1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:06,199 --> 00:00:09,180 Good afternoon , everybody and welcome 3 00:00:09,189 --> 00:00:12,140 to our uh cross cultural mentoring 4 00:00:12,149 --> 00:00:16,079 session for today . I'm Des D Angelo . 5 00:00:16,090 --> 00:00:19,219 I'm an es Deputy Director for the Air 6 00:00:19,229 --> 00:00:21,479 Force Lifecycle Management Center and a 7 00:00:21,489 --> 00:00:23,489 champion for the Indigenous Nations 8 00:00:23,489 --> 00:00:25,433 Equity Team for Air Force Material 9 00:00:25,433 --> 00:00:28,739 Command and also the Air Force . I will 10 00:00:28,750 --> 00:00:30,639 serve as your moderator today for 11 00:00:30,639 --> 00:00:32,694 today's session . And I'm honored to 12 00:00:32,694 --> 00:00:34,639 welcome you to this cross cultural 13 00:00:34,639 --> 00:00:36,583 mentoring panel celebrating Native 14 00:00:36,583 --> 00:00:38,639 American and Alaskan Native Heritage 15 00:00:38,639 --> 00:00:41,020 Month . This panel was part of Air 16 00:00:41,029 --> 00:00:43,251 Force Material Command's Cross cultural 17 00:00:43,251 --> 00:00:46,209 mentoring 2024 campaign and the goal is 18 00:00:46,220 --> 00:00:48,276 to create an inclusive culture where 19 00:00:48,276 --> 00:00:50,259 people of all demographics feel 20 00:00:50,270 --> 00:00:52,669 comfortable requesting mentors being 21 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,347 actively engaged in mentoring 22 00:00:54,347 --> 00:00:57,150 relationships and visualizing of 23 00:00:57,159 --> 00:00:59,569 leadership roles . Throughout the next 24 00:00:59,580 --> 00:01:02,229 hour , we plan to answer questions on 25 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,589 mentoring a global diverse workforce 26 00:01:04,970 --> 00:01:07,370 tactfully and with empathetic 27 00:01:07,379 --> 00:01:09,949 acceptance , respect , curiosity and 28 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,730 inclusion . Now , every November , the 29 00:01:12,739 --> 00:01:14,906 Department of Defense joins the nation 30 00:01:14,906 --> 00:01:17,050 in celebrating Native American and 31 00:01:17,059 --> 00:01:19,281 Alaskan Native Heritage Month . It's an 32 00:01:19,281 --> 00:01:21,470 opportunity to recognize the rich and 33 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:23,779 diverse cultures , traditions and 34 00:01:23,790 --> 00:01:25,901 important contributions of the Native 35 00:01:25,901 --> 00:01:28,089 American and Alaskan Alaskan native 36 00:01:28,099 --> 00:01:30,489 peoples . The observation of the 37 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:32,790 National American Indian Heritage Month 38 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,209 has its roots in public law . Over 39 00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:37,220 several years , the observation has 40 00:01:37,220 --> 00:01:39,331 moved to different months but in 1990 41 00:01:39,331 --> 00:01:41,260 public law set the month long 42 00:01:41,269 --> 00:01:43,599 observance in November . Each year , 43 00:01:43,610 --> 00:01:46,110 the president issues a proclamation in 44 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:47,898 recognition of the observance . 45 00:01:48,019 --> 00:01:50,339 National American Indian Heritage Month 46 00:01:50,349 --> 00:01:52,516 is observed from the first through the 47 00:01:52,516 --> 00:01:55,230 30th of November each year . The 48 00:01:55,239 --> 00:01:57,739 observation month recognized American 49 00:01:57,750 --> 00:02:00,029 Indians for the respect of natural 50 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,984 resources and the earth for having 51 00:02:01,984 --> 00:02:04,150 served with valor in our nation's 52 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,489 conflict and for many distinct and 53 00:02:06,500 --> 00:02:08,611 important contributions to the United 54 00:02:08,611 --> 00:02:11,389 States . Please note that the title of 55 00:02:11,399 --> 00:02:13,343 this observance varies between the 56 00:02:13,343 --> 00:02:15,677 various documents listed in the defense , 57 00:02:15,677 --> 00:02:17,843 equal Opportunity Management Institute 58 00:02:17,843 --> 00:02:19,843 and uses the title set forth in the 59 00:02:19,843 --> 00:02:23,440 1990 subsequent public laws . As of 60 00:02:23,449 --> 00:02:27,410 20 20/9 million people identified as 61 00:02:27,419 --> 00:02:29,490 American Indian and Alaskan natives 62 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:31,960 making up about 2.9% of the US 63 00:02:31,970 --> 00:02:34,869 population . This number nearly doubled 64 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,220 from the 2010 census . There are over 65 00:02:38,229 --> 00:02:42,229 574 federally recognized tribes with 66 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,729 unique cultures and individuals , their 67 00:02:44,740 --> 00:02:46,851 diverse cultures reflect many ways of 68 00:02:46,851 --> 00:02:49,050 life . Some of the largest groups of 69 00:02:49,059 --> 00:02:51,170 native Americans include those of the 70 00:02:51,170 --> 00:02:54,009 Navajo nation , the Cherokee nation and 71 00:02:54,020 --> 00:02:56,669 the Choctaw nation . American Indians 72 00:02:56,679 --> 00:02:58,512 have served in US conflict since 73 00:02:58,512 --> 00:03:00,770 colonial times . According to some 74 00:03:00,779 --> 00:03:03,529 estimates , native Americans have even 75 00:03:03,539 --> 00:03:05,610 served at higher compared to their 76 00:03:05,619 --> 00:03:08,110 actual population in the United States . 77 00:03:08,750 --> 00:03:11,320 To many indigenous peoples service . 78 00:03:11,330 --> 00:03:13,386 History is deeply connected to their 79 00:03:13,386 --> 00:03:16,369 homeland and honor for some military 80 00:03:16,380 --> 00:03:18,759 services as it means to assert autonomy 81 00:03:18,770 --> 00:03:20,789 in the face of assimilation or even 82 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,199 extermination . The 2024 theme of the 83 00:03:24,210 --> 00:03:26,600 National American Indi Indian Heritage 84 00:03:26,610 --> 00:03:29,990 Month is affirming native voices , 85 00:03:30,169 --> 00:03:33,520 visibility , leadership service . 86 00:03:33,889 --> 00:03:36,830 This reflects the essential perspective 87 00:03:36,839 --> 00:03:39,172 of American Indians and Alaskan natives , 88 00:03:39,279 --> 00:03:41,501 their outstanding commitment to service 89 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,887 and the need to elevate their voices . 90 00:03:45,130 --> 00:03:46,908 So I will take a few minutes to 91 00:03:46,908 --> 00:03:49,630 introduce myself before I introduce my 92 00:03:49,639 --> 00:03:52,419 esteemed panel members today . So I am 93 00:03:52,429 --> 00:03:54,373 Dennis d'angelo . I mentioned that 94 00:03:54,373 --> 00:03:56,262 earlier . I am an SES that is the 95 00:03:56,262 --> 00:03:58,373 Deputy Director of the Air Force Life 96 00:03:58,373 --> 00:04:00,520 Cycle Management Program . I spent 30 97 00:04:00,529 --> 00:04:02,585 years in the Air Force as a military 98 00:04:02,585 --> 00:04:05,669 member , an additional 16 since my 99 00:04:05,679 --> 00:04:08,479 retirement as a civilian employee , 100 00:04:08,570 --> 00:04:11,240 that's dod civilian employee to include 101 00:04:11,619 --> 00:04:15,330 ses , I have worked at many 102 00:04:15,339 --> 00:04:17,450 of the major commands throughout the 103 00:04:17,459 --> 00:04:19,970 Air Force . I've also worked at the 104 00:04:19,980 --> 00:04:22,529 majority of Combatant command 105 00:04:22,540 --> 00:04:24,899 headquarters as well as a logistician . 106 00:04:25,410 --> 00:04:29,309 And today I have my experience 107 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,320 working with acquisition , which is 108 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,209 something new for me , but really 109 00:04:33,209 --> 00:04:35,487 exciting . Previous to this assignment , 110 00:04:35,487 --> 00:04:38,100 I was a executive director for the Air 111 00:04:38,109 --> 00:04:40,276 Force's Statement Center at Tinker Air 112 00:04:40,276 --> 00:04:42,442 Force Base where I worked multitude of 113 00:04:42,442 --> 00:04:44,442 programs to keep our weapon systems 114 00:04:44,442 --> 00:04:46,609 ready for any conflict that might come 115 00:04:46,609 --> 00:04:48,776 along . And one of our panel members , 116 00:04:48,899 --> 00:04:50,899 Tonya Perkins is working over there 117 00:04:50,899 --> 00:04:52,955 today and I'm very proud of the work 118 00:04:52,955 --> 00:04:55,177 that she does there as well . So thanks 119 00:04:55,177 --> 00:04:57,399 for all you do uh Tanya and to the rest 120 00:04:57,399 --> 00:04:59,399 of you , thank you for all the work 121 00:04:59,399 --> 00:05:01,455 that you do , especially you Susan , 122 00:05:01,455 --> 00:05:01,380 because you helped me in many ways when 123 00:05:01,390 --> 00:05:04,100 I was at Tinker as well in the manpower 124 00:05:04,109 --> 00:05:06,442 area . So we appreciate all that you do . 125 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,899 So with that , I will introduce the 126 00:05:08,910 --> 00:05:11,489 panel members . But before I get to the 127 00:05:11,500 --> 00:05:13,500 questions , I'm going to go through 128 00:05:13,500 --> 00:05:15,611 some rules of the road so that we all 129 00:05:15,611 --> 00:05:17,778 know how we will ask questions and how 130 00:05:17,778 --> 00:05:19,944 they'll be answered . But first let me 131 00:05:19,944 --> 00:05:22,000 go over to my panel members and I'll 132 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,167 start off with Miss Susan Cody . Susan 133 00:05:24,167 --> 00:05:26,399 over to you . Good afternoon . Thank 134 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:28,940 you , sir . My name is Susan Cody . I'm 135 00:05:28,950 --> 00:05:30,894 the program manager in the special 136 00:05:30,894 --> 00:05:32,839 access programs here on Tinker Air 137 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,250 Force Base . I am full blood native 138 00:05:35,260 --> 00:05:38,420 American of Cherokee , Kawa , Delaware 139 00:05:38,609 --> 00:05:42,429 and absentee Shawnee tribes . I have 38 140 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,369 years of federal service here all on 141 00:05:45,380 --> 00:05:47,790 Tinker Air Force Base . I began my 142 00:05:47,799 --> 00:05:50,739 career as a key punch operator in the 143 00:05:50,750 --> 00:05:53,100 old distribution organization which is 144 00:05:53,109 --> 00:05:56,369 now d I worked my way through many 145 00:05:56,380 --> 00:05:58,869 different places here on base , which I 146 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,670 view as an awesome perk because you can 147 00:06:01,679 --> 00:06:03,568 move around to different jobs and 148 00:06:03,568 --> 00:06:06,010 series and never leave the base . After 149 00:06:06,019 --> 00:06:09,290 the key punch job , I moved over to the 150 00:06:09,299 --> 00:06:11,410 air freight terminal . I worked grave 151 00:06:11,410 --> 00:06:13,521 shift over there for a while . Then I 152 00:06:13,521 --> 00:06:15,632 moved to the environmental management 153 00:06:15,632 --> 00:06:17,743 Directorate , which is one of my most 154 00:06:17,743 --> 00:06:19,910 favorite jobs on base . Then on to the 155 00:06:19,910 --> 00:06:22,690 76th maintenance wing , I was uh C A 156 00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:25,230 for a general Bruno . And then I went 157 00:06:25,239 --> 00:06:27,890 on to the 747 aircraft sustainment 158 00:06:27,899 --> 00:06:30,600 group . Then I went to my assistant 159 00:06:30,609 --> 00:06:33,079 program offices at E three and then the 160 00:06:33,089 --> 00:06:35,559 135 before I come to my current job , 161 00:06:36,630 --> 00:06:39,209 although I haven't really been raised . 162 00:06:39,220 --> 00:06:42,369 Traditionally , I went to one powwow my 163 00:06:42,380 --> 00:06:45,630 whole life up until like 2007 . And 164 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,584 that's where I found out about the 165 00:06:47,584 --> 00:06:49,584 Tinker Inter Tribal Council here on 166 00:06:49,584 --> 00:06:51,696 base . So , as I became aware of what 167 00:06:51,696 --> 00:06:53,970 was going on here on base , I got more 168 00:06:53,980 --> 00:06:56,202 interested and more active and I became 169 00:06:56,202 --> 00:06:58,329 an officer secretary treasurer . And 170 00:06:58,339 --> 00:07:00,561 now I'm the current Tinker Inter Tribal 171 00:07:00,561 --> 00:07:02,790 Council president and that's been since 172 00:07:02,799 --> 00:07:06,380 2015 , I believe , to 173 00:07:06,390 --> 00:07:10,170 current . So I have an awesome crew of 174 00:07:10,179 --> 00:07:13,980 officers and with that , they , we have 175 00:07:13,989 --> 00:07:16,649 been able to establish month long 176 00:07:16,660 --> 00:07:19,470 activities during the month of November , 177 00:07:19,529 --> 00:07:22,630 which we love to do . We outreach to 178 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,660 the kids off base and then we reach to 179 00:07:25,670 --> 00:07:29,179 the people on base also . But , um , 180 00:07:29,450 --> 00:07:32,230 we have all kinds of activities and , 181 00:07:32,239 --> 00:07:34,779 ah , we're only gonna grow it . So , ah , 182 00:07:35,119 --> 00:07:37,420 we like to have as much participation 183 00:07:37,429 --> 00:07:39,707 as possible . So , if you're listening , 184 00:07:39,707 --> 00:07:41,818 you know , give me a call or an email 185 00:07:41,818 --> 00:07:43,762 and , ah , we can hook you up on a 186 00:07:43,762 --> 00:07:46,109 volunteer activity for sure . I also 187 00:07:46,119 --> 00:07:48,175 briefed the FT a which these are the 188 00:07:48,175 --> 00:07:50,286 first term airmen that hit the base . 