{"id":6255,"date":"2021-01-04T10:21:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T15:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=6255"},"modified":"2021-01-04T10:21:32","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T15:21:32","slug":"dvids-fort-peck-siblings-maintain-akicita-warrior-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/01\/04\/dvids-fort-peck-siblings-maintain-akicita-warrior-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"DVIDS: Fort Peck siblings maintain Akicita warrior tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\n\t\t\t‘Our family is proud’: Siblings from Fort Peck Tribes serve at same military base\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t
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CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti \u2013 U.S. Army Master Sgt. Elizabeth “Promise” Crawford and U.S. Army Spc. Challenge Crawford are siblings who are stationed on Camp Le…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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‘Our family is proud’: Siblings from Fort Peck Tribes serve at same military base<\/a> (U.S. Navy Video)\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
The Crawford Family: Proud to be American, Proud to be Native American, Proud to Serve<\/div>\r\n
Monday, January 4, 2021<\/div>\r\n
By Senior Airman Kristin Savage<\/div>\r\n
Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa<\/div>\r\n
DOD DVIDS<\/div>\r\n
dvidshub.net<\/A><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nNative American Akicitas<\/em>, or warriors, are highly regarded within the culture, for their bravery and willingness to fight for themselves and their tribe. Two Akicitas<\/em>, who were given the names Zuya Iya Wiyan<\/em> \u201cgoes to war woman\u201d and Wanbli Wiyaka Duta<\/em> which means \u201ceagle that flies high\u201d, left their tribe in Montana to serve in the United States military. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nU.S. Army Master Sgt. Elizabeth \u201cPromise\u201d Crawford, J4 Senior Enlisted Leader, Combined Joint Task Force \u2013 Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and younger brother, U.S. Army Specialist Challenge Crawford, supply specialist, CJTF-HOA, heard stories of the battles their ancestors fought in as well as the wars their seven uncles and two grandfathers fought in as U.S. Soldiers. The stories and experiences they heard about were enough for them and older brother, Freedom (Toka Snokya<\/em> \u201cknows the enemy\u201d), to join the ranks of the U.S. Army. \r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe were raised up hearing stories of how the Indians were in the battle against the American Soldiers, and between themselves, you take a lot of pride in now being a part of America as a Native American, it\u2019s something I\u2019ve always wanted to do,\u201d Challenge said. \u201cAs I got older, I saw my friends go away to the Marines and Army, they went off to serve and do their part and they motivated me to be a part of it.\u201d\r\n

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\r\nU.S. Army Master Sgt. Promise Crawford, J4 logistics senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force \u2013 Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and her brother U.S. Army Specialist Challenge Crawford, supply specialist, CJTF-HOA, proudly display the flag of the Fort Peck Tribes in CJTF-HOA headquarters, December 5, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The Crawfords were encouraged to join the military from a young age, hearing stories of the battles their ancestors fought and stories from their uncles who served the in U.S. Army in World War II and Vietnam. Photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage \/ U.S. Air Force<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe Crawfords are part of the South Dakota Army National Guard and deployed to Djibouti as part of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Being deployed together has made the transition easier not just for the siblings but for their family back home as well. \r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cOur family is proud, excited and probably more relaxed because we\u2019re both together,\u201d Promise said. \u201cThis is Challenge\u2019s first deployment and my third, I can definitely sense the vibe is a little different because we\u2019re here together. I joined first, then my older brother, then eventually Challenge joined, so I have always been able to be here to help him through.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe Crawfords grew up on the vast landscape two-million-acre Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Poplar, Montana. On the reservation, they have their own tribal government which includes a chairman, vice chairman, twelve council members and different directors for each agency, it\u2019s a government inside a government. Although they have everything they need on the reservation, the siblings were encouraged to leave and experience what the world has to offer. \r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cOur parents were always the ones to push us to not settle for what\u2019s there, they always wanted the best for us, they wanted us to get out and see the world,\u201d Challenge said. \u201cFor me serving is something I wanted to do, it wasn\u2019t a matter of if I\u2019d join, it was a matter of when is the right time.\u201d\r\n

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U.S. Army Master Sgt. Promise Crawford, J4 logistics senior enlisted leader, Combined Joint Task Force \u2013 Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and her brother U.S. Army Specialist Challenge Crawford, supply specialist, CJTF-HOA, hold the Africa Command and South Dakota patches, December 5, 2020, at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The Crawfords deployed with a unit of almost 200 soldiers from the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade with the South Dakota Army National Guard in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo by Senior Airman Kristin Savage \/ U.S. Air Force<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWhile the Crawfords serve their country, they also have the opportunity to educate individuals on Native American culture along the way. Their culture is centered around traditions, ceremonies and community but still very similar to life outside the reservation.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cThere are a lot of stereotypes about Native Americans and what life is like on the reservation, and as they get to know you they start to ask more questions such as do you have electricity, running water, why would you want to leave, etc.,\u201d Promise said. \u201cI have the opportunity to educate them about what life is really like on the reservation versus what they think it\u2019s like, what they\u2019ve seen on T.V.\u201d\r\n

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