KCA Hosts 5th Annual Powwow
The 5th Annual Kiowa Comanche Apache Veterans Powwow was held on Saturday, May 18, at the Comanche County Fairgrounds.
Commander of KCA Veterans Kristopher Killsfirst said the powwow recognizes Native veterans.
“We started this in 2019 because we needed time for the three tribes to come together for one reason, one cause, and that was to bring acknowledgment to so many of our veterans from the Vietnam War that didn't get those benefits that they were owed,” he said. “So that was our big push for the initial beginning. And the next thing is acknowledgment. Native Americans serve at a greater capacity in any ethnicity of all the United States.So, with that being said, we are prominent in getting things done in southwest Oklahoma, in fact, nationally, for Native American veterans. We just, in March of this past year, we were the ones hosting the National Native American Veterans Charter. The first time Native Americans had a voice before Congress. That's never happened before. Before that, two years before that, we were up there with the Native American Indian Veterans Memorial. First time we had a spot on the mall in Washington, D.C. The first people, but the last we recognized. That’s why this is important.”
Killsfirst said Native Americans will celebrate 100 years of citizenship in June.
“That's something to look at,” he said. “Our veterans, my grandpa and them, they fought in wars that they weren't even citizens for this country. That is a particular, very important. So, we have to honor our warriors because if we don't do it, then who will?”
Several organizations participated in the powwow, as well as those who were out of state.
“Well, first of all, we have the Kiowa Black Leggings, the Kiowa War Mothers, the Carnegie Victory Club, the Apache Service Club, the Apache Native Warrior Society. We have members of the CIVA, CIVA Auxiliary, the Walter Service Club. We have a few spread all over the country,” Killsfirst said. “We have people here from California, from Louisiana, from Kansas. Some of them came in for graduations, but they all commingled here, and we're so happy that we could do that.”
He said Armed Forces Day is a time for veterans to reflect on their service.
“We get to honor those that are still in service. One of the things we woke up this morning and we participated in the largest parade for Armed Forces Day in the United States. That's held right here in Lawton, Oklahoma,” Killsfirst said. “If you don't know that, that's very important. We're the largest installation of field artillery in the free world. So, with us, a long time ago, they used to dance for the veterans that would come home and they would get off on them trains in the middle of the night. Those grandmas, they wrote these songs. So, they ask us, ‘Why don't y'all bring it back to the day when our grandma used to dance?’ Which is Armed Forces Day. So, we did that. We started this three years ago, and we're staying with it. And we're happy that it falls on this particular day of Armed Forces Day.”
He said it’s important to let veterans know they’re appreciated.
“Even though I served 20 years, I spend most of my time thanking other members because they don't get that. Our Vietnam veterans came home to such horrific response from the general public,” Killsfirst said. “That's the thing. My daddy came home and was ashamed to wear his uniform. Today, we get welcome homes that are amazing. These older gentlemen, as we're losing every day and every year, our population of our Vietnam veterans gets smaller and smaller. We have to take that time to bring them out into the arena, bring their families out into that arena, make sure that they are welcomed home. That's the biggest thing. We want our country to be as proud of us as we are of it.”
Comanche Nation Princess Bluesky Tosee and Comanche Nation Jr. Princess Arlene Schonchin also participated in the powwow.
