The Smithsonian Museum opened a new memorial Wednesday to honor Native American veterans and their service to the United States – designed with the help of local Southern Ute veterans.

The National Native American Veterans Memorial recognizes, for the first time on a national scale, the service of Native Americans in every branch of the U.S. military, according to the National Museum of the American Indian. Multiple tribes throughout Indian Country contributed to the memorial, now located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, that process started from the very conception of the memorial.

The decision of Native veterans to fight for a country that began by extinguishing “our people and our way of life demonstrates the highest integrity, not to mention those who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Lindsay Box, spokeswoman for the tribe. “Recognition of these facts is long overdue, but one that we are so very proud to be a part of.”

In 2017, Southern Ute tribal leadership and tribal veterans, including veterans who are members of the Southern Ute Veterans Association, met with representatives from the Smithsonian to consult on the project.

Tribal artists were able to submit design proposals, and Tribal Council approved a gift agreement to support the memorial and to recognize Southern Ute veterans, Box said.

Based on contributions from around the country, the memorial is an elevated, stainless-steel circle balanced on a carved stone drum. It incorporates water for sacred ceremonies and four lances where veterans, family members and tribal leaders can tie cloths for prayers and healing, the museum’s website said.

“The design of the National Native American Veterans Memorial is simple and powerful, timeless and inclusive,” the museum said.

There are about 60 Southern Ute veterans who served in the military during wars, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War.

“Protecting the ideals and fighting for survival of our people is deeply engrained in tribal identity,” Box said.

More Native Americans serve in the armed forces than any other population, per capita, although they were not considered U.S. citizens until 1924 or allowed to vote until 1957 and later, depending on state and gender, she said.

“This memorial joins others throughout D.C., which pay homage to the bravery and sacrifice of Native veterans,” Box said.

smullane@durangoherald.com