoples from the reservations since the 19th century.

​

Military Service

Multiple Choice

Why was the large number of Native American men serving in the military during WWII significant in the indigenous community?

• It showed patriotism for the USA.

• It was the first time in a very long time so many indigenous people left the reservations.

• It meant that the allies would have a huge number of additional troops.

• It was the first time that Native Americans ever joined the US armed forces.

• Native Americans served on all fronts and earned medals and honors including: Purple Hearts, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Air Medals, Distinguished Service Crosses, and Congressional Medals of Honor.​

• ​​Native American troops were generally highly regarded by their fellow soldiers and considered superior warriors in several aspects. While this meant they were usually respected, it also meant they were often given the most dangerous jobs such as scouting and tracking.

​

​While many Indigenous nations do have warrior traditions, they are often stereotyped as the defining trait of their culture. Many nations are pacifistic in nature, and those tribes with warrior traditions balance them with traditions of peace and diplomacy.

Service and Honors.

​

Open Ended

Native Americans had a long history of attempted cultricide by the US government. Why might they have chosen to go to war for the army of a government that had historically mistreated them?

​

• ​​Native Americans served the US government in many capacities during WWII. One unique contribution they made to the war effort was the code talkers.

• Code talkers were indigenous soldiers who were fluent in both their ​tribal language and English who sent secret messages encoded in their language so the enemy could not get information about allied troop movement.​

• The most famous of the code talkers were the Navajo code talkers. The Navajo language had no written form and was only known by those who lived amongst the Navajo. As a result the Navajo codes went unbroken.

The Navajo code talker program was classified until 1968 as, due to its success, the govt. wanted it to be able to be used in future wars. It wasn't until 2001 that they would receive congressional gold medals, mostly posthumously, in recognition of their service.

​The Code Talkers

Multiple Choice

The Navajo code talkers were credited with several allied victories, why did was it not until many years later that they were awarded Congressional Medals and national recognition?

• Because the Navajo Code was so successful they kept it classified to be able to use it again.

• Because even though they were essential to the allied war effort the US didn't like to acknowledge Indigenous soldiers.

• Because they refused any recognition or honors claiming they were merely doing their duty.

The masses of Native people serving during WWII lead to a resurgence of tribal practices that had been banned in the past such as protection ceremonies, prayer vigils and carrying of tribal medicine into battle. The Lakota from the Standing Rock Reservation held the first Sun Dance in 52 years, to pray for the destruction of German and Japanese soldiers and the safe return of 2,000 of their soldiers.

A Resurgence of Tradition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwLHrqe6dy8​

Poll

As Native American men joined the army they saw a resurgence of tribal traditions that they had previously been prohibited from engaging in. Which of the following reasons do you think may have contributed most to this?

• In times of war and hardship people often turn to tradition and religion, with most of their men going to war the Native American people did just that.

• United by a common enemy the US Govt valued the contributions of indigenous soldiers more than they valued existing bans on native culture.

• The war enabled those tribal peoples who had warrior traditions to engage in them for the first time in a great while, and thus protective traditions as well.

After the War

​As many Native American men would return home they would soon find them facing a whole new set of restrictions on traditional tribal communities. ​They would not have a civil rights protest movement until around the 1970's. Even to this day Native peoples are still fighting for land rights, the preservation of sacred sites, the repatriation of stolen artifacts, and the restoration of traditional food items