Honoring Our Native Warriors as the Foundation of Sovereignty and Security

Native American veterans are the bedrock of our sovereignty and our security.

We honor their service. We respect their sacrifice. Our tribal citizens have always answered the call to serve this nation. They are our modern warriors, and we are deeply proud of all our family members and relatives who have served. This warrior tradition is not a memory; it is a living, breathing part of our tribal communities today.

We hold our Native veterans with the highest regard, and the facts show why this respect is so well-earned. According to 2025 statistics, Native Americans serve in the United States armed forces at the highest per-capita rate of any demographic in the country, with some estimates showing we serve at five times the national average.

As of 2025, Native people make up approximately 1.7% of all active-duty service members, despite being only 1.4% of the general population. While this service is honored across all branches, recent Department of Defense demographic data shows the Navy currently has the highest percentage of active-duty personnel identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, at 1.7%. The Marine Corps follows at 1.3%, with the Air Force and Army both at 0.8%. The Marine Corps, of course, holds a particularly storied place in our history, thanks to the legendary service of the Navajo Code Talkers. With over 140,000 Native American veterans in the U.S., their total contribution to our national defense is unmatched.

This profound commitment to service is immortalized in sacred spaces dedicated to their bravery. On the national stage, the Native American Veterans Memorial at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. stands as a permanent “Warriors’ Circle of Honor” for all Americans to see. Here in Arizona, we are proud to host the American Indian Veterans National Memorial on the grounds of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, a powerful place of reflection that honors the sacrifices of our own tribal community members. These memorials are not just stone and steel; they are a promise that we will never forget what our warriors have done.

We have a sacred duty to acknowledge the heavy burdens our warriors face when returning home. Native veterans experience these struggles at a significantly higher rate, with a suicide rate of 28.3 per 100,000 compared to 16.8 for all veterans. They also encounter higher rates of substance use disorders and homelessness, especially in rural areas. It’s crucial for our community to support them. We must welcome them home, check on our relatives, and connect them with resources like the VA’s Office of Tribal Government Relations and our Tribal Health Programs. If you or a veteran is in crisis, confidential support is available 24/7 by calling 988 and pressing 1.

The service of these tribal citizens is the active defense of our way of life and our values. These are the people who keep our communities safe. They are the relatives who understand the vital importance of keeping our borders safe and our nation secure. The courage, discipline, and patriotism they practiced in the military are the same values they bring back to strengthen our tribal nations, preserving our sovereignty for the next generation.

Our Native veterans protect our families. They defend our freedom. We thank them for keeping our communities and our country safe and secure.