189 00:07:50,286 --> 00:07:52,489 And of course , I tell them about tick 190 00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:55,940 and first Americans Museum . So try to 191 00:07:55,950 --> 00:07:58,117 get them hooked in to learn more about 192 00:07:58,117 --> 00:08:00,117 the native American culture that we 193 00:08:00,117 --> 00:08:02,172 have in here in Oklahoma . That's so 194 00:08:02,172 --> 00:08:04,339 rich and vibrant , but that's a little 195 00:08:04,339 --> 00:08:06,172 bit about me . Thank you , sir . 196 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:14,750 Hello , I'm Tanya Perkins . I am a 197 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,630 process analyst with 76 CMXG here at 198 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,807 Tinker Air Force Base . Um I have over 199 00:08:19,807 --> 00:08:22,019 15 years of experience in the aviation 200 00:08:22,029 --> 00:08:24,679 maintenance and leadership . My journey 201 00:08:24,690 --> 00:08:26,801 with Tinker Air Force Base began as a 202 00:08:26,801 --> 00:08:29,023 jet engine mechanic and then I moved to 203 00:08:29,023 --> 00:08:31,079 a fuel mechanic and then an aircraft 204 00:08:31,079 --> 00:08:33,301 supervisor and a management analyst . I 205 00:08:33,301 --> 00:08:35,301 have a FAA airframe and power plant 206 00:08:35,301 --> 00:08:37,468 license , a certificate of mastery and 207 00:08:37,468 --> 00:08:39,634 aviation maintenance . A bachelor's in 208 00:08:39,634 --> 00:08:42,099 psychology and I am currently pursuing 209 00:08:42,109 --> 00:08:44,690 my master's in data analytics . My 210 00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:46,919 commitment is to continuous process 211 00:08:46,929 --> 00:08:49,040 improvement . Um It has allowed me to 212 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,250 complete over 70 CP I projects and 213 00:08:52,260 --> 00:08:55,520 generating over $3,000,000,800 214 00:08:55,530 --> 00:08:58,440 annually . Um More than 20 industrial 215 00:08:58,450 --> 00:09:01,510 process control incent initiatives and 216 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,520 um trans in transforming operations 217 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,539 over 40% of CMXG in the 5 51st . That's 218 00:09:06,549 --> 00:09:09,169 over the last three years . Um My true 219 00:09:09,179 --> 00:09:11,401 passion is in education , mental health 220 00:09:11,401 --> 00:09:13,460 awareness and resiliency , diversity 221 00:09:13,469 --> 00:09:16,049 and inclusion . Um I'm a descendant of 222 00:09:16,059 --> 00:09:18,229 Archie Creek Sam who was the sun chief 223 00:09:18,239 --> 00:09:20,406 of the NAIS tribe . He was a leader of 224 00:09:20,406 --> 00:09:22,517 his people and a protector of history 225 00:09:22,517 --> 00:09:24,669 and spiritual practices . He's 226 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:26,346 identified as a key figure in 227 00:09:26,346 --> 00:09:28,650 preserving the spiritual and cultural 228 00:09:28,659 --> 00:09:31,109 traditions of the Southeastern tribes 229 00:09:31,130 --> 00:09:33,241 and his life reflects a commitment to 230 00:09:33,241 --> 00:09:34,989 preserving native identity and 231 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,833 traditions at a time when native 232 00:09:36,833 --> 00:09:38,989 culture was strongly under attack . 233 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,020 Back over to you , Mr d'angelo . 234 00:09:48,090 --> 00:09:50,257 I'm sorry , I believe you're on mute . 235 00:09:50,257 --> 00:09:53,679 I apologize . Thank you very much . My 236 00:09:53,690 --> 00:09:55,746 first photo of the day and I'm quite 237 00:09:55,746 --> 00:09:57,940 sure there will be more take Sergeant 238 00:09:57,950 --> 00:10:00,059 Rodriguez over to you , Anastasia . 239 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,570 Hi . Uh Thank you for having me . I'm 240 00:10:04,580 --> 00:10:07,559 tech Sergeant Rodriguez . I am a jet 241 00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:09,890 mechanic by trade . Uh That is my core 242 00:10:10,020 --> 00:10:13,309 A FSC . I have been blessed to be able 243 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:17,070 to um be at three different bases and 244 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,409 uh get specialty codes on uh four 245 00:10:19,419 --> 00:10:21,641 different air frames . So currently I'm 246 00:10:21,641 --> 00:10:23,900 on the KC 135 but I have worked and 247 00:10:23,909 --> 00:10:27,280 specialized on the A 10 um and the F-15 248 00:10:27,289 --> 00:10:30,809 and 16 and some data integrity um 249 00:10:30,820 --> 00:10:34,530 work on the HH 60 . So , 250 00:10:34,820 --> 00:10:38,599 um my day to day job is a , a jet 251 00:10:38,609 --> 00:10:42,260 engine mechanic . Um but I also am the 252 00:10:42,270 --> 00:10:44,326 Secretary for the Indigenous Nations 253 00:10:44,326 --> 00:10:46,548 Equality team for the Department of the 254 00:10:46,548 --> 00:10:49,320 Air Force . And we have done amazing 255 00:10:49,330 --> 00:10:51,849 initiatives across the DAF and we're 256 00:10:51,859 --> 00:10:53,970 slowly leaking into the dod . So it's 257 00:10:53,970 --> 00:10:55,803 super exciting to see all of the 258 00:10:55,803 --> 00:10:57,970 initiatives that are expanding and all 259 00:10:57,970 --> 00:11:00,340 of the team that is continuing to grow . 260 00:11:00,849 --> 00:11:03,690 Um Most notably , we've done a lot of 261 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:07,559 initiatives with our A MC command 262 00:11:07,570 --> 00:11:10,849 and I was the very 263 00:11:10,859 --> 00:11:14,640 first um I guess maybe 264 00:11:14,650 --> 00:11:16,817 test group , I don't know if you'd say 265 00:11:16,817 --> 00:11:19,330 that , but we , we went to the uh NA O 266 00:11:19,340 --> 00:11:22,059 nation with the Air Mobility or a MC 267 00:11:22,070 --> 00:11:25,049 Commander . And that from that stemmed 268 00:11:25,059 --> 00:11:27,349 a lot of uh concurrent trips to 269 00:11:27,359 --> 00:11:30,080 indigenous nations to continue to grow . 270 00:11:30,140 --> 00:11:33,099 Um Just the education piece and 271 00:11:33,109 --> 00:11:36,859 recruiting piece . Um I'm also an aim 272 00:11:36,869 --> 00:11:39,869 member with the debt one Air Force 273 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,179 recruiting . So , uh I also go on a lot 274 00:11:43,190 --> 00:11:45,869 of trips for recruiting specifically . 275 00:11:45,989 --> 00:11:49,679 Um And my whole passion is just getting 276 00:11:49,690 --> 00:11:53,059 the stem and aviation piece to our hard 277 00:11:53,070 --> 00:11:54,940 to reach areas in the indigenous 278 00:11:54,950 --> 00:11:57,059 communities . Thank you . 279 00:11:58,979 --> 00:12:01,419 Thank you . Uh Tech Sergeant Rodriguez . 280 00:12:01,429 --> 00:12:03,540 Uh I'll put , I'll put a pitch in for 281 00:12:03,540 --> 00:12:05,429 you . You're doing a great job in 282 00:12:05,429 --> 00:12:07,429 getting out to reach all the tribal 283 00:12:07,429 --> 00:12:09,651 members as well as non tribal members . 284 00:12:09,651 --> 00:12:11,707 So thank you for all that . You do . 285 00:12:11,707 --> 00:12:13,762 Thank you for what you will do . All 286 00:12:13,762 --> 00:12:15,985 right , Staff Sergeant Briggs , over to 287 00:12:15,985 --> 00:12:18,820 you , Brittany . Hi , sir . Thank you 288 00:12:18,830 --> 00:12:20,830 so much for having me today . Uh My 289 00:12:20,830 --> 00:12:23,052 name is Staff Sergeant Britney Briggs . 290 00:12:23,052 --> 00:12:25,400 I am currently here at Tinker Air Force 291 00:12:25,409 --> 00:12:28,559 Base along with Miss Cody . Um I am a 292 00:12:28,570 --> 00:12:30,459 member of the Tinker Inter tribal 293 00:12:30,459 --> 00:12:32,681 council , um just for a couple of years 294 00:12:32,681 --> 00:12:35,580 right now . Um I am a member of the 295 00:12:35,590 --> 00:12:37,812 Kaiwa tribe of Oklahoma and I am also a 296 00:12:37,812 --> 00:12:40,130 choctaw on my mother's side . Um I am 297 00:12:40,140 --> 00:12:42,359 originally from here in Oklahoma and I 298 00:12:42,369 --> 00:12:44,650 was raised around the powwow scene . Um 299 00:12:44,659 --> 00:12:46,826 Not too much dancing until about three 300 00:12:46,826 --> 00:12:48,881 or four years ago . Um And one thing 301 00:12:48,881 --> 00:12:50,659 that I am really involved in my 302 00:12:50,659 --> 00:12:52,826 community is uh dancing ceremonially . 303 00:12:52,826 --> 00:12:55,679 So , um every year I'm participating in 304 00:12:55,690 --> 00:12:58,309 powwows and ceremonies that we have um 305 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,264 constantly talking to a lot of the 306 00:13:00,264 --> 00:13:02,264 elders within our tribe . One thing 307 00:13:02,264 --> 00:13:04,320 that I am really proud about when it 308 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,542 comes to my tribe is our love and honor 309 00:13:06,542 --> 00:13:08,653 that we have for our veterans and our 310 00:13:08,653 --> 00:13:10,598 service members . And so with that 311 00:13:10,598 --> 00:13:12,940 being raised around having that kind of 312 00:13:12,950 --> 00:13:15,700 value in my life , it really initially 313 00:13:15,710 --> 00:13:18,229 led me to joining the Air Force as I 314 00:13:18,239 --> 00:13:20,183 got out of high school and through 315 00:13:20,183 --> 00:13:22,440 college . And also , um , I'm not as 316 00:13:22,450 --> 00:13:25,090 involved in some of the bigger items 317 00:13:25,099 --> 00:13:27,320 like in it or , you know , all those 318 00:13:27,330 --> 00:13:29,386 other groups . But , you know , some 319 00:13:29,386 --> 00:13:31,608 that's something that I'm really trying 320 00:13:31,608 --> 00:13:33,663 to get my hand into right now . Just 321 00:13:33,663 --> 00:13:35,830 because , um , throughout my 7.5 years 322 00:13:35,830 --> 00:13:37,663 of being in the Air Force , I've 323 00:13:37,663 --> 00:13:39,886 definitely noticed that there are a lot 324 00:13:39,886 --> 00:13:39,409 of people that don't know about us and 325 00:13:39,419 --> 00:13:41,641 haven't heard a lot about us . And so , 326 00:13:41,641 --> 00:13:43,752 um , you know , I'm hoping that , you 327 00:13:43,752 --> 00:13:45,975 know , this would be a good opportunity 328 00:13:45,975 --> 00:13:47,975 to really show those even in my own 329 00:13:47,975 --> 00:13:49,863 unit , you know , that there is a 330 00:13:49,863 --> 00:13:51,975 presence of us and we are here and we 331 00:13:51,975 --> 00:13:54,141 are ready to fight . So , thank you so 332 00:13:54,141 --> 00:13:56,308 much for having me , sir . Thank you , 333 00:13:56,530 --> 00:13:58,641 Britney . Thank you so much for being 334 00:13:58,641 --> 00:14:00,808 here today . I appreciate it to all of 335 00:14:00,808 --> 00:14:02,974 the panelists . Thank you for the time 336 00:14:02,974 --> 00:14:04,919 and energy that you're giving this 337 00:14:04,919 --> 00:14:06,919 opportunity that we have here and I 338 00:14:06,919 --> 00:14:08,974 look forward to the discussions that 339 00:14:08,974 --> 00:14:11,141 we're gonna have . So , uh a few rules 340 00:14:11,141 --> 00:14:13,308 of the road , I'll start off with this 341 00:14:13,308 --> 00:14:15,419 one , which is the most important . I 342 00:14:15,419 --> 00:14:17,586 have a few questions that I'll ask the 343 00:14:17,586 --> 00:14:19,752 group to get us going . But really the 344 00:14:19,752 --> 00:14:21,919 richness of this discussion comes when 345 00:14:21,919 --> 00:14:24,030 you ask questions . So as you've seen 346 00:14:24,030 --> 00:14:26,197 that MS Russ has put in the chat box . 347 00:14:26,197 --> 00:14:28,363 If you have a question , please put it 348 00:14:28,363 --> 00:14:30,252 in the chat box . If we see a few 349 00:14:30,252 --> 00:14:32,419 questions that look the same , we will 350 00:14:32,419 --> 00:14:34,530 probably combine them and ask them as 351 00:14:34,530 --> 00:14:36,530 one question . So just realize that 352 00:14:36,530 --> 00:14:38,641 your exact question , if it's similar 353 00:14:38,641 --> 00:14:40,697 to other ones may not be asked , but 354 00:14:40,697 --> 00:14:42,697 the intent of that question will be 355 00:14:42,697 --> 00:14:44,919 addressed . I want you to know that the 356 00:14:44,919 --> 00:14:47,130 session is being recorded but the chat 357 00:14:47,140 --> 00:14:49,309 is not being recorded . Uh The 358 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,431 recording of the session we posted on 359 00:14:51,431 --> 00:14:53,431 the A F MC , the Air Force Material 360 00:14:53,431 --> 00:14:55,630 command P site under the mentoring 361 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,159 highlight , we ask that you stay muted 362 00:14:58,169 --> 00:15:00,058 at all times and do not turn your 363 00:15:00,058 --> 00:15:02,650 camera on to save bandwidth . Thank you 364 00:15:02,659 --> 00:15:04,826 for those who have sent questions in . 365 00:15:04,826 --> 00:15:07,048 We're going to use those questions here 366 00:15:07,048 --> 00:15:09,103 in a moment and then we'll move into 367 00:15:09,103 --> 00:15:08,630 the questions that are posted in the 368 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,669 chat . Now , we may not get to all of 369 00:15:11,679 --> 00:15:14,012 the questions that have been asked . So , 370 00:15:14,012 --> 00:15:16,235 what we'll do is we'll provide an email 371 00:15:16,235 --> 00:15:18,346 address along with your questions and 372 00:15:18,346 --> 00:15:20,012 we can answer those questions 373 00:15:20,012 --> 00:15:22,012 afterwards and try to get to all of 374 00:15:22,012 --> 00:15:24,012 them that we , we possibly can . We 375 00:15:24,012 --> 00:15:26,123 will go the full hour and end right , 376 00:15:26,123 --> 00:15:28,068 just prior to three o'clock , just 377 00:15:28,068 --> 00:15:30,235 realize that I'll stop us a little bit 378 00:15:30,235 --> 00:15:30,140 early . So I can have closing comments 379 00:15:30,349 --> 00:15:32,760 from each of the panelists and all that . 