NAIV News & Info
Report from National Commander, Don Loudner
September 28, 2006On September 7-8 2006, NAIV, Inc. conducted its Second Annual National American Indian Veterans Conference on the Navajo Reservation at Window Rock, Arizona.
Our National Conference was conducted in conjunction with the great Navajo Nation, and for that we have many to thank. First, as National Commander I would like to thank President Joe Shirley and Vice President Frank Dayish for their graceful hospitality in making us feel welcome and for putting on an outstanding conference.
I would like to thank Council Member El Wheeler, National Vice Commander Anderson Morgan, Navajo Director of Veterans Affairs, Leo Chischilly, Mr TC TSO, Presidents Aide, and many others, too numerous to name here, who gave of their time and effort to make this Conference a great success.
I also want to thank Congressman Udall for his attendance, Assistant Under Secretary William Wannamaker from VA Memorial Affairs who represented VA, folks from VA Region and the VA Medical Center. Without you, none of what we accomplished would have been possible.
I want to thank my staff, especially the hard work of our National Director, Ms. Leila Strickland who spent many hours on the phone and computer with Navajo President's Office and Navajo Department of Veterans Affairs to produce an Agenda that was professional and workable.
It was the work of all three entities that made this possible. We especially want to thank the hundreds of Navajo Veterans and veterans from other tribes throughout the Region who attended over the two day period.
Last but not least, we were honored and humbled when President Joe Shirley decorated all of the National NAIV Staff with the Navajo Nation Medal of Valor. It made us proud to be Indian Warriors.
We look to the future with anticipation knowing that what we are doing is important for the future of our Indian Veterans and their families and we will not stop, we will not rest, until NAIV's National Charter is recognized by Congress, we are training and employing our own Service Officers and Indian Veterans are receiving benefits equal to other groups around the nation.
We are now planning our February trip to Washington, DC and we hope to have as many of the National Staff there that can make it. Our plan is to "Storm the Hill" and visit as many of our Representatives as possible to ensure that both Congress and VA have a copy of the resolutions that were passed at Navajo. We also plan to visit Congressman Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and find out why he has not sent our National Charter to Committee. We plan to be in Washington, DC at the same time that NCAI is present so that we can participate with NCAI as well.
Finally, we were saddened that not all of the Navajo Nation veterans that could have attended were not able to do so because they were not informed. We must work hard in Indian Country to communicate to our Tribal Veterans when a National Indian Veterans Conference is being hosted on the Tribe's Reservation, so that all may benefit.
We are looking at the Chippewa in Michigan for our third, September 2007 National American Indian Veterans Conference.
NAIV is growing and we urge all Indian Veterans across the Nation to set aside any concerns or differences you may have and join us. NAIV is not a threat to a Tribal Veterans Organization, but none of these Tribal Veterans Organizations appears before Congress or VA to speak on issues important to Indian Veterans with one voice. We are not satisfied that the Center For Minority Veterans is representing us at VA adequately.
NAIV is the one Organization that gives you a National Voice on Veterans issues that affect Indian Veterans. NCAI has honored NAIV by recognizing us as that Organization. Tribes can still retain their Tribal Veterans Organizations, but join NAIV, "the heart, soul, and voice of the American Indian veteran."