A Smithsonian exhibit, highlighting Native American involvement in American military conflict is now open at a north-eastern Nebraska historical park.
Suzan Juza, curator at Fort Atkinson, said the exhibit explores Native Americans like the Navajo Code Talkers and a group of Native Americans who were part of Teddy Roosevelt’s volunteer cavalry.
“The Native American culture is very much misunderstood in their involvement in our country today," Juza said. "I think that they (museum visitors) would be surprised how many have been involved in very notable campaigns.”
Juza said this is the first Smithsonian exhibit for Fort Atkinson. The exhibit is called “Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces” and is produced by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The exhibition was made possible by the generous support of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. It’s open until September 3 at Fort Atkinson state historical park in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.