380 00:15:32,770 --> 00:15:34,580 Before we end , we ask that you 381 00:15:34,590 --> 00:15:36,368 complete the short assessment , 382 00:15:36,368 --> 00:15:38,368 informing us on how you enjoyed the 383 00:15:38,368 --> 00:15:40,201 panel and any things that we can 384 00:15:40,201 --> 00:15:42,257 improve for the future , the link to 385 00:15:42,257 --> 00:15:44,479 complete the assessments will be posted 386 00:15:44,479 --> 00:15:46,590 periodically in the chat . So keep an 387 00:15:46,590 --> 00:15:48,812 eye out . We also encourage everyone to 388 00:15:48,812 --> 00:15:50,979 sign up to become a mentor or a mentee 389 00:15:50,979 --> 00:15:53,000 using the my vector tool . The my 390 00:15:53,010 --> 00:15:54,788 vector link will also be posted 391 00:15:54,788 --> 00:15:57,010 periodically in the chat . And remember 392 00:15:57,010 --> 00:15:59,250 the Air Force is only as good as the 393 00:15:59,260 --> 00:16:01,719 leaders who mentor and those of us who 394 00:16:01,729 --> 00:16:03,562 are leaders who get mentee . And 395 00:16:03,562 --> 00:16:05,618 believe me , I get ment heed also as 396 00:16:05,618 --> 00:16:07,840 well . I actually end up being a mentee 397 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:09,673 in many cases working with other 398 00:16:09,673 --> 00:16:11,285 leaders . So this is a great 399 00:16:11,285 --> 00:16:13,396 opportunity to do this . So with this 400 00:16:13,396 --> 00:16:15,396 I'm going to go ahead and start the 401 00:16:15,396 --> 00:16:17,562 questions and I'll start the first one 402 00:16:18,159 --> 00:16:21,710 with miscode . So my question or a 403 00:16:21,719 --> 00:16:23,950 question that was asked is an example 404 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,840 of a mentor . Can you share specific 405 00:16:26,849 --> 00:16:29,219 strategies you've used to create an 406 00:16:29,229 --> 00:16:31,559 inclusive environment where mentees 407 00:16:31,570 --> 00:16:33,539 felt comfortable expressing their 408 00:16:33,549 --> 00:16:35,660 unique perspective over to you , Miss 409 00:16:35,660 --> 00:16:37,827 Cody and anybody can jump in when Miss 410 00:16:37,827 --> 00:16:40,140 Cody finishes over to you . Great . 411 00:16:40,150 --> 00:16:42,380 Thank you , sir . Um I feel that 412 00:16:42,390 --> 00:16:45,739 responsibility , ah , is very large on 413 00:16:45,750 --> 00:16:48,119 my shoulders . So I try to approach 414 00:16:48,130 --> 00:16:50,960 each individual , ah , in a personal 415 00:16:50,969 --> 00:16:53,460 way . I would like to engage with them 416 00:16:53,469 --> 00:16:57,119 and let them know that um , as a person , 417 00:16:57,130 --> 00:17:00,039 I care about them and love them as a 418 00:17:00,049 --> 00:17:02,840 person . So I take my advice from the 419 00:17:02,849 --> 00:17:05,380 word and it says love thy neighbor . So 420 00:17:05,390 --> 00:17:07,869 I try to do that if I don't agree with 421 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,130 a lifestyle or a political view that 422 00:17:11,140 --> 00:17:13,196 doesn't even come into play . I feel 423 00:17:13,196 --> 00:17:15,307 like I need to connect with them on a 424 00:17:15,307 --> 00:17:17,473 personal level first and that includes 425 00:17:17,473 --> 00:17:19,807 listening and that's actively listening , 426 00:17:19,807 --> 00:17:22,530 engaging with eye contact , body 427 00:17:22,540 --> 00:17:24,650 language and really listening . What 428 00:17:24,660 --> 00:17:27,489 they have to say that way you validate 429 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:29,875 a person and where they're and from 430 00:17:29,885 --> 00:17:33,084 validation to a person is key in any 431 00:17:33,094 --> 00:17:35,175 relationship . So I try to lay this 432 00:17:35,185 --> 00:17:38,795 groundwork first and so they know that 433 00:17:38,805 --> 00:17:41,175 they can open up and share anything 434 00:17:41,185 --> 00:17:45,155 freely in the mentoring session . So 435 00:17:45,165 --> 00:17:47,435 I just believe validation is key . 436 00:17:47,964 --> 00:17:51,060 Thank you . Other 437 00:17:52,099 --> 00:17:54,989 members . Go ahead . I could not agree 438 00:17:55,140 --> 00:17:57,819 with you . I feel like , you know , you 439 00:17:57,829 --> 00:17:59,885 need to be , to show that you have a 440 00:17:59,885 --> 00:18:01,829 weakness . Like as a human , we're 441 00:18:01,829 --> 00:18:04,339 exception at maybe one or two things 442 00:18:04,349 --> 00:18:06,238 and we're good at maybe a hand of 443 00:18:06,238 --> 00:18:08,460 things . But there's , there's a lot of 444 00:18:08,460 --> 00:18:10,627 things that we don't know and to level 445 00:18:10,627 --> 00:18:12,793 that human interaction by , you know , 446 00:18:12,793 --> 00:18:15,239 admitting and , and relaying those um 447 00:18:15,250 --> 00:18:17,472 you have that you have areas to work on 448 00:18:17,472 --> 00:18:19,583 and that you're going to help them in 449 00:18:19,583 --> 00:18:21,528 the areas that they can , you that 450 00:18:21,528 --> 00:18:21,140 you're good at and you can work on with 451 00:18:21,150 --> 00:18:23,099 them . I believe that honesty of a 452 00:18:23,109 --> 00:18:26,040 common goal and ensuring them that even 453 00:18:26,050 --> 00:18:28,161 if I don't know , I can guide you and 454 00:18:28,161 --> 00:18:30,383 get you to somebody who does know , can 455 00:18:30,383 --> 00:18:32,383 build that diverse network for them 456 00:18:34,770 --> 00:18:37,430 over anyone uh any others . 457 00:18:39,550 --> 00:18:42,930 Hi . Uh I would say um the 458 00:18:42,939 --> 00:18:45,979 educational piece I think it falls just 459 00:18:45,989 --> 00:18:49,530 in line with what MS Perkins says is 460 00:18:49,540 --> 00:18:52,069 whenever I am mentoring somebody , it's 461 00:18:52,079 --> 00:18:54,135 being clear , it's being transparent 462 00:18:54,135 --> 00:18:57,329 that we're both learning and learning 463 00:18:57,339 --> 00:19:00,655 has no injuries , right ? So I'm 464 00:19:00,665 --> 00:19:03,984 learning who you are , your , your , 465 00:19:03,994 --> 00:19:06,395 what's your intention ? Like be honest , 466 00:19:06,405 --> 00:19:08,627 you know , that's the only way that you 467 00:19:08,627 --> 00:19:10,516 can really get far with mentoring 468 00:19:10,516 --> 00:19:12,405 sessions is just to be honest and 469 00:19:12,405 --> 00:19:15,295 transparent . But I always like to 470 00:19:16,619 --> 00:19:18,439 let them know that this is an 471 00:19:18,449 --> 00:19:21,150 educational for peace for me as well as 472 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:22,993 it for you . Because when you're 473 00:19:22,993 --> 00:19:25,420 starting out , um that's really all 474 00:19:25,430 --> 00:19:27,652 you're doing is trying to find out more 475 00:19:27,652 --> 00:19:28,708 about each other . 476 00:19:34,439 --> 00:19:36,495 Well , thank you very much to all of 477 00:19:36,495 --> 00:19:38,606 you for that answer . OK . I'll go on 478 00:19:38,606 --> 00:19:40,828 to another question that was sent to us 479 00:19:40,828 --> 00:19:44,390 via email . And uh let's see , MS 480 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,622 Perkins , I'm gonna give you this one . 481 00:19:46,622 --> 00:19:49,569 OK . It says , how do you navigate 482 00:19:49,579 --> 00:19:51,709 cultural differences and ensure that 483 00:19:51,719 --> 00:19:53,959 your mentoring practices are culturally 484 00:19:53,969 --> 00:19:56,099 sensitive and relevant to a globally 485 00:19:56,109 --> 00:19:57,979 diverse audience ? Give me any 486 00:19:57,989 --> 00:20:01,369 experience that you had while with your 487 00:20:01,380 --> 00:20:03,989 background and , and the issues that 488 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,111 you might have have gone through that 489 00:20:06,111 --> 00:20:08,278 help shape the answer to this question 490 00:20:08,449 --> 00:20:12,400 over . OK . So I believe that 491 00:20:12,410 --> 00:20:14,630 cultural diversity can be like it can 492 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:16,640 be easily overlooked if you fail to 493 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,890 understand the nuances of the language 494 00:20:18,900 --> 00:20:20,956 and the customs and the traditions , 495 00:20:20,979 --> 00:20:23,849 the beliefs of each cultural and that 496 00:20:23,859 --> 00:20:27,050 each culture is very unique . And so by 497 00:20:27,060 --> 00:20:29,004 taking the time to learn about and 498 00:20:29,004 --> 00:20:31,116 appreciate these differences , we can 499 00:20:31,116 --> 00:20:33,338 gain a deeper respect for the diversity 500 00:20:33,338 --> 00:20:35,449 that makes each individual who we are 501 00:20:35,449 --> 00:20:38,069 and um to really get it right though , 502 00:20:38,079 --> 00:20:40,190 I think we need to be willing to , to 503 00:20:40,190 --> 00:20:42,301 challenge our own assumptions and our 504 00:20:42,301 --> 00:20:44,900 pre consumption preconceptions because 505 00:20:44,910 --> 00:20:47,359 um it's not , it's not always easy , 506 00:20:47,369 --> 00:20:49,480 you know , but it's worth it . And we 507 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,702 need to be curious and patient and open 508 00:20:51,702 --> 00:20:53,880 to new experiences if we want to truly 509 00:20:53,890 --> 00:20:56,057 understand and connect with the people 510 00:20:56,057 --> 00:20:58,119 from different cultures . So when it 511 00:20:58,130 --> 00:21:00,439 comes to mentoring , um I think it's , 512 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,687 I think it's very important that we're 513 00:21:02,687 --> 00:21:04,930 aware of the non verbal cues that we 514 00:21:04,939 --> 00:21:06,995 are getting , that's kind of lost in 515 00:21:06,995 --> 00:21:08,717 translation , sometimes paying 516 00:21:08,717 --> 00:21:10,828 attention to that body language and , 517 00:21:10,828 --> 00:21:12,772 and responding to that person that 518 00:21:12,772 --> 00:21:14,772 you're mentoring and use a language 519 00:21:14,772 --> 00:21:16,939 that's respectful and inclusive and is 520 00:21:16,939 --> 00:21:18,995 tailored to the approach that you're 521 00:21:18,995 --> 00:21:21,328 trying to meet the unique needs of that , 522 00:21:21,328 --> 00:21:23,383 the expectations of that mentee . Um 523 00:21:23,383 --> 00:21:25,439 It's about creating that , that safe 524 00:21:25,439 --> 00:21:27,495 space and that welcoming space where 525 00:21:27,495 --> 00:21:30,390 everyone feels seen and heard . And um 526 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,630 so for , for an exact example of mine 527 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,862 would have been whenever I was a mentee 528 00:21:35,862 --> 00:21:37,862 because that's kind of where you're 529 00:21:37,862 --> 00:21:39,973 also as a mentee learning how to be a 530 00:21:39,973 --> 00:21:42,084 mentor and from the , from the person 531 00:21:42,084 --> 00:21:45,250 that's mentoring you . And um whenever 532 00:21:45,260 --> 00:21:47,469 I would come in and like , clearly , I 533 00:21:47,479 --> 00:21:50,189 don't appear to be very native in 534 00:21:50,199 --> 00:21:53,130 complexion . Um stating that I was 535 00:21:53,140 --> 00:21:55,410 Native American , it was , it was very 536 00:21:55,479 --> 00:21:57,646 OK . I understand and immediately they 537 00:21:57,646 --> 00:22:00,729 understood like the history of what the 538 00:22:00,739 --> 00:22:03,359 fabric of , of who I am . And so I 539 00:22:03,369 --> 00:22:05,609 tried to incorporate that and , and 540 00:22:05,619 --> 00:22:08,199 each time I mentor somebody else over 541 00:22:10,569 --> 00:22:12,680 others , anybody else want to jump in 542 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,469 another . I certainly , I certainly 543 00:22:16,479 --> 00:22:18,646 agree . Sorry , I certainly agree with 544 00:22:18,646 --> 00:22:20,880 that . What MS Perkins said . I believe 545 00:22:20,890 --> 00:22:23,369 that we all have to look at each person 546 00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:25,556 and look at that cultural background 547 00:22:25,556 --> 00:22:27,869 that they may have sometimes you have 548 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:29,991 to do a little homework to research a 549 00:22:29,991 --> 00:22:32,102 tribe or a tradition that they have . 550 00:22:32,102 --> 00:22:34,520 But if you bring that back to the table , 551 00:22:34,530 --> 00:22:36,641 like the second session that you meet 552 00:22:36,641 --> 00:22:38,641 with them , they're usually floored 553 00:22:38,641 --> 00:22:40,829 that you have taken that time . So it 554 00:22:40,839 --> 00:22:43,719 is key to just relate with them like on 555 00:22:43,729 --> 00:22:46,349 that personal level . So yeah , kudos 556 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:48,359 to you , I believe the same thing , 557 00:22:52,079 --> 00:22:54,246 right ? I have a question that it came 558 00:22:54,246 --> 00:22:56,357 in via the chat . Thank you very much 559 00:22:56,357 --> 00:22:58,523 for sending that question in . This is 560 00:22:58,523 --> 00:23:00,635 exactly what we wanted today . Uh And 561 00:23:00,635 --> 00:23:04,229 I'm going to ask the question of Staff 562 00:23:04,239 --> 00:23:06,410 Sergeant Briggs . So here it comes , 563 00:23:06,420 --> 00:23:09,989 listen carefully . How can one 564 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,800 best highlight native voices while 565 00:23:13,810 --> 00:23:16,420 representing and advocating the goals 566 00:23:16,430 --> 00:23:20,199 and changes made by A E or the 567 00:23:20,209 --> 00:23:22,569 Indigenous Nations Equity team over ? 