
On the Cover
As we mark the centenary of the end of The Great War, World War I, our cover most appropriately features the selected design for the National Native American Veterans Memorial, scheduled for ground-breaking in September 2019 and dedication in late 2020. World War I was the first major conflict after the end of the Indian Wars in which American Indians enlisted in a higher proportion than any other ethnic group to serve in the U.S. military. This tradition continues to this day. In this issue we also tell the story of two Native women who overcame racial barriers to serve as nurses with the American Expeditionary Force in France.
The Director’s Letter presents the fascinating background of the Memorial designer Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne/Arapaho), whose concept was unanimously selected in the juried competition. The design will undergo further development in partnership with the National Museum of the American Indian – Smithsonian.
Memorial design by Harvey Pratt, illustration by Skyline Ink, courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian.