Blog 6

During WWI, many Native Americans bravely volunteered for enlistment, driven by the false hope that they would return home recognized as heroes and things would change for them. Many of them who were enlisted were forced into government boarding schools when they were kids, and due to the trauma from this experience, their mixed identities drove them to fight for “Democracy” and hope to be accepted by society. Those Native Americans who fought in the war contributed valuable support to help the U.S. Army and its allies win the conflict. However, upon returning home from one of the most devastating wars in human history, they were not welcomed with open arms; they continued to face discrimination from both the government and other settlers. From the letters we read, it is evident that Native Americans played a crucial role in helping the U.S. Army and its allies establish a secure line of communication, which was vital to their victory. Yet, in these letters, I sense a lack of acknowledgment from the commanders regarding how helpful Native Americans were, and there was no respect shown by those officers.

When many Native Americans volunteered to fight, they believed this would be an opportunity to change their circumstances and make their voices heard. Unfortunately, the reality was different—nothing had changed. They were still treated unequally, and their contributions to the war went largely unrecognized. It wasn’t until 1924, with the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, that Native Americans were finally granted U.S. citizenship. Even after receiving citizenship, they were still denied equal rights, such as the right to vote or access to the same benefits as other Americans (like African Americans). Although they have continuously pushed and advocated for their rights and sovereignty, society has only recently started to recognize and acknowledge these struggles and their contributions.