568 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,010 Thank you , sir . Think 569 00:23:28,819 --> 00:23:31,880 I would definitely say that 570 00:23:32,750 --> 00:23:35,479 getting involved is a really big key 571 00:23:35,489 --> 00:23:38,310 factor in looking for people to get 572 00:23:38,319 --> 00:23:40,969 involved with . Um I myself , you know , 573 00:23:40,979 --> 00:23:43,090 like I had mentioned , I am still new 574 00:23:43,090 --> 00:23:45,257 into getting involved in all these big 575 00:23:45,257 --> 00:23:47,146 organizations that are making big 576 00:23:47,146 --> 00:23:49,146 changes . But one thing I did learn 577 00:23:49,146 --> 00:23:51,312 that I did not know very well whenever 578 00:23:51,312 --> 00:23:53,479 I first got here was that , you know , 579 00:23:53,479 --> 00:23:55,660 I do have a voice and there are people 580 00:23:55,670 --> 00:23:58,250 in this dod in this air force even here 581 00:23:58,260 --> 00:24:00,469 on this base that are here to help 582 00:24:00,479 --> 00:24:03,569 uplift your voice . Sometimes it's easy 583 00:24:03,579 --> 00:24:05,829 to feel like , maybe the things that , 584 00:24:05,839 --> 00:24:08,410 you know , you were raised to value and 585 00:24:08,420 --> 00:24:10,531 the things that may , we have meant a 586 00:24:10,531 --> 00:24:13,400 lot to you , you know , traditionally , 587 00:24:13,469 --> 00:24:16,050 um within your family and your culture . 588 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:18,382 Um And sometimes it's hard to feel like 589 00:24:18,382 --> 00:24:20,271 those things are really heard and 590 00:24:20,271 --> 00:24:22,160 really valued . And so um getting 591 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,382 involved with things like , um like Ned 592 00:24:24,382 --> 00:24:26,604 and the things that they are doing , um 593 00:24:26,604 --> 00:24:28,660 the amazing changes , they're making 594 00:24:28,660 --> 00:24:30,882 things that , you know , I didn't think 595 00:24:30,882 --> 00:24:33,040 anybody even knew about growing up on 596 00:24:33,050 --> 00:24:35,209 the reservation . You know , our hair 597 00:24:35,219 --> 00:24:37,290 being such a big significant part of 598 00:24:37,300 --> 00:24:40,319 who we are as people and the strength 599 00:24:40,329 --> 00:24:42,709 that we hold with that , especially in 600 00:24:42,719 --> 00:24:46,109 our young men , you know , than that 601 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,719 making the big changes of , you know , 602 00:24:48,729 --> 00:24:50,507 being able to allow some of our 603 00:24:50,507 --> 00:24:53,069 servicemen to be able to keep that and 604 00:24:53,079 --> 00:24:55,246 hold that part of their heritage close 605 00:24:55,246 --> 00:24:57,301 to them . Um You know , it's changes 606 00:24:57,301 --> 00:24:59,412 like that , that really make you feel 607 00:24:59,412 --> 00:25:01,579 like your voice is being heard and you 608 00:25:01,579 --> 00:25:03,635 know , that somebody does care about 609 00:25:03,635 --> 00:25:05,829 where you come from and what really 610 00:25:05,839 --> 00:25:07,849 matters to you and your value , not 611 00:25:07,859 --> 00:25:10,026 only as , you know , as a person or an 612 00:25:10,026 --> 00:25:11,915 airman , but as a native American 613 00:25:11,915 --> 00:25:14,026 warrior , whether that means military 614 00:25:14,026 --> 00:25:16,199 or civilian , that would definitely be 615 00:25:16,209 --> 00:25:19,250 my piece in that , sir . Yes , the 616 00:25:19,260 --> 00:25:22,949 answer . Thank you others on that 617 00:25:22,959 --> 00:25:25,126 one . I have another one from the chat 618 00:25:25,126 --> 00:25:28,609 that I'll throw out . Ok . 619 00:25:29,459 --> 00:25:30,570 Here's the chance . 620 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,742 Go ahead , go ahead , search at Rings . 621 00:25:36,020 --> 00:25:39,189 Uh I'd like to add to that piece of um 622 00:25:39,199 --> 00:25:41,160 in it . And what in it is the 623 00:25:41,170 --> 00:25:43,281 indigenous nations equality team . We 624 00:25:43,281 --> 00:25:45,300 also have a higher level , which is 625 00:25:45,310 --> 00:25:49,160 with the Dod J tech . Um So within the 626 00:25:49,170 --> 00:25:52,760 daf the in it uh team , I believe we 627 00:25:52,770 --> 00:25:55,479 posted the workflow in the chat , but 628 00:25:55,489 --> 00:25:57,656 that's the easiest way or quickest way 629 00:25:57,656 --> 00:25:59,767 to get a hold of one of uh one of the 630 00:25:59,767 --> 00:26:01,949 team members with anything you can ask 631 00:26:01,959 --> 00:26:05,930 for um somebody to come to your base to 632 00:26:05,939 --> 00:26:08,930 do a presentation . You can have . Um 633 00:26:08,939 --> 00:26:10,606 we can even just send you the 634 00:26:10,606 --> 00:26:12,717 information if you want to be an ally 635 00:26:12,717 --> 00:26:15,199 and learn . Uh we love to educate you . 636 00:26:15,209 --> 00:26:18,410 So , so you can be an ally for us , you 637 00:26:18,420 --> 00:26:20,253 know , at where wherever you are 638 00:26:20,253 --> 00:26:23,550 respectively . Uh We have plenty of 639 00:26:23,579 --> 00:26:27,180 um material as , as brochures , 640 00:26:27,189 --> 00:26:29,411 pamphlets , newsletters , you know , we 641 00:26:29,411 --> 00:26:32,010 can send you to help you um advocate 642 00:26:32,020 --> 00:26:34,479 for us as well . Uh We're continuing to 643 00:26:34,489 --> 00:26:37,219 grow and I , I would say the workflow 644 00:26:37,229 --> 00:26:41,069 or our Facebook page or um 645 00:26:41,079 --> 00:26:43,369 just messaging one of us . We would 646 00:26:43,380 --> 00:26:46,670 love to have you join , you know , 647 00:26:47,670 --> 00:26:50,170 the hard part with , with the in it 648 00:26:50,180 --> 00:26:53,469 group is getting the word out . So uh 649 00:26:53,479 --> 00:26:56,050 we are at these major um 650 00:26:56,660 --> 00:26:59,010 conferences , we are at these major 651 00:26:59,020 --> 00:27:02,170 meetings with leaders and um Mr 652 00:27:02,180 --> 00:27:04,650 d'angelo is doing an amazing job as 653 00:27:04,660 --> 00:27:07,910 well helping . So , um I would say if 654 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:10,170 you're interested , email the , the org 655 00:27:10,180 --> 00:27:12,609 box and somebody will get back with you . 656 00:27:15,989 --> 00:27:19,329 Super response . Uh Sergeant Rodriguez , 657 00:27:19,339 --> 00:27:21,561 thanks for the schmooze too . I'll take 658 00:27:21,561 --> 00:27:24,339 it . So , anyway , hey , I do have 659 00:27:24,349 --> 00:27:26,660 another question for you and anybody 660 00:27:26,670 --> 00:27:28,781 can answer this , but I'm going to go 661 00:27:28,781 --> 00:27:30,892 to Sergeant Rodriguez first because I 662 00:27:30,892 --> 00:27:32,948 think it best fits . This came in on 663 00:27:32,948 --> 00:27:35,003 the chat . We've morphed it a little 664 00:27:35,003 --> 00:27:37,114 bit . But uh the question is , how is 665 00:27:37,114 --> 00:27:39,226 the d recruiting indigenous people in 666 00:27:39,226 --> 00:27:41,359 the West since most indigenous people 667 00:27:41,369 --> 00:27:44,030 seem to be almost like invisible to 668 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,096 most of us . How are we doing that ? 669 00:27:46,096 --> 00:27:48,262 And , and , and I know how we're doing 670 00:27:48,262 --> 00:27:50,373 it . You go ahead and let them know . 671 00:27:50,373 --> 00:27:52,207 Thank you . Hey , that's a great 672 00:27:52,207 --> 00:27:55,650 question . So , um let me just give you 673 00:27:55,660 --> 00:27:58,270 an example because uh there's a lot of 674 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:00,502 different angles that we have to attack 675 00:28:00,502 --> 00:28:02,336 this from . We have a lot of res 676 00:28:02,336 --> 00:28:04,391 resources that the Department of the 677 00:28:04,391 --> 00:28:07,510 Air Force has . But um just one example 678 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:10,520 is the Air Force through Air Force 679 00:28:10,530 --> 00:28:13,349 recruiting squadron . We have teamed up 680 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:17,310 with recruiters in the West region . So 681 00:28:17,319 --> 00:28:21,069 Arizona and New Mexico , we recently 682 00:28:21,079 --> 00:28:23,150 there was a team of six of us along 683 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,750 with public affairs . We visited 684 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:28,890 six different schools across the Nabo 685 00:28:28,900 --> 00:28:32,260 nation . We covered over 900 miles from 686 00:28:32,270 --> 00:28:35,030 New Mexico to Arizona and we visited 687 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:39,000 schools . So what we were doing was 688 00:28:39,010 --> 00:28:41,969 testing , um how would that look , you 689 00:28:41,979 --> 00:28:45,160 know , for future future ? Um tours and 690 00:28:45,170 --> 00:28:48,050 future , um , logistics . You know , it 691 00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:50,116 is very hard if you're from the Nave 692 00:28:50,116 --> 00:28:52,116 reservation , you know , you know , 693 00:28:52,116 --> 00:28:54,449 there's no gps in some areas , you know , 694 00:28:54,449 --> 00:28:56,671 so you have to have people who are from 695 00:28:56,671 --> 00:28:58,727 that area and that's exactly what we 696 00:28:58,727 --> 00:29:00,727 did . There were six members of the 697 00:29:00,727 --> 00:29:02,790 Navajo Nation who went back to their 698 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:06,300 reservation and recruited . We've also 699 00:29:06,310 --> 00:29:09,430 done South Dakota , North Dakota and 700 00:29:09,439 --> 00:29:11,661 did the same thing , you know , have to 701 00:29:11,661 --> 00:29:15,140 send people who are SMES in the area 702 00:29:15,150 --> 00:29:18,380 just because of how rural they are and 703 00:29:18,390 --> 00:29:20,446 the air force recruiting squadron as 704 00:29:20,446 --> 00:29:23,079 well as guard units in New Mexico 705 00:29:23,089 --> 00:29:25,640 Kirtland Air Force Base . They're doing 706 00:29:25,650 --> 00:29:27,599 amazing jobs with partnering us . 707 00:29:27,609 --> 00:29:29,609 They'll take one of us , you know , 708 00:29:29,609 --> 00:29:33,040 they'll take and , um , again , 709 00:29:33,050 --> 00:29:35,359 it's attacking from all angles . We 710 00:29:35,369 --> 00:29:39,250 have air force recruiting debt , one 711 00:29:39,260 --> 00:29:43,069 which specializes in raided recruiting , 712 00:29:43,079 --> 00:29:45,290 raided air force recruiting . They're 713 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:47,569 helping us out a lot with funding and 714 00:29:47,579 --> 00:29:50,650 getting , getting indigenous members 715 00:29:50,660 --> 00:29:53,449 back into their indigenous communities . 716 00:29:53,459 --> 00:29:56,160 And that's really the only way I can 717 00:29:56,170 --> 00:29:58,226 see that is very efficient and we're 718 00:29:58,226 --> 00:30:00,003 doing an awesome job doing that 719 00:30:04,790 --> 00:30:06,790 or super answer . Now , I I'm gonna 720 00:30:06,790 --> 00:30:08,790 throw another pitch out . These are 721 00:30:08,790 --> 00:30:12,180 great questions . So from the chat box , 722 00:30:12,189 --> 00:30:14,300 keep coming with the questions . This 723 00:30:14,300 --> 00:30:16,411 is exactly what we , we like to see . 724 00:30:16,569 --> 00:30:19,859 OK . Um Yeah , so what I'm gonna do now 725 00:30:19,869 --> 00:30:22,036 is I'm going to uh take another one of 726 00:30:22,036 --> 00:30:24,489 the questions that came in from , uh , 727 00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:27,329 our internet search uh from our folks 728 00:30:27,339 --> 00:30:29,561 out in the internet and I'm gonna shoot 729 00:30:29,561 --> 00:30:31,770 this over to uh step Sergeant Briggs 730 00:30:31,780 --> 00:30:35,750 again . Um And this one is on , 731 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:39,260 um this is more of a uh this one 732 00:30:39,270 --> 00:30:42,780 forms the mentor question again . And 733 00:30:42,790 --> 00:30:44,901 what ways do you adapt your mentoring 734 00:30:44,901 --> 00:30:47,123 style to accommodate different learning 735 00:30:47,123 --> 00:30:50,670 styles among your mentees ? I 736 00:30:51,099 --> 00:30:54,160 adapt for the different learning . Yes , 737 00:30:54,170 --> 00:30:57,119 sir . Uh I would definitely say um 738 00:30:58,140 --> 00:31:00,140 a lot of it comes from , you know , 739 00:31:00,140 --> 00:31:02,140 things we've talked about already , 740 00:31:02,140 --> 00:31:04,196 which is getting to know your , your 741 00:31:04,196 --> 00:31:06,307 mentee . Um I think the first step in 742 00:31:06,307 --> 00:31:09,369 being able to learn their learning 743 00:31:09,380 --> 00:31:11,491 curves and how they , you know , take 744 00:31:11,491 --> 00:31:13,547 information is definitely getting to 745 00:31:13,547 --> 00:31:15,658 know who they are as a person , their 746 00:31:15,658 --> 00:31:18,810 background where they come from and how 747 00:31:18,819 --> 00:31:20,875 they have been , you know , prior to 748 00:31:20,875 --> 00:31:23,041 being in the situation of , you know , 749 00:31:23,041 --> 00:31:25,097 whether being in the workforce or in 750 00:31:25,097 --> 00:31:27,819 the Air force . Um I would definitely 751 00:31:27,829 --> 00:31:30,099 say that , you know , for myself um 752 00:31:30,109 --> 00:31:32,331 working with my airmen and , you know , 753 00:31:32,331 --> 00:31:34,498 getting to know who they are and their 754 00:31:34,498 --> 00:31:36,498 background and how their family was 755 00:31:36,498 --> 00:31:38,387 growing up and being able to take 756 00:31:38,387 --> 00:31:40,276 pieces of , you know , maybe this 757 00:31:40,276 --> 00:31:42,220 person learns a little more with a 758 00:31:42,220 --> 00:31:44,900 little more . Um How do you say 759 00:31:46,290 --> 00:31:48,401 a little more compassion ? You know , 760 00:31:48,401 --> 00:31:50,679 maybe they were raised in a home where , 761 00:31:50,679 --> 00:31:52,734 you know , it was very uplifting and 762 00:31:52,734 --> 00:31:55,510 very family oriented and maybe some may 763 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:58,260 have been raised in a different aspect 764 00:31:58,270 --> 00:32:00,800 in that matter . But I would definitely 765 00:32:00,810 --> 00:32:02,920 say getting to learn who you are 766 00:32:02,930 --> 00:32:05,041 working with and trying to understand 767 00:32:05,041 --> 00:32:06,986 who they are as a person and their 768 00:32:06,986 --> 00:32:09,339 values and who they are . Um , it 769 00:32:09,349 --> 00:32:11,571 definitely helps the most when it comes 770 00:32:11,571 --> 00:32:14,150 to knowing how to talk to them , how to 771 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,079 really get to them . Um At least that 772 00:32:17,089 --> 00:32:18,978 is with my own experience there , 773 00:32:21,439 --> 00:32:23,839 the response others on that one , I'll 774 00:32:23,849 --> 00:32:24,960 hold for a second . 