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Bills celebrate Native American Heritage Month at Highmark Stadium

Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, November 03, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, November 03, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.

There was a festive atmosphere at Highmark Stadium this Sunday. Bills Mafia had the opportunity to celebrate a thrilling win over the Miami Dolphins.

Fans also had the opportunity to join the team in celebrating Native American Heritage month both on and off the field.

November is Native American Heritage Month and to honor Native American heritage, the Buffalo Bills celebrated with their players and throughout the game.

Before the game, Eli Ankou, Ty Johnson and Alec Anderson all received beaded medallions designed by Indigenous artist Jacky Snyder to celebrate their Native American heritage. Bobby Babich also received a special hat to celebrate his Native American heritage that was designed by Indigenous artist Aryien Stevens.

"Any part of my nationality, my heritage, or anything, it's always great to represent, and I'm super blessed to be able to be a part of this and be able to have this medallion on," Johnson said.

Members of the Salamanca Warriors and Seneca Sachems football teams as well as Native American Community Services held banners on the field pregame. The Color Guard consisted of American Legion Iroquois Post 1587 Honor Guard.

To kick off Native American Heritage month this November, the Buffalo Bills honored indigenous peoples at their November 3 game against the Miami Dolphins. Indigenous artist Jacky Snyder made beaded medallions for players Eli Ankou, Ty Johnson, and Alec Anderson, all of whom have indigenous roots. Indigenous artist Aryien Stevens made a beaded hat for Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, who also has indigenous roots. At the game on Sunday, the Bills had members of the Salamanca Warriors and Seneca Sachems football teams, as well as Native American Community Services hold banners on-field pregame. The Color Guard was American Legion Iroquois Post 1587 Honor Guard. At halftime the K^tyohkwa performed a social dance. They are made up of individuals from the Six Nations Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. They are still here and carrying on their ways as native people to their homeland's pride, strength, and honor for their ancestors before them who handed down their ways to them. During the third quarter break, the Bills honored Specialist 4th Class Carson Waterman, a veteran of the United States Army.

At halftime the K^tyohkwa performed a social dance. They are made up of individuals from the Six Nations Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca. They are still here and carrying on their ways as native people to their homeland's pride, strength, and honor for their ancestors before them who handed down their ways to them.

During the third quarter break, the Bills honored Specialist 4th Class Carson Waterman, a veteran of the United States Army. In 1968, Waterman was drafted to the United States Army at 23-years old to serve in the Vietnam War. He served a single combat tour in the Army's 4th Infantry Division in the central highlands of South Vietnam. Waterman has received numerous medals, including the Vietnam Service Medal and Combat Infantryman's Badge among others.

Waterman is a member of the Seneca Nation and spent his early years on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation and now resides in Salamanca.

Waterman also has a passion for art and while he was in Vietnam, he sketched and painted as much as he could. He was then asked to be a combat artist for his unit depicting his time in the service. His artwork showcases his culture and history and can be found in the New York State Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

As we celebrate this month and beyond, we encourage our fans to learn more about the Every Child Matters initiative. Every Child Matters honors and raises awareness of the thousands of Indigenous children from across North America who, starting in the mid-1800s, were forcibly taken from their homes, families, and communities and placed in abusive, often deadly residential boarding schools, where they were systematically stripped of their names, language, and cultural identity. Learn more about it and how you can support here: https://boardingschoolhealing.org/

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