NATIVE WORDS, 
NATIVE WARRIORS

“It's strange, but growing up as a child I was forbidden to speak
my Native language at school. Later my country asked me to.
My language helped win the war and that makes me very proud.
Very proud.”

— Charle Chibitty (Comanche), U.S. Army

When the United States issued the call to arms in World Wars I and II, American Indians answered as warriors. Some men discovered that words—in their Native languages—would be their most valued weapons. Crackling over the airwaves and telephone lines, the code talkers’ messages proved indecipherable to the enemy and helped the United States achieve victory in combat. Decades later, the U.S. government declassified the code talker programs, paving the way for the participants’ long-overdue recognition.

Native Words, Native Warriors tells the remarkable story of Indian soldiers from more than a dozen tribes who used their Native languages in the service of the U.S. military. Developed with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, this inspiring exhibition was made possible in part thanks to the generous support of Elizabeth Hunter Solomon. Additional support has been provided by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee and the AMB Foundation.

You can see this amazing exhibit all weekend at Indian Summer Festival, September 7, 8 and 9. For more information about the exhibit CLICK HERE.