775 00:32:27,979 --> 00:32:30,829 Um I think , um I think Rennie hit it 776 00:32:30,839 --> 00:32:32,950 right on the nail . I would , I would 777 00:32:32,950 --> 00:32:35,117 say , you know , you meet your mentees 778 00:32:35,117 --> 00:32:37,117 kind of where they are , you know , 779 00:32:37,117 --> 00:32:39,228 because we're all in different places 780 00:32:39,228 --> 00:32:41,283 um on our journey through . And so , 781 00:32:41,283 --> 00:32:43,395 you know , meet them where they are , 782 00:32:43,395 --> 00:32:43,199 ask some open ended questions to 783 00:32:43,209 --> 00:32:45,359 identify their goals and , and then 784 00:32:45,369 --> 00:32:47,599 really try to move them towards the 785 00:32:47,609 --> 00:32:49,880 success that they identify to be 786 00:32:49,890 --> 00:32:52,170 success and take yourself completely 787 00:32:52,180 --> 00:32:54,291 out of the , the aspect of it because 788 00:32:54,291 --> 00:32:56,810 each of us have our own aspirations and 789 00:32:56,819 --> 00:32:58,875 our goals and , and , and we need to 790 00:32:58,875 --> 00:33:01,041 understand theirs in order to really , 791 00:33:01,041 --> 00:33:03,479 truly push them to success in , in 792 00:33:03,489 --> 00:33:04,489 where they are 793 00:33:08,219 --> 00:33:11,930 timber . OK . 794 00:33:12,760 --> 00:33:14,871 None of you have seen this question . 795 00:33:14,871 --> 00:33:18,469 Hang on here we go . So one of the 796 00:33:18,479 --> 00:33:21,199 things that I always was interested in 797 00:33:21,209 --> 00:33:25,000 as I was the I NET badge bog and 798 00:33:25,130 --> 00:33:28,599 daf is how do we outreach 799 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,589 to native Americans when they don't 800 00:33:32,599 --> 00:33:35,219 identify themselves as Native Americans ? 801 00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:38,260 So I if we're in an area like in the 802 00:33:38,270 --> 00:33:40,270 west where , where if it's a little 803 00:33:40,270 --> 00:33:42,729 more apparent , it's easy . But many of 804 00:33:42,739 --> 00:33:44,683 us are not , I am not any longer . 805 00:33:44,683 --> 00:33:46,906 Right . I'm in the east , but yet there 806 00:33:46,906 --> 00:33:49,017 are very many tribal members . So how 807 00:33:49,017 --> 00:33:51,128 do we outreach them in our mentorship 808 00:33:51,128 --> 00:33:52,961 programs ? Let's take it back to 809 00:33:52,961 --> 00:33:54,739 mentorship so that we , so they 810 00:33:54,739 --> 00:33:56,683 understand that we do want to know 811 00:33:56,683 --> 00:33:58,739 these things so that we can talk and 812 00:33:58,739 --> 00:34:00,906 address and find the right mentors for 813 00:34:00,906 --> 00:34:03,017 them as well . This would help me , I 814 00:34:03,017 --> 00:34:02,709 imagine this would help others who are 815 00:34:02,719 --> 00:34:05,319 in this situation as well . Ok . So 816 00:34:05,329 --> 00:34:07,385 everybody's had a shot at this . I'm 817 00:34:07,385 --> 00:34:09,440 gonna throw it back to Miss Cody and 818 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:09,439 then we'll start there and then you all 819 00:34:09,449 --> 00:34:11,616 get a chance to talk it . Ok . Here we 820 00:34:11,616 --> 00:34:15,509 go . Ok , sir , what comes to mind 821 00:34:15,519 --> 00:34:18,608 is um some issues that were raised 822 00:34:18,618 --> 00:34:20,785 during our tinker , our tribal council 823 00:34:20,789 --> 00:34:23,559 meeting and the MRM meeting , we merged 824 00:34:23,569 --> 00:34:26,279 them together and some issues that came 825 00:34:26,289 --> 00:34:29,918 out recently and was they 826 00:34:29,928 --> 00:34:32,029 didn't want to identify as Native 827 00:34:32,039 --> 00:34:35,858 American on the floor . And I , that 828 00:34:35,868 --> 00:34:37,924 just amazes me that it still happens 829 00:34:37,924 --> 00:34:40,049 because with my great , great , great 830 00:34:40,059 --> 00:34:42,600 grandparents way back when they did the 831 00:34:42,610 --> 00:34:44,499 same thing , they did not want to 832 00:34:44,499 --> 00:34:47,149 identify as Native American because of 833 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:50,379 the ridicule and the abuse that they 834 00:34:50,389 --> 00:34:53,899 would get . So that really alarms me 835 00:34:53,909 --> 00:34:56,242 that that's still happening , but it is . 836 00:34:56,399 --> 00:34:58,139 So it comes probably from the 837 00:34:58,149 --> 00:35:00,320 unconscious biases that we all have , 838 00:35:00,330 --> 00:35:02,919 which are unintentional , but we still 839 00:35:02,929 --> 00:35:05,409 have them and we need to identify them 840 00:35:05,580 --> 00:35:08,040 and approach any kind of session with 841 00:35:08,050 --> 00:35:09,994 that in our back , the back of our 842 00:35:09,994 --> 00:35:12,217 minds thinking . Ok , this , this could 843 00:35:12,217 --> 00:35:16,080 be happening here . So I would try to 844 00:35:16,090 --> 00:35:19,360 use more empathy with these folks . 845 00:35:19,639 --> 00:35:23,600 Uh empathize goes a long way . Um 846 00:35:25,209 --> 00:35:27,669 But with my great , great grandparents , 847 00:35:27,830 --> 00:35:30,350 all they tried to do was just , um , 848 00:35:31,110 --> 00:35:33,277 well , they went to the , some of more 849 00:35:33,277 --> 00:35:35,499 of the Indian boarding school and we've 850 00:35:35,499 --> 00:35:38,070 all heard about that and it was very 851 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:40,790 hard and so they couldn't speak their 852 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,129 native language . Some of them didn't 853 00:35:43,139 --> 00:35:46,830 make it out , but they , they 854 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,139 persevered and they stressed 855 00:35:49,149 --> 00:35:52,169 assimilation with us , whereas at the 856 00:35:52,179 --> 00:35:53,957 time , it was more probably for 857 00:35:53,957 --> 00:35:56,050 survival mode . So with that , as 858 00:35:56,060 --> 00:35:58,530 growing up , we learned to assimilate 859 00:35:58,729 --> 00:36:02,629 and the tradition was lost . So that's 860 00:36:02,639 --> 00:36:04,806 the first piece that I see that that's 861 00:36:04,806 --> 00:36:06,861 significant to that question . Maybe 862 00:36:06,861 --> 00:36:08,528 some others can add to that . 863 00:36:12,540 --> 00:36:14,596 Um Yeah , I'm gonna shoot it over to 864 00:36:14,596 --> 00:36:16,596 you . Then I'll go down to Sergeant 865 00:36:16,596 --> 00:36:16,510 Rodriguez and we'll end up with 866 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:20,419 Sergeant Briggs over . Ok . Um I would , 867 00:36:20,429 --> 00:36:22,651 I would , I agree with you completely , 868 00:36:22,651 --> 00:36:24,873 Susan . I , it makes perfect sense what 869 00:36:24,873 --> 00:36:26,818 you're saying and , and you know , 870 00:36:26,818 --> 00:36:26,770 building a relationship with some of 871 00:36:26,780 --> 00:36:28,891 the local Native American communities 872 00:36:28,891 --> 00:36:32,489 or some of the Native American um have 873 00:36:32,500 --> 00:36:34,778 different like newsletters or websites . 874 00:36:34,778 --> 00:36:37,570 But then there's also um using some 875 00:36:37,580 --> 00:36:40,919 language that is , is not like , don't 876 00:36:40,929 --> 00:36:44,699 assume that somebody um has like a 877 00:36:44,830 --> 00:36:47,052 Native American , you can just ask them 878 00:36:47,052 --> 00:36:48,997 like , do you have Native American 879 00:36:48,997 --> 00:36:51,108 ancestry heritage or are you enrolled 880 00:36:51,108 --> 00:36:53,052 in any tribes and kind of use some 881 00:36:53,052 --> 00:36:55,219 inclusive language ? Like , you know , 882 00:36:55,219 --> 00:36:57,441 hey , we're looking for individuals who 883 00:36:57,441 --> 00:36:57,260 may connect to native American 884 00:36:57,270 --> 00:36:59,580 communities or heritage to kind of get , 885 00:36:59,590 --> 00:37:01,646 you know , kind of draw them out and 886 00:37:01,646 --> 00:37:03,701 let them know like , hey , I'm , I'm 887 00:37:03,701 --> 00:37:05,923 embracing this , this side of you and I 888 00:37:05,923 --> 00:37:05,750 want to know , I want to hear and I 889 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:07,871 want to see it , you know , and , and 890 00:37:07,871 --> 00:37:10,093 understand and , and , you know , bring 891 00:37:10,093 --> 00:37:12,669 you in and , and um I think there's , 892 00:37:12,679 --> 00:37:14,846 there's the word of mouth and engaging 893 00:37:14,846 --> 00:37:17,790 in some urban areas . So I think a lot 894 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:20,022 of , in a lot of ways you can , you can 895 00:37:20,022 --> 00:37:22,356 develop some outreach materials even to , 896 00:37:22,500 --> 00:37:24,959 to um include Native American cultures 897 00:37:24,969 --> 00:37:27,350 and , and through it , like , maybe 898 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:29,527 even like through imaging and language 899 00:37:29,527 --> 00:37:31,860 just to give that visual instant , like , 900 00:37:31,860 --> 00:37:34,082 oh , you know , hey , they're , they're 901 00:37:34,082 --> 00:37:36,304 interested in me , you know , let me go 902 00:37:36,304 --> 00:37:36,280 see what they're talking about and then 903 00:37:36,290 --> 00:37:38,457 you can start that , that rapport with 904 00:37:38,457 --> 00:37:41,459 them over . Thank you , Tanya , over to 905 00:37:41,469 --> 00:37:43,219 you Sergeant Rodriguez . 906 00:37:45,139 --> 00:37:47,179 Um So I want to point something out 907 00:37:47,189 --> 00:37:50,969 really quick . Uh Miss um Cody did 908 00:37:50,979 --> 00:37:54,520 mention the residential schools um and 909 00:37:54,530 --> 00:37:57,899 we look at that as like it happened a 910 00:37:57,909 --> 00:37:59,687 while back you know , or it was 911 00:37:59,687 --> 00:38:02,449 something our generation currently or 912 00:38:02,459 --> 00:38:05,959 mind wasn't affected by . But I 913 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:09,120 can say I did attend a 914 00:38:09,330 --> 00:38:12,959 school from first to second grade 915 00:38:13,379 --> 00:38:16,459 and it wasn't until , 916 00:38:16,959 --> 00:38:19,830 gosh , sorry , I'm still working 917 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:23,330 through it because I didn't 918 00:38:23,340 --> 00:38:27,260 understand truly until about a year 919 00:38:27,270 --> 00:38:31,139 ago when , um , I talked to 920 00:38:31,149 --> 00:38:34,110 my mom about it and I love that you 921 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:37,229 mentioned Miss Cody that it was a lot 922 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:40,949 of the times out of survival . Uh I was 923 00:38:40,959 --> 00:38:43,340 raised by a single mom . She had six 924 00:38:43,350 --> 00:38:46,870 kids . So I was the youngest at the 925 00:38:46,879 --> 00:38:50,639 time . And um she was honest with me , 926 00:38:50,649 --> 00:38:52,816 you know , she couldn't , she couldn't 927 00:38:52,816 --> 00:38:55,600 take care of me . So I was sent to a 928 00:38:55,610 --> 00:38:59,360 school from first to second grade . And 929 00:38:59,370 --> 00:39:01,537 I , I , the way that I say it affected 930 00:39:01,537 --> 00:39:05,270 me was that I was , I 931 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:07,719 navigated my Air Force career for 15 932 00:39:07,729 --> 00:39:11,260 years , not really embracing who I was . 933 00:39:11,909 --> 00:39:15,489 I did not . And that's why I say for 934 00:39:15,500 --> 00:39:18,600 sure , I'm in a success story of in it 935 00:39:18,739 --> 00:39:21,840 because I met the in it . 936 00:39:21,850 --> 00:39:25,409 Champion General Adams . I met the 937 00:39:25,419 --> 00:39:27,889 other champion Miss Jacqueline Melcher 938 00:39:28,979 --> 00:39:31,870 and it was all by chance . It was all 939 00:39:31,879 --> 00:39:35,760 by email . But the thing that's that 940 00:39:35,770 --> 00:39:38,639 really allowed me to open up and 941 00:39:38,649 --> 00:39:41,580 embrace back to my culture , back to my 942 00:39:41,590 --> 00:39:44,409 traditions , back to my family really 943 00:39:44,419 --> 00:39:47,989 is to reconnect was their 944 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:51,469 openness and their willingness to 945 00:39:51,479 --> 00:39:54,590 allow me to go at my pace . They didn't 946 00:39:54,600 --> 00:39:57,020 attack me first day and ask me so many 947 00:39:57,030 --> 00:39:59,510 questions . You know , they were more 948 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:02,189 just welcoming and , and they always 949 00:40:02,199 --> 00:40:05,000 encouraged me to share your story and 950 00:40:05,010 --> 00:40:07,066 that's what we always say in the Air 951 00:40:07,066 --> 00:40:09,232 Force , right ? Air Force recruiting . 