The 53rd Annual Menominee Nation Contest Pow-wow Welcomes Veterans

by Bradley J. Burt

Saturday August 3rd, 2019 was my first time attending a Native American Pow-wow. Whether it be sharing the peace with the Menominee, receiving honor extended to all who have served, or sharing an Indian Taco—my first day of Pow-wow was nothing short of a divine experience.

Arrival: We arrived at the Menominee Nation around 1500 hours where we were welcomed by friendly vendors at the War Memorial Park, which hosted a giant “Pow-wow” sign to welcome all who were traveling. We happened to be heading from the Madison, WI area where I was picked up by two great supporters of Outpost 422—Steve and Tammy Foye.

Steve and Tammy Foye were our hosts, who invited us to the event who are our family. Steve introduced me to Boog at the War Memorial Park, who is member of the tribe and a Navy Veteran. After shaking hands with Boog, we loaded up the car and took off for the Pow-wow.

Steve is my connecting link with Menominee veterans through his genuine support of our mission to end veteran suicide. Steve’s generosity was extended in early May when the planning began to attend the Pow-wow. Steve believes in the Stephen Minister mission the Sacred Warrior Church of Native America Inc. safehouse operation will bring and is doing all he can to help. Foye has been attending Menominee Pow-wows for decades who recommended I reach out at the Pow-wow to share ideas and pay respects to deceased veterans at the Menominee cemetery. We are seeking support from native friends to assist with getting the Outpost 422 fundraising mission off the ground.

We showed up with one thing in mind—to experience the wealth of culture offered by the great Menominee Nation. We were welcomed with friendly smiles and great food stands. After parking the Benz, we got out and heard the beating of drums followed by the smell of Indian Fry Bread. I knew right away my introduction to the Menominee Pow-wow would be nothing short of genuinely delicious. The dance contest was under way that went around the circle to each competing group. I felt right at home.

Paying My Respects:

The purpose of our visit to the Menominee War Memorial Park before entering the Pow-wow was to meet up with elder veteran friends of Steve Foye. After being introduced, we began discussing the issue of the 22 veterans who will not make it through today. I extended my invitation to join us to brainstorm PTSD Coach App strategies with the Menominee Tribal Veterans Council. The mission at Outpost 422 is to acknowledge the special role of the 22 who will be joining the ranks of those at Post Everlasting.

The 22 veterans who commit suicide per day are being called through our Outpost 422 vigil mission to assemble at Post Everlasting. Our prayers for their families seek to assure and comfort the afflicted their loved one is on over watch as guardians. Our monumental 22 Boulders of the Sacred Warrior Church of Native America Inc. are their memorial. We are seeking the blessing of elders who are the ambassadors of the Great Spirit. We are searching for the answers to end veteran suicide the Pow-wow will bring. We are looking to educate America through blog narratives about the great sacrifice our tribal warriors offer when they swear an oath to our nation who are also suffering the fate of the 22. We need all the help we can get.

Overwhelmed with emotion standing before those who have left our ranks, I had to step back and collect myself for a minute. Native American veterans are a symbol of bravery above and beyond the call. Commitment, courage, and community are what make veterans unique.

Outpost 422 is seeking support in Madison, WI from the Common Council to welcome tribes at Peace Park on the 400-block of State Street.

The Sacred Warrior Church of Native America Inc. is a 501 c 3 safehouse mission. Outpost 422 is our memorial blog mission who is seeking a community pledge to recognize the gravity of suicide and VA painkiller overdose.

We are raising awareness to assist tribal veterans with PTSD Coach App strategy services through raising of funds to assist with vouchers to receive free tablets. Madison, WI is the host of the National Veteran Suicide Research Center at the Madison VA Hospital and UW Health.

Our UW Whitewater research mission seeks suggestions from tribal elders as to how we can help revitalize our tribes. We are asking for prayers and meditation at 4:22 pm each day as a fortress of solidarity from our veteran nation. PTSD Coach app must be made available to all veterans regardless of discharge.

We are preparing a fundraiser to request permission from the Madison Common Council to place a monumental 22 boulder at Peace Park. We want to invite all tribes and their elders to share peace to end veteran suicide at Peace Park and at all indigenous cemeteries. The boulder will also be headquartered at Peace Park on State Street to acknowledge the importance of our nationwide veteran suicide search and rescue mission.

Our blogs will be used to narrate the reality of veteran suicide for all who visit our State of Wisconsin Capitol. The 22 Boulder will act as a beacon for all veterans who are lost.

Combat takes a toll on all veterans from all lands who need services allocated from our community to assist anyone who wonders and gets lost in suicide and VA painkiller addiction regardless of discharge. Our campaign is to unify as one veteran body to extend the hand of assistance through PTSD Coach app tutorials.

The Sacred Warrior Church of Native America Inc. is a 501 c 3 to see to it reservations are receiving care and support from America’s churches when anyone, anywhere reaches out for the hand of help when the veteran falls into a crisis. We are launching a safehouse program to welcome all veterans who visit the Wisconsin State Capitol have a place to welcome them when they wonder into America and get lost.

The First Order of Business—Pay Respect for Those Who Sacrificed Their Life for Americans

I was amazed to find out there were Navajo Code Talkers amongst the Menominee. They are my favorite people to research.

The revelation I was presented about Pow-wow on the Menominee reservation kicked off the Saturday August, 3rd ceremony with a veteran color guard and flag display. My mission as a Stephen Minister is to connect with every single veteran soul about our mission to end the 22. At the close of business I was looking to meet with elders and members of the color guard, and to introduce myself as an American Legion Service Officer. We did not make the connect. Luckily, we were attending the Pow-wow for two days and had another chance to meet up Sunday instead.

Our mission is to spread the word across the United States to seek support to end veteran suicide. Deep down inside my soul, I feel empty, and am the bearer of bad news at times being a Service Officer and Sacred Warrior Chaplain. The emptiness is filled with joy when we account for each and every one of our warriors who will end up in Outpost 422 today.

As the rain opened up in the sky, we took off to meet up with Boog at his place, and left the Pow-wow. The Sacred Warrior Church Mission at the Menominee Pow-wow was to seek the Menominee blessing. What I walked away with was a heart full of the Great Spirit who has blessed the Outpost 422 charge on the Menominee Reservation. After leaving the War Memorial Park, shedding soul-filled tears, receiving the warmth of the sun; my soul was finally at peace and am empowered by the spirit of the Menominee to venture out into the unchartered waters to search and rescue veterans who are lost in the abyss.