News

Robins to celebrate Native American Heritage Month

  • Published
  • By Lanorris Askew
  • 78th ABW/PA
America's fabric is a multicultural one, one that continues to unfold through the contributions of many different ethnic groups. To honor the contributions of some of her original weavers, Robins will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a calendar of events meant to honor the culture while educating the community in the process.

While the Department of Defense celebrates several heritage observance months, Stephen Hammack, base on-site archaeologist, said it's more than just a directive that guides Robins' celebration of Native American culture.

"I don't think the base realizes the ties we have to the Native American community," he said. "They may see articles in the Rev-up from time to time, but we actually have government- to-government relations with 12 federally recognized tribes," he said. "We have a direct link; it's not just something that the federal government says we should do."

First Lt. Leodanny Garcia, NAHO committee project officer, said the entire committee has worked hard to make this year's observance, themed "Living in Many Worlds," something that educates and engages.

"We hope to convey to the base and local community the impact Native Americans have on today's culture and to reflect on their contributions throughout U.S. history," he said. "The approach was to schedule entertaining and engaging events that worked around the designated holidays and base personnel's travel plans. We also wanted to reach out to school children and their families during the month."

In order to do so, the observance committee brainstormed and came up with events that include the on-base and off-base communities. The result is a calendar of events which begins Wednesday with a primitive skills demonstration and corn roast.

The event, which will be held in the courtyard between Bldgs. 300 and 301, will include an artifact identification day where people can bring personal artifacts to be identified and dated.

"What we'd really like to get across with this event is that the artifacts were made by real people," said Mr. Hammack. "They didn't just fall out of space. We want people to think about the people who made them and what their lives were like."

Other events will include cultural lectures at Tucker and Robins Elementary schools, a matinee showing of Brother Bear at the Base Theater and a luncheon with special guest speaker Diamond Brown from Ocmulgee National Monument. 

NAHO calendar of events
Nov. 3: 6:30 p.m. Ocmulgee Archaeological Society meeting at Mercer University in Macon. Archaeologists Don Gordy and Terry Jackson speak on "Archaeology at the Singer-Moye Mound Site." Visit www.sgaoas.com for more information.
Nov. 5: 9:30 a.m. Primitive Skills Demonstration by Scott Jones at Robins Elementary
Nov. 5: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Primitive Skills Demonstration and Corn Roast (courtyard outside of Bldgs. 300 and 301)
Nov. 17: 9 a.m. Base archaeologist Stephen Hammack speaks on "The Archaeology of Robins" at Tucker Elementary School.
Nov. 19: 2 p.m. Stephen Hammack speaks on "The Archaeology of Robins" at Robins Elementary School.
Nov. 25: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. NAHO Luncheon at the Heritage Club featuring Diamond Go-Sti, Cherokee educator and native culturalist.
For more information on the observance call 1st Lt. Leodanny Garcia at
926-2168.