952 00:40:09,232 --> 00:40:11,177 We're all about your story . Every 953 00:40:11,177 --> 00:40:13,066 person has a unique , beautiful , 954 00:40:13,479 --> 00:40:16,520 awesome story and we try to get people 955 00:40:16,530 --> 00:40:18,500 to tell it whether you're Native 956 00:40:18,510 --> 00:40:20,510 American or not . You know , we all 957 00:40:20,510 --> 00:40:23,040 have a story . We all have a unique 958 00:40:23,050 --> 00:40:25,560 story that we always try to have every , 959 00:40:25,570 --> 00:40:28,679 every airman embrace and every other 960 00:40:28,689 --> 00:40:31,560 airmen respect , right ? And find , 961 00:40:31,570 --> 00:40:34,800 find the meaning of that story . 962 00:40:35,070 --> 00:40:37,620 And so that's what that's it was , that 963 00:40:37,629 --> 00:40:39,851 was me , that was my story . You know , 964 00:40:39,949 --> 00:40:42,459 I didn't embrace a lot of my upbringing . 965 00:40:42,469 --> 00:40:45,280 I wasn't raised on the reservation . Um 966 00:40:45,290 --> 00:40:47,760 I was at a border town and it wasn't 967 00:40:47,770 --> 00:40:50,729 until I would say 34 years ago where I 968 00:40:50,739 --> 00:40:53,679 found in it , I started um 969 00:40:54,060 --> 00:40:57,750 reengaging with my family , my , my 970 00:40:58,149 --> 00:41:01,709 um culture , my traditions 971 00:41:01,949 --> 00:41:05,540 and it gave me a new self , you know , 972 00:41:05,550 --> 00:41:08,000 serving in the Air force and a new 973 00:41:08,010 --> 00:41:11,760 renewed motivation to be a leader to 974 00:41:11,770 --> 00:41:14,939 connect to my other indigenous serving 975 00:41:14,949 --> 00:41:17,760 members . Um But I would just say or 976 00:41:17,770 --> 00:41:19,709 would end with , you know , allow 977 00:41:19,719 --> 00:41:23,510 people to , to go at their pace whether 978 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:25,298 you're mentoring somebody who's 979 00:41:25,298 --> 00:41:28,550 indigenous or not , um allow them to 980 00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:30,671 continue to open up to you as much as 981 00:41:30,671 --> 00:41:33,770 they want to and just , just having 982 00:41:33,780 --> 00:41:37,030 that kind of relationship , um will 983 00:41:37,439 --> 00:41:39,649 eventually , it will , it will have 984 00:41:39,659 --> 00:41:42,050 them open up to who they truly are and 985 00:41:42,060 --> 00:41:43,870 be proud of it over 986 00:41:48,409 --> 00:41:51,149 Sergeant Briggs or are you Britney ? 987 00:41:53,020 --> 00:41:55,330 Thank you , sir . Um That , that is a 988 00:41:55,340 --> 00:41:57,639 lot to follow up on just because I feel 989 00:41:57,649 --> 00:41:59,750 like everything that could have been 990 00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:02,370 hit on has been hit on already . But um 991 00:42:02,379 --> 00:42:04,850 honestly , I think a key phrase that 992 00:42:04,860 --> 00:42:07,250 I've heard online quite a bit for a lot 993 00:42:07,260 --> 00:42:10,790 of younger and even , you know , a 994 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:13,030 little bit older people is in the 995 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:15,379 native community , you know , is , you 996 00:42:15,389 --> 00:42:18,350 know , reconnecting with their culture , 997 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:20,527 with their heritage . And , you know , 998 00:42:20,527 --> 00:42:22,582 there are a lot of people that , you 999 00:42:22,582 --> 00:42:24,804 know , were not raised in a traditional 1000 00:42:24,804 --> 00:42:26,693 setting with going to powwows and 1001 00:42:26,693 --> 00:42:28,971 ceremonies every weekend . Um You know , 1002 00:42:28,971 --> 00:42:30,916 there are those that maybe weren't 1003 00:42:30,916 --> 00:42:32,971 raised even near the reservation and 1004 00:42:32,971 --> 00:42:35,193 didn't know , didn't get to really know 1005 00:42:35,193 --> 00:42:37,360 about who they were or where they came 1006 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:39,360 from . Um But I think being able to 1007 00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:41,527 reach out to those who maybe have been 1008 00:42:41,527 --> 00:42:44,090 in that kind of um situation throughout 1009 00:42:44,100 --> 00:42:46,044 their life is , you know , um like 1010 00:42:46,044 --> 00:42:48,211 everybody else has said , it's just um 1011 00:42:48,211 --> 00:42:50,322 starting with yourself and being open 1012 00:42:50,322 --> 00:42:52,656 and being compassionate , being welcome . 1013 00:42:52,656 --> 00:42:54,711 Um The kind of individual that , you 1014 00:42:54,711 --> 00:42:56,489 know , is not only , you know , 1015 00:42:56,489 --> 00:42:58,711 approachable , but will encourage , you 1016 00:42:58,719 --> 00:43:00,735 know , your journey and you know , 1017 00:43:00,745 --> 00:43:03,023 where you might be trying to go to and , 1018 00:43:03,023 --> 00:43:05,215 you know , if that's reconnecting with 1019 00:43:05,225 --> 00:43:07,685 you know , your own tribal heritage and 1020 00:43:07,695 --> 00:43:09,814 whether that's dancing or even simply 1021 00:43:09,824 --> 00:43:12,046 just getting to learn your actual , you 1022 00:43:12,046 --> 00:43:14,213 know , tribal tongue , you know , it's 1023 00:43:14,213 --> 00:43:16,324 just being that person that can , you 1024 00:43:16,324 --> 00:43:18,546 know , encourage that journey for every 1025 00:43:18,546 --> 00:43:20,768 single person . However , the pace they 1026 00:43:20,768 --> 00:43:23,014 want to go at um as a mentor , it's 1027 00:43:23,024 --> 00:43:26,229 really just being a cheerleader on some , 1028 00:43:26,370 --> 00:43:28,570 on some occasions , uh being that 1029 00:43:28,580 --> 00:43:30,691 person that can , you know , sit here 1030 00:43:30,691 --> 00:43:32,858 and pat you on the back and give you a 1031 00:43:32,858 --> 00:43:35,080 high five saying , hey , you know , you 1032 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:37,247 take it at your own pace and I will be 1033 00:43:37,247 --> 00:43:39,469 right here supporting you and I will be 1034 00:43:39,469 --> 00:43:41,413 proud of you . And we're all gonna 1035 00:43:41,413 --> 00:43:43,358 celebrate . However , we need to , 1036 00:43:43,358 --> 00:43:45,469 we'll go have a pal , we'll go eat an 1037 00:43:45,469 --> 00:43:47,524 Indian taco if we need to . But your 1038 00:43:47,524 --> 00:43:49,524 journey is at your own pace and I'm 1039 00:43:49,524 --> 00:43:51,747 here to encourage you on that journey . 1040 00:43:51,949 --> 00:43:54,620 Well , for a person who thought said it 1041 00:43:54,629 --> 00:43:57,659 hadn't and you said lots . So thank you 1042 00:43:57,669 --> 00:44:01,020 very much for that . Uh Sergeant Briggs . 1043 00:44:01,030 --> 00:44:03,197 Uh I there , there was a question that 1044 00:44:03,197 --> 00:44:05,909 came out as we were addressing this 1045 00:44:05,919 --> 00:44:07,919 question and it said , how should a 1046 00:44:07,919 --> 00:44:09,975 person go about trying to connect to 1047 00:44:09,975 --> 00:44:12,086 their blood heritage when this is the 1048 00:44:12,086 --> 00:44:14,141 case ? I'm kind of thinking we might 1049 00:44:14,141 --> 00:44:17,229 have touched that uh in this discussion . 1050 00:44:17,239 --> 00:44:19,128 But does anybody want to bring up 1051 00:44:19,128 --> 00:44:21,229 anything additional on that specific 1052 00:44:21,239 --> 00:44:24,979 question ? All that ? So it says , how 1053 00:44:24,989 --> 00:44:26,933 should a person go about trying to 1054 00:44:26,933 --> 00:44:29,100 connect their blood heritage when this 1055 00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:30,878 is the case that they have been 1056 00:44:30,878 --> 00:44:33,045 actually mislabeled as Hispanic vice , 1057 00:44:33,045 --> 00:44:36,449 a person who is Indian . Ok . Well , 1058 00:44:36,929 --> 00:44:39,040 the only thing I can think of off the 1059 00:44:39,040 --> 00:44:41,409 top of my mind is going to the dolls 1060 00:44:41,419 --> 00:44:44,050 website . That's where the dolls row 1061 00:44:44,060 --> 00:44:46,639 has all the numbers of native Americans 1062 00:44:46,649 --> 00:44:50,030 in Oklahoma . I'm sure it's like that 1063 00:44:50,040 --> 00:44:53,800 in other states also . But the 1064 00:44:53,810 --> 00:44:56,032 interesting fact I found out about that 1065 00:44:56,032 --> 00:44:58,459 was the writer of Killers of the Flower 1066 00:44:58,469 --> 00:45:01,020 Moon . That's what he did . He went 1067 00:45:01,030 --> 00:45:03,699 down to , it was some warehouse in 1068 00:45:03,709 --> 00:45:06,580 Texas and found out all these records 1069 00:45:06,590 --> 00:45:08,969 of the Osage for some reason , all the 1070 00:45:08,979 --> 00:45:11,201 Osage had their records down at Texas , 1071 00:45:11,201 --> 00:45:13,368 they had been moved , but he found out 1072 00:45:13,368 --> 00:45:15,423 a lot of tidbits . So I think if you 1073 00:45:15,423 --> 00:45:17,312 can start with that , look on the 1074 00:45:17,312 --> 00:45:19,535 website and that will lead to different 1075 00:45:19,535 --> 00:45:22,179 directions , different places to search . 1076 00:45:22,189 --> 00:45:25,389 But that's what I found so far . 1077 00:45:27,899 --> 00:45:30,232 Others wanna wanna tackle that . I mean , 1078 00:45:30,232 --> 00:45:32,177 we , we have gone through some but 1079 00:45:32,177 --> 00:45:34,343 there is some here more that we can go 1080 00:45:35,959 --> 00:45:38,659 to go . So 1081 00:45:38,669 --> 00:45:42,120 II I almost Miss Cody's answer was so 1082 00:45:42,129 --> 00:45:44,830 great . I mean , but I think you need 1083 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:46,618 to be patient and respectful to 1084 00:45:46,618 --> 00:45:48,562 whenever you are , are taking that 1085 00:45:48,562 --> 00:45:50,673 journey and , and have an open mind , 1086 00:45:50,673 --> 00:45:52,896 be prepared to learn and grow . But you 1087 00:45:52,896 --> 00:45:55,118 can go to like the National Congress of 1088 00:45:55,118 --> 00:45:57,062 American Indians , the um National 1089 00:45:57,062 --> 00:45:59,284 Museum of American Indians , the Native 1090 00:45:59,284 --> 00:46:01,507 Americans Fund , um , Rights Fund , the 1091 00:46:01,507 --> 00:46:03,618 tribal , there's tribal maps out that 1092 00:46:03,618 --> 00:46:05,784 kind of can tell you . Hey , this is , 1093 00:46:05,784 --> 00:46:07,784 this is kind of who was where , you 1094 00:46:07,784 --> 00:46:09,896 know , and , and it , it can little , 1095 00:46:09,896 --> 00:46:11,729 it's like little tiny nuggets of 1096 00:46:11,729 --> 00:46:13,729 information that leads you to , you 1097 00:46:13,729 --> 00:46:15,951 know , the treasure of who you are as a 1098 00:46:15,951 --> 00:46:18,709 native American over . Keep . 1099 00:46:20,830 --> 00:46:23,850 All right . Um , believe it or not . I 1100 00:46:23,860 --> 00:46:26,027 got a question asked to me , but we're 1101 00:46:26,027 --> 00:46:28,138 gonna kind of morph it into everybody 1102 00:46:28,138 --> 00:46:30,193 else to answer as well . So , uh our 1103 00:46:30,193 --> 00:46:32,416 team has actually put it out as kind of 1104 00:46:32,416 --> 00:46:34,193 a general question , but it was 1105 00:46:34,193 --> 00:46:36,360 actually addressed to me . I saw it in 1106 00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:38,527 the chat . So I'm gonna start it . And 1107 00:46:38,527 --> 00:46:40,416 that question is , and here's the 1108 00:46:40,416 --> 00:46:42,582 general question , but it was a little 1109 00:46:42,582 --> 00:46:42,350 bit more pointed at me . So I'll start , 1110 00:46:44,260 --> 00:46:47,120 what is the best non confrontational 1111 00:46:47,129 --> 00:46:49,409 way to address potential misuse of 1112 00:46:49,419 --> 00:46:51,530 native terms in the workplace ? Let's 1113 00:46:51,530 --> 00:46:53,659 just call it meetings powwow . And 1114 00:46:53,669 --> 00:46:56,120 basically that question that was asked 1115 00:46:56,129 --> 00:46:58,800 of me was let me pull it back up again . 1116 00:47:01,989 --> 00:47:05,939 Hang on , stay with me . Yeah , that 1117 00:47:05,949 --> 00:47:08,171 there are some colleagues that are kind 1118 00:47:08,171 --> 00:47:10,449 of calling , you know , meetings . Pow , 1119 00:47:10,449 --> 00:47:10,419 wows and stuff like that . And , and 1120 00:47:10,429 --> 00:47:13,909 I'm going to assume that it would 1121 00:47:13,919 --> 00:47:16,959 be uh Yeah , thank you , Brittany . 1122 00:47:17,530 --> 00:47:19,800 That uh the , the colleagues say that 1123 00:47:19,810 --> 00:47:22,040 they're having a Pow . Wow , not really 1124 00:47:22,050 --> 00:47:24,649 understanding what that is . And , and 1125 00:47:24,659 --> 00:47:26,603 I will answer it this way . Well , 1126 00:47:26,603 --> 00:47:28,540 first of all , usually when an ES 1127 00:47:28,550 --> 00:47:30,717 speaks , everybody gets , you know , a 1128 00:47:30,717 --> 00:47:32,772 little bit excited . So , you know , 1129 00:47:32,772 --> 00:47:34,772 maybe I have it a little bit easier 1130 00:47:34,772 --> 00:47:36,810 than most . But regardless of the 1131 00:47:36,820 --> 00:47:39,020 situation and in many cases I've seen 1132 00:47:39,030 --> 00:47:41,469 this outside of the military when I'm 1133 00:47:41,479 --> 00:47:43,590 working with groups or something like 1134 00:47:43,590 --> 00:47:46,429 that . And I often ask them the 1135 00:47:46,439 --> 00:47:48,949 question of , do they know what they're 1136 00:47:48,959 --> 00:47:51,070 talking about when they say a power ? 1137 00:47:51,070 --> 00:47:53,181 They say it's a meaning . I said , do 1138 00:47:53,181 --> 00:47:53,110 you know about your indigenous tribes 1139 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:55,287 around here and what that really means 1140 00:47:55,287 --> 00:47:57,600 to them ? And because I have become 1141 00:47:57,610 --> 00:48:01,500 educated , not uh of my own 1142 00:48:01,510 --> 00:48:03,566 accord , I mean , I have done it but 1143 00:48:03,566 --> 00:48:06,419 it's you the panel members , you the 1144 00:48:06,429 --> 00:48:09,020 people who are out in the chat boxes 1145 00:48:09,030 --> 00:48:11,086 who have gone through this that have 1146 00:48:11,086 --> 00:48:13,330 educated me , Angela Stars who helped 1147 00:48:13,340 --> 00:48:15,840 put this together has been my whisper . 