From the National Museum of the American Indian:
Yesterday at the museum in Washington, Mr. Ralph Zotigh (Kiowa) sang an honor song he composed for Native American women veterans. He was introduced by his son, museum cultural specialist Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/San Juan Pueblo/Santee Dakota Indian), whose voice you hear at a high point in the song.
The lyrics are in the Kiowa language:
My yope ahl (Also women)
Ay Tso-lay dome toe-ya, ay Tso-lay dome toe-ya (They're soldiers in the front line)
Ay Kgyi tho toe-ya heyyy (They're in the battlefield)
Day ohn day, ay oy tsan (We're praying for them to return home safely)Tomorrow (November 10) at 11 a.m., Mr. Zotigh will sing the honor song again as part of a blessing for the National World War l Memorial in Pershing Park (Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, between 14th and 15th streets—adjacent to the White House grounds).
Capt. Jefferson Keel (U.S. Army ret.), lieutenant governor of the Chickasaw nation, president of the National Congress of American Indians, and co-chair of the National Native American Veterans Memorial advisory committee, will also speak at the ceremony, which is dedicated to the Native American men and women who volunteered during World War I.
