A view of lower Manhattan from New Jersey. September 16, 2001. Photo © Reuters.
Try as we might, it is difficult to talk about September 11th's deadly attacks on the nation with any sense of authority or resolve. Whether we watched the events unfold on television, listened to the radio or witnessed them in person, every American has a story to tell -- of grief, shock, horror, anger and sadness. Whether near or far, we have a connection to the disaster. Family and friends we loved have died. Strangers we never knew have vanished. Places we've only seen on postcards have fallen. But we are all related. And we are all Native Americans, as Billings Gazette columnist John Potter so rightfully put it. Yet for all of us, the story is just beginning, nearly a week after two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, another into the Pentagon and a final one in Pennsylvania. While no one doubts America will recover, the days ahead will tell a different tale as we prepare to go to war against an enemy whose hidden presence has touched every one of us in ways unimaginable. For Indian Country, the potential for the impact is great. One need only to point to the the Indian wars, the Navajo Code Talkers and the large numbers of Native Americans in the military to know nearly every family on nearly every reservation or tribal community will be affected by a battle no one knows how long will last. The dangers, of course, are many. When Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico sent off hundreds of its men to World War II, many returned. But they were not there. Fitting back into the community after witnessing the horrors of war didn't come easy for them. Yet to many tribes, the sacrifice is often worth the price. Indian Country has fought for this land before and will fight again, traveling far abroad to protect what little belongs to us on paper, and never knowing if it will be there when we come back. That undying conviction, determination and resilience has kept America alive. So, as we review the events of September 11, 2001, we say thank you to our tribal warriors for what you have done in the past and for what you will do in the future. All of us will need your strength.