CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 311448Z OCT 24 MID180000022978U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 086/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/OCT// SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 2024 NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH// RMKS/1. Throughout our Nation's history, Native Americans have demonstrated exceptional bravery and dedication, both in times of peace and conflict, while also striving for equal recognition and rights. We honor their rich heritage and unwavering commitment to our country. When I entered office as Secretary of the Navy, I laid out Three Enduring Priorities which serve as the foundation of all we do in the Department of the Navy (DON). My priority of Building a Culture of Warfighting Excellence is focused on taking care of our people. Force resilience and readiness begin and end with our people. Our Sailors, Marines and DON civilians provide the foundational strength for This Department. We extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the contributions made by Native American Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families, both past and present. 2. Chapman Scanandoah, born Har-Chico-Qui in 1870, near Lenox, New York, was a member of the Oneida Tribe, part of the Iroquois Confederacy. Descended from warriors who had supported the U.S. in past conflicts, Scanandoah enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1897, showcasing Navy values through 15 years of service. Despite limited educational opportunities for Native Americans at the time, he completed his education at Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, in Hampton, Virginia, and later worked as a machinist in the U.S. Navy. His service included assignments on various ships and a promotion to Chief Petty Officer. After his Navy career, Scanandoah continued to innovate, obtaining several patents for his inventions and contributing to the war efforts during World War I before returning to farming and life on the Onondaga Reservation in New York. 3. Minnie Spotted-Wolf, of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, grew up working on her father's ranch doing such chores as cutting fence posts, driving a two- ton truck, and breaking horses which she believed prepared her for the rigorous Marine Corps boot camp. She was the first Native American woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, joining the Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1943. Spotted-Wolf served as a heavy equipment operator and a driver for visiting officers and generals on bases in Hawaii and California. Following her time in the Marine Corps, Spotted-Wolf earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and went on to teach elementary school for 29 years. Minnie Spotted-Wolf was a pioneer for generations of women and Native Americans who would follow in her footsteps. 4. Native Americans have served in the Navy and Marine Corps for over 200 years. Today, there are approximately 11,600 Navy and the Marine Corps active-duty members, reservists, and civilians who identify as Native American. National Native American Indian Heritage Month offers us an opportunity to learn more about the unique challenges faced by Native American people and their contributions to the Department of the Navy and to the Nation. 5. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//