1148 00:48:15,850 --> 00:48:18,017 She taught me many things that I would 1149 00:48:18,017 --> 00:48:20,128 have never thought of . She taught me 1150 00:48:20,128 --> 00:48:22,128 what was right and what was wrong , 1151 00:48:22,128 --> 00:48:24,294 Tanya , you've taught me , Susan , you 1152 00:48:24,294 --> 00:48:26,461 have taught me OK , Sergeant Rodriguez 1153 00:48:26,461 --> 00:48:29,620 and now Staff Sergeant Britney Bridges 1154 00:48:29,629 --> 00:48:31,629 has also taught me of things that I 1155 00:48:31,629 --> 00:48:33,851 need to know . And I learned to open up 1156 00:48:33,851 --> 00:48:36,080 why ? Because as a military member , 1157 00:48:36,090 --> 00:48:38,360 the big a right ? It's the big a the 1158 00:48:38,370 --> 00:48:40,570 civilians and the military people , 1159 00:48:40,580 --> 00:48:43,540 right ? We all work to do the nations 1160 00:48:43,550 --> 00:48:46,709 good and we have to understand each 1161 00:48:46,719 --> 00:48:48,941 other and we have to understand when we 1162 00:48:48,941 --> 00:48:51,163 cross a line because we don't know . Uh 1163 00:48:51,163 --> 00:48:53,469 I can , I can actually attest to this 1164 00:48:53,590 --> 00:48:55,812 because in a previous life , there were 1165 00:48:55,812 --> 00:48:57,646 things that people would call me 1166 00:48:57,646 --> 00:49:00,080 because of my Italian heritage that 1167 00:49:00,090 --> 00:49:02,169 were not as nice as maybe they could 1168 00:49:02,179 --> 00:49:05,020 have been . I can feel for this . So I 1169 00:49:05,030 --> 00:49:07,141 usually bring it up . I usually ask a 1170 00:49:07,141 --> 00:49:09,363 little bit in a non confrontational way 1171 00:49:09,439 --> 00:49:11,606 and I try to do the best that I can to 1172 00:49:11,606 --> 00:49:15,439 witness and , and also to educate on 1173 00:49:15,449 --> 00:49:17,750 what that would mean and what 1174 00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:20,949 implications it would mean to a native 1175 00:49:20,959 --> 00:49:23,199 American that might be in the room with 1176 00:49:23,209 --> 00:49:25,376 them that they don't even know because 1177 00:49:25,376 --> 00:49:27,598 they haven't identified themselves like 1178 00:49:27,598 --> 00:49:27,429 we said before . So now I'm going to 1179 00:49:27,439 --> 00:49:29,661 throw it back out to the group and this 1180 00:49:29,661 --> 00:49:31,883 time we start with Sergeant Rodriguez . 1181 00:49:36,370 --> 00:49:38,148 So , so , so you see if you got 1182 00:49:38,148 --> 00:49:40,259 anything you want to add to that , go 1183 00:49:40,259 --> 00:49:42,500 ahead . Actually , I really love your 1184 00:49:42,510 --> 00:49:44,949 answer when you said , because I was 1185 00:49:44,959 --> 00:49:47,419 educated , right ? That puts it back 1186 00:49:47,429 --> 00:49:49,651 out there where you're being vulnerable 1187 00:49:49,651 --> 00:49:52,949 with them alongside them and expressing 1188 00:49:52,959 --> 00:49:56,209 that you learned and you know , it goes 1189 00:49:56,219 --> 00:49:58,219 back to that learning environment , 1190 00:49:58,219 --> 00:50:01,014 right ? The educational piece . So I 1191 00:50:01,024 --> 00:50:03,024 would just agree with that . That's 1192 00:50:03,024 --> 00:50:05,225 really that I probably would say that 1193 00:50:05,235 --> 00:50:07,179 that's like the best way that I've 1194 00:50:07,179 --> 00:50:09,764 heard it so far to educate somebody in 1195 00:50:09,774 --> 00:50:13,679 a professional and not so like where 1196 00:50:13,689 --> 00:50:15,889 you're trying to uh demean anybody , 1197 00:50:15,899 --> 00:50:17,899 you know , I , I would say the same 1198 00:50:17,899 --> 00:50:20,489 thing because I was educated or I would , 1199 00:50:20,500 --> 00:50:23,320 for me personally , um I would express 1200 00:50:23,330 --> 00:50:25,989 my background and who I am and what 1201 00:50:26,000 --> 00:50:28,590 that means . That word means to me over . 1202 00:50:29,510 --> 00:50:31,566 Yeah . Thank you for that . Thanks . 1203 00:50:31,566 --> 00:50:33,732 Thank you . That's two schmoozes in 11 1204 00:50:33,732 --> 00:50:35,732 event . So I really appreciate it . 1205 00:50:36,580 --> 00:50:38,729 Yeah , go ahead . Others jump in . 1206 00:50:41,120 --> 00:50:43,719 Um I would say focus on the impact , 1207 00:50:43,729 --> 00:50:45,951 not the intent . You know , Mr d'angelo 1208 00:50:45,951 --> 00:50:48,062 was in my head and , and Mr Rodriguez 1209 00:50:48,070 --> 00:50:50,181 was after my heart with the education 1210 00:50:50,181 --> 00:50:52,159 side of it . But I would , I would 1211 00:50:52,169 --> 00:50:54,209 emphasize on how the misuse of the 1212 00:50:54,219 --> 00:50:57,159 language affects native Americans and 1213 00:50:57,169 --> 00:50:59,391 their communities rather than attacking 1214 00:50:59,391 --> 00:51:01,391 the person's intention , you know , 1215 00:51:01,391 --> 00:51:03,169 maybe just say something like I 1216 00:51:03,169 --> 00:51:02,649 understand that you might not have 1217 00:51:02,659 --> 00:51:05,560 meant to cause harm , you know , but 1218 00:51:05,620 --> 00:51:07,787 using , you know , that phrase power , 1219 00:51:07,787 --> 00:51:09,676 I'm having pow . Well , it can be 1220 00:51:09,676 --> 00:51:11,842 hurtful to native American communities 1221 00:51:11,842 --> 00:51:13,787 and , you know , let's find a more 1222 00:51:13,787 --> 00:51:15,787 respectful way to express ourselves 1223 00:51:15,787 --> 00:51:18,009 versus just saying , you know , instead 1224 00:51:18,009 --> 00:51:20,064 of getting , you know , um harboring 1225 00:51:20,064 --> 00:51:22,120 those angry feelings or , or upset , 1226 00:51:22,120 --> 00:51:21,975 you know , hurt feelings behind it . Go 1227 00:51:21,985 --> 00:51:24,041 ahead and , and be vulnerable like , 1228 00:51:24,041 --> 00:51:26,207 like you were saying , and , and , you 1229 00:51:26,207 --> 00:51:28,429 know , focus on that , that impact that 1230 00:51:28,429 --> 00:51:32,370 them doing that has over . Yep . I 1231 00:51:32,379 --> 00:51:35,620 agree to um it depends on where they're 1232 00:51:35,629 --> 00:51:37,740 coming from . Are they saying it in a 1233 00:51:37,740 --> 00:51:40,600 demeaning manner ? Are they making 1234 00:51:40,610 --> 00:51:42,832 light of the subject , you know , there 1235 00:51:42,832 --> 00:51:44,777 could be all kinds of avenues that 1236 00:51:44,777 --> 00:51:47,600 they're trying to pursue . However back 1237 00:51:47,610 --> 00:51:49,669 to the education piece you can ask a 1238 00:51:49,679 --> 00:51:51,735 question , you know , did you really 1239 00:51:51,735 --> 00:51:54,219 mean to be , you know , derogatory or 1240 00:51:54,229 --> 00:51:56,520 are you being lighthearted ? You know ? 1241 00:51:56,790 --> 00:51:59,060 Pow . Wow . Is a significant , 1242 00:51:59,070 --> 00:52:01,181 important word to the native American 1243 00:52:01,181 --> 00:52:03,419 culture . And if you like , you know , 1244 00:52:03,530 --> 00:52:05,530 to sit down and chat with you about 1245 00:52:05,530 --> 00:52:08,500 this , you know , etc but a lot of 1246 00:52:08,510 --> 00:52:12,270 times I think we might misread how 1247 00:52:12,280 --> 00:52:15,649 someone's speaking . So I really think 1248 00:52:15,659 --> 00:52:17,659 that's key because we want to leave 1249 00:52:17,659 --> 00:52:20,750 that anger and defensiveness out . We 1250 00:52:20,760 --> 00:52:23,540 don't want that chip on our shoulder to 1251 00:52:23,550 --> 00:52:25,717 be seen because because that's not how 1252 00:52:25,717 --> 00:52:27,828 most of us are , but sometimes that's 1253 00:52:27,828 --> 00:52:29,772 how a lot of Native Americans come 1254 00:52:29,772 --> 00:52:32,149 across . And we really , we really want 1255 00:52:32,159 --> 00:52:36,090 to uh this extinguish that um I 1256 00:52:36,100 --> 00:52:39,530 also think that whenever they do the uh 1257 00:52:39,540 --> 00:52:43,209 chop , you know , at the baseball games , 1258 00:52:44,120 --> 00:52:46,287 I don't know why we do that , why it's 1259 00:52:46,287 --> 00:52:48,459 been , been doing that for years and 1260 00:52:48,469 --> 00:52:51,300 years , I don't particularly care for 1261 00:52:51,310 --> 00:52:53,820 it . But you know , what are we to do ? 1262 00:52:54,100 --> 00:52:56,439 What are we to say whenever that 1263 00:52:56,449 --> 00:52:59,540 happens ? Uh I think it all goes back 1264 00:52:59,550 --> 00:53:01,729 to education but things like that have 1265 00:53:01,739 --> 00:53:04,489 been so set in stone for so long . Um 1266 00:53:04,500 --> 00:53:07,159 We really just accept those kind of 1267 00:53:07,169 --> 00:53:10,070 things but so it goes back to you being 1268 00:53:10,080 --> 00:53:13,500 able to uh control , not actually 1269 00:53:13,510 --> 00:53:16,639 control , but help the things in your 1270 00:53:16,649 --> 00:53:18,889 community because we all have our own 1271 00:53:18,899 --> 00:53:21,620 little communities . So I would just 1272 00:53:21,629 --> 00:53:23,796 look at it , look at the intent of the 1273 00:53:23,796 --> 00:53:26,179 person and try to still , you know , 1274 00:53:26,189 --> 00:53:28,078 not devalue them , but maybe just 1275 00:53:28,078 --> 00:53:30,459 educate them with love and outreach 1276 00:53:30,739 --> 00:53:34,699 over . I would definitely 1277 00:53:34,709 --> 00:53:36,876 like to jump into this because this is 1278 00:53:36,876 --> 00:53:38,987 something that I've had to , uh , you 1279 00:53:38,987 --> 00:53:42,300 know , softly correct . Um Far too many 1280 00:53:42,310 --> 00:53:45,020 times in my short 7.5 years of being in 1281 00:53:45,030 --> 00:53:48,290 the air force . Um , and I think , like , 1282 00:53:48,300 --> 00:53:50,522 you know , Miss Cody just said , like , 1283 00:53:50,522 --> 00:53:52,633 you know , being able to take out the 1284 00:53:52,633 --> 00:53:54,411 anger and like , you know , the 1285 00:53:54,411 --> 00:53:56,189 defensiveness that I might have 1286 00:53:56,189 --> 00:53:58,244 initially had when having to correct 1287 00:53:58,244 --> 00:54:00,467 somebody . And the way that I've gotten 1288 00:54:00,467 --> 00:54:02,522 to a point of being able to go about 1289 00:54:02,522 --> 00:54:04,689 maybe informing somebody and educating 1290 00:54:04,689 --> 00:54:06,856 someone is simply , you know , showing 1291 00:54:06,856 --> 00:54:09,022 them photos of my family at a powwow , 1292 00:54:09,022 --> 00:54:11,320 explaining to them , the meaning of a 1293 00:54:11,330 --> 00:54:13,108 powwow that we just had and the 1294 00:54:13,108 --> 00:54:15,108 celebration behind it and who we're 1295 00:54:15,108 --> 00:54:17,163 celebrating and why we do it and the 1296 00:54:17,163 --> 00:54:19,625 meaning behind the songs in our regalia 1297 00:54:19,635 --> 00:54:21,913 and everything that we wear . You know , 1298 00:54:21,913 --> 00:54:24,034 I think sometimes , unfortunately , 1299 00:54:24,044 --> 00:54:26,534 words only go so far and sometimes you 1300 00:54:26,544 --> 00:54:28,875 need to be able to show somebody that 1301 00:54:28,885 --> 00:54:30,996 doesn't know what it's about and what 1302 00:54:30,996 --> 00:54:33,052 we do and why we do it and show them 1303 00:54:33,052 --> 00:54:35,354 why it's important , being able to show 1304 00:54:35,364 --> 00:54:37,205 them , you know , my 93 year old 1305 00:54:37,215 --> 00:54:39,625 grandmother out dancing beside me and 1306 00:54:39,635 --> 00:54:41,302 showing how important and how 1307 00:54:41,302 --> 00:54:44,110 significant that is . And , you know , 1308 00:54:44,120 --> 00:54:46,064 that can sometimes put a different 1309 00:54:46,064 --> 00:54:48,231 perspective to show them . Like , oh , 1310 00:54:48,231 --> 00:54:50,659 whenever I use this word , I'm not 1311 00:54:50,669 --> 00:54:52,836 using it in the way that it's supposed 1312 00:54:52,836 --> 00:54:54,613 to be used . You know , maybe I 1313 00:54:54,613 --> 00:54:56,613 shouldn't use it in that manner and 1314 00:54:56,613 --> 00:54:58,725 sometimes I'll even go to the farther 1315 00:54:58,725 --> 00:55:00,947 extent and invite them to a powwow with 1316 00:55:00,947 --> 00:55:03,058 me to show them in person what we are 1317 00:55:03,058 --> 00:55:05,280 doing , you know , and how beautiful it 1318 00:55:05,280 --> 00:55:07,447 is . That's just something I've had to 1319 00:55:07,447 --> 00:55:09,613 answer so many times . And so I'm very 1320 00:55:09,613 --> 00:55:11,502 passionate about these little key 1321 00:55:11,502 --> 00:55:13,613 phrases and words and situations that 1322 00:55:13,613 --> 00:55:15,780 I've had to be put through for so long 1323 00:55:15,780 --> 00:55:17,891 it seems like . But that's definitely 1324 00:55:17,891 --> 00:55:20,058 where I would come in on that though . 