Western South Dakota News

Washington, D.C. – On May 11, 2023, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced legislation to create a congressional charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV). Senators Rounds and Thune introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Congress grants charters to recognize patriotic and national organizations that operate solely for charitable, literary, educational, scientific or civil improvement purposes. The NAIV serves the needs and interests of Native American veterans in collaboration with its national leadership and 14 regional offices. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 140,000 Native American veterans in the United States. While congressional charters have been granted to Italian-American, Polish-American and Catholic-American veterans groups, as of now, no Native American veterans’ organization has received one.

“Polish American, Italian American, Jewish, and Black veterans’ groups all have established Congressional Charters, yet no Congressional Charters have been designated for Native veterans’ organizations,” said Johnson. “Native Americans serve in our military at five times the national average, establishing federal recognition for NAIV is the right thing to do.”

Headquartered in South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Reservation, the NAIV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocating on behalf of tribal veterans. Originally established in 2004, the NAIV serves the needs of Native American veterans in all 50 states. The NAIV formed as a result of a request by former Senators Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing in 2004.

“Native Americans serve in our nation’s military at five times the national average, and this charter would give them the recognition they truly deserve and have earned,” saidRounds. “There are many congressionally-chartered veterans organizations, but none that solely represent the interests and needs of Native American veterans. Our bill would change that by recognizing the mission of the NAIV with a congressional charter. The NAIV works closely with Tribal Veterans Service Officers to make certain Native American veterans receive proper benefits and resources. Congress regularly looks to the NAIV for input when addressing issues facing Native American veterans. This charter will help give the NAIV a larger platform to continue advocating for and serving the more than 140,000 Native American veterans living in the United States.”

“Native American veterans have served our state and our country with the highest honor in the U.S. military,” said Thune. “I am glad to join Senator Rounds in reintroducing this resolution that would give a voice to the unique needs and priorities of Native American veterans.”

This legislation has been endorsed by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, Coalition of Large Tribes, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Military Order of the Purple Heart, Korean War Veterans of America, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Vietnam Veterans of America, American Gold Star Mothers, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Navajo Nation, Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Seminole Nation, Blackfeet Nation, Crow Nation, Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, Northern Arapaho Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Spokane Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, Jena Band of the Choctaw Indians, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Mohegan Tribe, Catawba Nation, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.

Supporting Quotes:

“This bill is very important to American Indians and I want to thank Senator Mike Rounds for introducing it and Senator Luján for serving as the lead Democratic co-sponsor,” said Don Loudner, a Native veteran, enrolled member of the Hunkpati Sioux Tribe (Crow Creek Sioux Tribe), and National Commander of the National American Indian Veterans, Inc. “The bill doesn’t ask for any federal money; it only asks that the Congress recognize the sacrifices of generations of American Indians who have answered the nation’s call and fought in every war since the American Revolution.”

“On behalf of the Lower Brule community, specifically our veterans, we thank you for your hard work and dedication regarding those who served in the Military,” said Clyde J.R. Estes, Chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. “We respect and support the efforts of the National Commander of NAIV (National American Indian Veterans) Don Loudner and Senator Rounds to create a Congressional Charter (NAIV) for Native Veterans across our Tribal land. Your patriotism and desire to honor and pay tribute to our Veterans who served our country with the highest acts of gallantry is commendable.”

“The Crow Creek Sioux tribe is in support of Sen. Rounds and the introduction of a federal charter bill for the National American Indians Veterans,” said Peter Lengkeek, Chairman of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. “Securing this charter would mean full representation of the Native American Veterans and the honor and the acknowledgment of the level of service this country's indigenous population. We commend Sen. Rounds for his efforts.”

“A congressionally chartered national Native American veterans organization could be an important voice for Native American veterans, advocating for their needs and priorities and providing valuable services and programs to support their well-being,” said Scott Herman, President of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. “A nationally chartered veterans organization would have more authority and resources to address the concerns of Native American veterans on the state and federal level. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe supports Congressional authorization of a charter for Native American veterans dedicated to serving the needs of Native American veterans.”

“This Federal Charter is something that I have been working on for several years and it is long overdue,” said Ken Teunissen, Past Vice Chair of the South Dakota Veterans Council and Past Region III Commander of Military Order of the Purple Heart. “Securing this charter will mean greater representation for American Indian veterans on both the state and federal level. Recently, the South Dakota Veterans Commission disbanded and the South Dakota Veterans Council assumed the duties of leading veterans advocacy in South Dakota. When that happened American Indian veterans lost their representation because the National American Indian Veterans organization does not have a Federal Charter, which according to the Bylaws of the South Dakota Veterans Council is required. It’s time we got this done for our Brothers and Sisters in Arms.”

“I would first like to thank all the Native American Veterans from past and present for their patriotism and dedication to serving our country,” saidChristian Skunk, Council Member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. “I would also like to thank Senator Rounds for reintroducing this piece of legislation and hope that congress will pass it, as it has no fiscal impact and because of all the work that the National American Indian Veterans Inc. (NAIV) has done over the past couple of decades. From providing services to help our Native American Veterans, to education others on the unique circumstances that our veterans face.”

“As a 10-year member of National American Indian Veterans, having a Congressional Charter will allow us to advocate for our own Native American brothers & sisters across the United States,” said Geri Opsal, Tribal Veterans Service Officer of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate on the Lake Traverse Reservation. “We all face many of the same Veteran healthcare or housing issues across the Tribal Nations. To be able to have this recognition and reach a broad range of Native American Veterans will allow us to strengthen each other across America.”

Original source can be found here.