Скачать или смотреть They Served. We Remember. | Ira H. Hayes Veterans Pow Wow Arizona

The Ira H. Hayes Veterans Social Pow Wow honors Native American veterans in Sacaton, Arizona on the Gila River Indian Community.

Held in memory of Ira Hamilton Hayes, this powerful desert gathering recognizes Indigenous service, sacrifice, and tradition.
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Ya’at’eeh! Aaron Tsosie here, the person behind the camera.

Welcome to Day Two of the Ira H. Hayes Veterans Social Pow Wow at the Mul-Cha-Tha Fairgrounds in Sacaton, Arizona, on the Gila River Indian Community.

This pow wow is held in honor of Ira Hamilton Hayes (1923–1955) — a Pima (Akimel O’odham) Marine from Sacaton who became one of the six flag raisers at Iwo Jima during World War II. The iconic photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal became one of the most recognized images in American history. But beyond that image, Ira Hayes was a son of this community. After the war, he struggled deeply, and his story reminds us that honoring veterans means more than remembering heroism — it means remembering the human being behind it.

This pow wow carries that spirit.

The Ira Hayes Veterans Social Pow Wow honors all Native veterans — from World War II to present-day service members — recognizing the long history of Indigenous warriors who have defended this land long before the United States existed. Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at one of the highest per-capita rates in the country. Events like this are about respect, remembrance, and community.

Saturday night brought a strong showing of dancers, singers, families, and veterans. The arena felt powerful but grounded — not about big payouts or spectacle, but about honoring service and standing together.

Host Southern Drum: Greasewood
Host Northern Drum: Northern Avenue
Visiting Drums included: Sun Ray, Wild Krew, (I missed one of the drums), Sober Warriors, and The Horses

It was a beautiful Arizona desert evening. As the sun dropped, the air cooled, and you could feel that shift — drums carrying across the fairgrounds, veterans acknowledged in the arena, families gathered along the edges of the circle.

The pow wow is free to attend and open to everyone. That’s something I always appreciate — events like this remain accessible to community first.

As always, I begin filming after prayer and stay respectful of ceremony. My goal is to document and preserve these gatherings so families, veterans, and future generations can look back and remember.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Native veterans.
And thank you for watching and supporting Indigenous Event Recordings.

Ahe’hee’
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