1325 00:55:20,058 --> 00:55:23,189 Thank you very much . Great answers by 1326 00:55:23,199 --> 00:55:25,255 all . Well , we're within about five 1327 00:55:25,255 --> 00:55:27,421 minutes of the end of the period and I 1328 00:55:27,421 --> 00:55:29,588 know if you're like me , the time goes 1329 00:55:29,588 --> 00:55:31,699 by pretty fast . So what I'm going to 1330 00:55:31,699 --> 00:55:33,755 ask you to do is take about a minute 1331 00:55:33,755 --> 00:55:35,866 each . So you give me a minute at the 1332 00:55:35,866 --> 00:55:38,929 end uh to close . And in that closing 1333 00:55:38,939 --> 00:55:41,106 the closing comments , if you have any 1334 00:55:41,106 --> 00:55:43,272 reading material , you can pretty much 1335 00:55:43,272 --> 00:55:45,495 say this is kind of where we focus . If 1336 00:55:45,495 --> 00:55:47,661 you don't have a problem about it , we 1337 00:55:47,661 --> 00:55:47,419 can put it in labor . So with that , 1338 00:55:47,429 --> 00:55:49,729 I'll start off with the Hollywood 1339 00:55:49,739 --> 00:55:52,290 Squares I'll go to Miss Perkins first 1340 00:55:52,300 --> 00:55:54,244 then to Miss Cody down to Sergeant 1341 00:55:54,244 --> 00:55:56,189 Rodriguez sitting for the Sergeant 1342 00:55:56,189 --> 00:55:58,133 Briggs . Sorry to close with you , 1343 00:55:58,133 --> 00:56:00,189 Sergeant Briggs . But thank you . Go 1344 00:56:00,189 --> 00:56:02,411 ahead , Miss Perkins . Um , I , I would 1345 00:56:02,411 --> 00:56:04,633 like to start by telling you how much I 1346 00:56:04,633 --> 00:56:06,633 appreciate it being here . It was a 1347 00:56:06,633 --> 00:56:08,633 huge honor to be on this panel with 1348 00:56:08,633 --> 00:56:10,967 these beautiful women and , and so much , 1349 00:56:10,967 --> 00:56:13,133 um , rich native American heritage and 1350 00:56:13,133 --> 00:56:15,467 belief and um all the way to their soul . 1351 00:56:15,467 --> 00:56:17,633 So , thank you so much . It was a huge 1352 00:56:17,633 --> 00:56:19,689 honor to be here and to be a part of 1353 00:56:19,689 --> 00:56:22,739 this with you . Um I would say for 1354 00:56:22,830 --> 00:56:25,580 reading material or some educational , 1355 00:56:25,590 --> 00:56:28,270 I , I think I would start with uh you 1356 00:56:28,280 --> 00:56:30,169 know , going like to these to the 1357 00:56:30,169 --> 00:56:32,169 different museums and , and talking 1358 00:56:32,169 --> 00:56:34,224 with the people at the museums and , 1359 00:56:34,224 --> 00:56:36,224 and kind of enriching yourself your 1360 00:56:36,224 --> 00:56:38,280 environment into the Native American 1361 00:56:38,280 --> 00:56:40,391 culture and , and then slowly kind of 1362 00:56:40,391 --> 00:56:42,915 go and build on what interests you from 1363 00:56:42,925 --> 00:56:45,147 those museums . So you go to the museum 1364 00:56:45,147 --> 00:56:47,314 and , and maybe there's one particular 1365 00:56:47,314 --> 00:56:49,425 area that was very appealing and kind 1366 00:56:49,425 --> 00:56:51,536 of drew you in because that keeps you 1367 00:56:51,536 --> 00:56:53,592 excited and , and , and , and really 1368 00:56:53,592 --> 00:56:55,814 energetic to learn more and more and it 1369 00:56:55,814 --> 00:56:58,409 keeps your journey going further over . 1370 00:57:00,149 --> 00:57:02,479 Oh , Miss Cody , great . Thank you , 1371 00:57:02,489 --> 00:57:04,979 Miss Perkins . I echo all those things . 1372 00:57:04,989 --> 00:57:07,260 I appreciate the chance to get on here 1373 00:57:07,479 --> 00:57:10,189 uh with this awesome group of ladies , 1374 00:57:10,310 --> 00:57:13,770 um my reading material just goes back 1375 00:57:13,780 --> 00:57:17,060 to the Bible , the natives back long , 1376 00:57:17,070 --> 00:57:20,360 long ago they had a creator , which is 1377 00:57:20,370 --> 00:57:23,280 God . I think it's all interconnected . 1378 00:57:23,290 --> 00:57:25,550 So that's my one reading material that 1379 00:57:25,560 --> 00:57:29,040 I always go to first and again , 1380 00:57:29,149 --> 00:57:31,340 second thought of fam , fam , first 1381 00:57:31,350 --> 00:57:33,610 Americans Museum here in Oklahoma . 1382 00:57:33,739 --> 00:57:36,250 Best Museum . I've seen to talk about 1383 00:57:36,260 --> 00:57:38,534 all the federalized trouble . Federal 1384 00:57:38,564 --> 00:57:41,875 lies federally recognized tribes of 1385 00:57:41,885 --> 00:57:43,885 Oklahoma . That's hard to say 39 of 1386 00:57:43,885 --> 00:57:46,074 them . So , yes , try to get out there 1387 00:57:46,084 --> 00:57:48,614 when I brief fac I always mention it 1388 00:57:48,625 --> 00:57:50,847 and have them to get out there as quick 1389 00:57:50,847 --> 00:57:52,792 as they can because normally these 1390 00:57:52,792 --> 00:57:55,014 first term airmen , this is their first 1391 00:57:55,014 --> 00:57:57,069 time to Oklahoma . They know nothing 1392 00:57:57,069 --> 00:57:59,292 about natives or culture or tradition . 1393 00:57:59,292 --> 00:58:01,458 So I always give a hands out to them . 1394 00:58:01,458 --> 00:58:04,655 But thank you again , I appreciate it . 1395 00:58:06,449 --> 00:58:09,889 Such a Rodriguez . Hi . Uh 1396 00:58:09,899 --> 00:58:13,780 again , thank you guys for um having 1397 00:58:13,790 --> 00:58:16,649 me on and sharing , you know , pieces 1398 00:58:16,659 --> 00:58:19,439 of my story . Um I'm so honored to be 1399 00:58:19,449 --> 00:58:21,889 part of this panel with these ladies 1400 00:58:21,899 --> 00:58:24,189 and of course with you , Mr d'angelo . 1401 00:58:24,500 --> 00:58:28,189 Um So I would say for reading material 1402 00:58:28,439 --> 00:58:32,120 if you guys are interested in it 1403 00:58:32,129 --> 00:58:35,620 has a whole reading library . We 1404 00:58:35,629 --> 00:58:39,000 created it last year just from um it 1405 00:58:39,010 --> 00:58:41,429 stemmed from some of the trips we were 1406 00:58:41,439 --> 00:58:44,199 going on being in Navajo , I was going 1407 00:58:44,209 --> 00:58:48,129 to the North Dakota reservations , 1408 00:58:48,139 --> 00:58:50,360 so I didn't know too much . So I 1409 00:58:50,370 --> 00:58:53,209 educated myself . So we started this 1410 00:58:53,219 --> 00:58:56,010 reading library that will help each 1411 00:58:56,020 --> 00:58:58,010 member who is part of in it and in 1412 00:58:58,020 --> 00:59:00,050 participating in these events to 1413 00:59:00,060 --> 00:59:02,227 educate themselves on the area and the 1414 00:59:02,227 --> 00:59:04,489 history . And just so you can connect 1415 00:59:04,500 --> 00:59:06,870 more with the community and the tribal 1416 00:59:06,879 --> 00:59:08,935 leaders in that area of , you know , 1417 00:59:08,935 --> 00:59:11,157 where they're coming from right off the 1418 00:59:11,157 --> 00:59:13,157 bat though . I'd like to share this 1419 00:59:13,157 --> 00:59:15,268 book . I don't know if you can see it 1420 00:59:15,268 --> 00:59:17,610 very well . Probably not , but it is 1421 00:59:17,620 --> 00:59:20,639 called All The Real Indians died off . 1422 00:59:20,649 --> 00:59:23,149 I know that sounds weird and kind of 1423 00:59:23,330 --> 00:59:27,139 kind of harsh , but it addresses a lot 1424 00:59:27,149 --> 00:59:29,840 of myths and um , it's like a 1425 00:59:29,850 --> 00:59:32,620 Mythbusters book and it's just really 1426 00:59:32,629 --> 00:59:34,639 good to go over it , read it and be 1427 00:59:34,649 --> 00:59:36,593 like , oh , ok . Well , you know , 1428 00:59:36,593 --> 00:59:38,649 there's a lot of stuff that I didn't 1429 00:59:38,649 --> 00:59:40,593 understand that I read and , and I 1430 00:59:40,593 --> 00:59:42,649 grabbed from it . But yes . So thank 1431 00:59:42,649 --> 00:59:44,979 you again for um , all of the attendees 1432 00:59:44,989 --> 00:59:47,070 and please reach out to the init org 1433 00:59:47,080 --> 00:59:49,302 box . We can get you hooked up with our 1434 00:59:49,302 --> 00:59:51,500 team . We can get you on the team so 1435 00:59:51,510 --> 00:59:53,860 you can access all of the awesome 1436 00:59:53,870 --> 00:59:56,092 material and events and everything that 1437 00:59:56,092 --> 00:59:58,219 we have going on with it . So you can 1438 00:59:58,229 --> 01:00:00,507 volunteer and be part of the team also . 1439 01:00:00,507 --> 01:00:02,879 Thank you guys . Thanks , Search and 1440 01:00:02,889 --> 01:00:06,389 Rodrigo Staff Sergeant Briggs Britney , 1441 01:00:06,399 --> 01:00:09,969 over to you . Yes , sir . I just want 1442 01:00:09,979 --> 01:00:12,035 to start off by saying thank you all 1443 01:00:12,035 --> 01:00:14,257 for having me today . It's a really big 1444 01:00:14,257 --> 01:00:16,201 honor to be a part of something so 1445 01:00:16,201 --> 01:00:18,535 impactful , um being able to , you know , 1446 01:00:18,535 --> 01:00:20,535 know , that my voice is being heard 1447 01:00:20,535 --> 01:00:22,701 today , you know , on a , a lot larger 1448 01:00:22,701 --> 01:00:25,035 scale than maybe what I'm used to . But , 1449 01:00:25,035 --> 01:00:27,035 um , these things are important and 1450 01:00:27,035 --> 01:00:29,146 everything that we're talking about , 1451 01:00:29,146 --> 01:00:31,146 you know , it's important and , you 1452 01:00:31,146 --> 01:00:30,590 know , we should all be passionate 1453 01:00:30,600 --> 01:00:32,489 about it . Um , as far as reading 1454 01:00:32,489 --> 01:00:34,656 material , you know , all really great 1455 01:00:34,659 --> 01:00:36,676 suggestions and I'm sure , um , 1456 01:00:36,716 --> 01:00:38,825 googling certain things , you can 1457 01:00:38,835 --> 01:00:41,002 probably find some really good reading 1458 01:00:41,002 --> 01:00:43,224 material . But the way that I've always 1459 01:00:43,224 --> 01:00:45,506 kind of learned the most is , you know , 1460 01:00:45,635 --> 01:00:48,535 engaging yourself , whether that be , 1461 01:00:48,545 --> 01:00:51,065 you know , finding somebody of heritage 1462 01:00:51,075 --> 01:00:53,226 and talking with them . If you find 1463 01:00:53,236 --> 01:00:55,292 yourself at a ceremony or a powwow , 1464 01:00:55,292 --> 01:00:57,514 the best information you could possibly 1465 01:00:57,514 --> 01:00:59,180 receive comes from our elders 1466 01:00:59,180 --> 01:01:01,347 themselves , being able to learn , you 1467 01:01:01,347 --> 01:01:03,403 know , who went through these things 1468 01:01:03,681 --> 01:01:05,941 and you know , how they stayed 1469 01:01:05,951 --> 01:01:08,118 resilient throughout the years . And , 1470 01:01:08,118 --> 01:01:10,284 you know , their resiliency carries on 1471 01:01:10,284 --> 01:01:12,507 to us in our journey . And , you know , 1472 01:01:12,507 --> 01:01:14,673 that that would be my biggest piece is 1473 01:01:14,673 --> 01:01:16,673 that if you are able to sit with an 1474 01:01:16,673 --> 01:01:18,729 elder and listen to the stories that 1475 01:01:18,729 --> 01:01:20,895 they have , and even if that's reading 1476 01:01:20,895 --> 01:01:20,562 their articles online , because there 1477 01:01:20,572 --> 01:01:22,739 are a lot of them as well , that would 1478 01:01:22,739 --> 01:01:24,850 definitely be my biggest piece of the 1479 01:01:24,850 --> 01:01:27,072 best kind of reading material you could 1480 01:01:27,072 --> 01:01:28,961 possibly have . Thank you all for 1481 01:01:28,961 --> 01:01:31,909 having me . Well , thank you all panel 1482 01:01:31,919 --> 01:01:35,080 members for what you did for us today . 1483 01:01:35,090 --> 01:01:37,750 You gave us insight and you gave us 1484 01:01:37,899 --> 01:01:41,090 your heart at the same time on issues 1485 01:01:41,100 --> 01:01:43,750 of mentorship and mentoring . But also 1486 01:01:43,790 --> 01:01:46,790 with a twist for a native , I can 1487 01:01:46,989 --> 01:01:49,219 travel members . So I appreciate that 1488 01:01:49,229 --> 01:01:51,229 very much . I thank you . I want to 1489 01:01:51,229 --> 01:01:53,979 make a call out to Angela Starks who 1490 01:01:53,989 --> 01:01:56,280 helped put this together . Even I'm in 1491 01:01:56,290 --> 01:01:58,290 absentia because of course , I'm at 1492 01:01:58,290 --> 01:02:00,623 Wright Patterson . She's back at Tinker . 1493 01:02:00,623 --> 01:02:02,623 But if it wasn't for her , this all 1494 01:02:02,623 --> 01:02:02,600 wouldn't have come together as easily 1495 01:02:02,610 --> 01:02:04,832 as it did . And I would really give her 1496 01:02:04,832 --> 01:02:06,777 a big call out . And the thanks to 1497 01:02:06,777 --> 01:02:08,888 Britney and the team Britney Ross and 1498 01:02:08,888 --> 01:02:10,943 the team from A F MC . Thank you for 1499 01:02:10,943 --> 01:02:10,939 putting all of these things together 1500 01:02:10,949 --> 01:02:13,005 and thank you for being partners and 1501 01:02:13,005 --> 01:02:15,060 making this such a success to all of 1502 01:02:15,060 --> 01:02:17,570 you who sent questions in or who 1503 01:02:17,580 --> 01:02:19,802 listened and gave us . Thank you at the 1504 01:02:19,802 --> 01:02:21,969 end and those who didn't thank you for 1505 01:02:21,969 --> 01:02:24,191 being here today and taking time out to 1506 01:02:24,191 --> 01:02:26,024 listen to this because it's very 1507 01:02:26,024 --> 01:02:28,247 important to us . Um I will tell you if 1508 01:02:28,247 --> 01:02:30,469 you want a book , just one book to look 1509 01:02:30,469 --> 01:02:32,636 at . I always go to the trail of tears 1510 01:02:32,636 --> 01:02:34,691 because if you don't have a trail of 1511 01:02:34,691 --> 01:02:36,802 tears , if you read that book , you , 1512 01:02:36,802 --> 01:02:39,239 you'll have to readjust yourself . But 1513 01:02:39,250 --> 01:02:42,959 anyway , I will tell you that um it was 1514 01:02:42,969 --> 01:02:44,969 great today to be with all of you . 1515 01:02:44,969 --> 01:02:47,136 Thank you for the honor of allowing me 1516 01:02:47,136 --> 01:02:49,247 to do this . I appreciate it . I love 1517 01:02:49,247 --> 01:02:51,413 doing it . I really do . And uh I just 1518 01:02:51,413 --> 01:02:53,636 want you to know we are one team with a 1519 01:02:53,636 --> 01:02:55,858 mission and the more we understand each 1520 01:02:55,858 --> 01:02:58,025 other in that team , the better off we 1521 01:02:58,025 --> 01:03:00,191 will be to carry out that hard mission 1522 01:03:00,191 --> 01:03:02,025 that the nation expects us to be 1523 01:03:02,025 --> 01:03:04,191 successful at . So I want to bless you 1524 01:03:04,191 --> 01:03:06,413 all . God bless you all . Thank you for 1525 01:03:06,413 --> 01:03:08,580 all that you do . And with that , I'll 1526 01:03:08,580 --> 01:03:10,802 hand it back over to the team . Uh as , 1527 01:03:10,802 --> 01:03:12,858 as we close out . Have a great day , 1528 01:03:12,858 --> 01:03:12,620 everybody . Thank you for what you do , 1529 01:03:12,629 --> 01:03:14,851 but more so thank you for what you will 1530 01:03:14,851 --> 01:03:17,073 do to keep the air force strong . We're 1531 01:03:17,073 --> 01:03:16,520 out here .