Native American Wisdom for Business & Beyond
The employee forum strengthens the firm by increasing communication and awareness of American Indian culture and beliefs—and much more.
“Some Booz Allen Hamilton staff members are aware of their Native American lineage, but there are likely more who aren’t aware—in my family, we never talked about our heritage,” says associate Mark McMullen, founder and chair of the Native American Forum (NAF) forum.
The NAF strengthens the firm by increasing understanding of the Native American culture and philosophies through communication, awareness, events, mentoring, and community support. Launched as an employee-led, corporate-supported forum in 2008, the NAF is a part of the Workforce Diversity Council and helps position the firm as the employer of choice for Native Americans.
McMullen is part Comanche, but the NAF welcomes everyone who wants to participate in or learn about Native American heritage, culture, and traditions. “Like other forums at the firm, NAF’s efforts and programs are all keyed to organizational awareness, professional development, community involvement, and networking,” McMullen says.
The forum also has a unique partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). NAF events have included sponsorship of NMAI’s November 2008 program, “Join the Harvest,” which celebrates Native American Heritage Month. The family event featured Native American practitioners demonstrating traditional customs via discussions, films, music, food preparation, and hands-on activities.
That event was followed by a gala at the firm’s headquarters in December, attended by the NMAI’s community relations coordinator and featuring dancers, musicians, demonstrations, and samples of Native American food. NAF events scheduled for 2009 include hosting two Native American authors for readings and Q&A sessions, movies on American Indian themes, and happy hours. Forum leaders are also planning a digital powwow in which employees can participate by dialing in to a videoconference.
Senior vice president Jimmy Henry is a member of NMAI’s National Council and an enthusiastic supporter of the NAF. “The NAF is another outlet for people with cultural affinity,” he says. “It stimulates an interest in the culture and motivates people to explore what’s there.”
As a member of the Council, Henry helps make financial decisions about where NMAI funds will be invested for Washington, D.C.-based institution as well as for its sister museum in New York, what initiatives will be funded, and where resources will be channeled for the long-term heritage of the museum. He is working on a plan to display short-term, rotating exhibits of artifacts from NMAI at Booz Allen’s campus in McLean.
“Booz Allen has a working relationship with NMAI and a lot of history with the organization,” says Henry, whose wife is part American Indian. “Several of our clients are also affiliated with museum and have close linkages to the Native American heritage.”
With McMullen, associate Dennis Dubois serves as a NAF Tribal Traditions Committee chair. “The forum helps our colleagues get a sense of the Native American life and principles,” he says, “NAF is raising awareness of the American Indian perspective through dance, reading groups, and its partnership with NMAI, and also has the potential to open up new markets to new clients.”
The Real Struggles—and the Real Achievements
Dubois first became interested in the American Indian culture as a 14-year-old member of the Boy Scouts. “I was living in Marshalltown, Iowa, and boys from the nearby Mesquakie reservation participated in scouting events in our area,” he says. “We were members of the Order of the Arrow, a scouting affiliation that focused on preserving Native American culture, and they taught me how to dance.”
Today Dubois, who has no Native blood, participated as a dancer in the NAF’s 2008 gala. “It’s an honor to be accepted into a dance circle,” he says. “You put on a different mantle and learn a great deal about the culture, through which you develop respect for the dancers and their families as individuals. For example, the Blanket Dance, where dancers place donations on a blanket to help someone in need.”
McMullen hopes the NAF may also change some minds. “There are a lot of historic misconceptions about American Indians because accurate facts haven’t been brought out,” he says. “I hope we can educate individuals and help them understand the real struggles and achievements of the Native population.”
Henry agrees. “Many of our perceptions of Native Americans are affected partially by history but mostly by Hollywood,” he says. “But once you gain insight into the facts, you understand that most Native populations have self-sustaining societies with strong ties to the natural environment—principles that all people can learn from, especially in these troubled times. The difference in the NAF may be the timeliness of its fundamental beliefs and practices, which may be helpful to society as a whole.
“There’s no business imperative for Booz Allen to sponsor the NAF,” Henry continues. “But as members of the Washington, D.C. community and U.S. citizens, the firm believes strongly in active participation in cultural heritages that perpetuate messages of nations.
“There are a lot of facets to being a business, including cultural and charitable aspects. It’s important to support a fledgling museum and the ongoing cultural education of our staff and colleagues, because we believe this is a just and proper thing.”
story posted March 3, 2009
