[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8545-H8546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING STEVE TAMAYO FOR LIFETIME CONTRIBUTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN 
                                CULTURE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Steve Tamayo in 
recognition of Native American Heritage Month for his lifetime 
contributions in the arts and the preservation of Native American 
culture.
  Steve's passion has been fueled by the desire to restore what was 
taken away from the indigenous people of this land. For centuries, 
cultural teachings have been passed down through art. Symbols, colors, 
patterns, and construction techniques are narratives that reflect 
values and beliefs of traditional Native American life. American 
history is bound in the antiquity of its Native people.
  We are proud of the role Mr. Tamayo has played in ensuring that we 
can all learn and appreciate this rich heritage.
  Steve Tamayo was one of four children raised by loving parents 
Fortunato and Beulah Tamayo. As a migrant worker, Fortunato grew up 
working the fields from Texas to Montana. Notwithstanding this lack of 
schooling, he was successful in obtaining a job and taking care of his 
family. Steve describes his mother as a kind and compassionate woman 
despite her difficult childhood as a survivor of the American Indian 
boarding school tragedy. Steve's parents encouraged their children to 
have a strong work ethic, to focus on getting an education, and to 
pursue the opportunities they were not afforded.
  After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in May 1984, Steve 
enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving with the 101st Airborne Division. 
After returning to Omaha, he sought out Native elders to guide him in 
his pursuit of cultural knowledge.
  In 1988, his first teacher was Cleo Frazier from Yankton Sioux 
Reservation of South Dakota. She resided in the Omaha area and took 
time to teach Steve and his older brother about indigenous life. This 
relationship fostered Steve's quest to learn as much as possible about 
the history and stories of indigenous people.
  This led him to an elder named Howard Wolf, a World War II veteran 
from the Umo N Ho N Nation of Nebraska. Under elder Wolf's guidance, 
Steve learned about art and regalia, including the traditional 
materials, construction, and the history surrounding Native American 
artifacts.
  In 2000, he moved to the Rosebud Reservation, where he was able to 
gain a deeper understanding of the art of the Northern Plains Tribes. 
Because of the unique skills and specific knowledge gained, Steve was 
hired as faculty in the Lakota Studies Department of Sinte Gleska, 
where he taught college students for 12 years.
  In 2005, he became the cultural specialist for the Native American 
Advocacy Program on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. This was a 
special time for Steve because he was in a place that was the ancestral 
homeland of his mother's family.
  That same year was an important point in his professional life. A 
group of conservators from the Smithsonian Institution stumbled upon 
him while tanning a buffalo hide in his front yard. Six months later, 
he was headed for Washington, D.C., for a 6-month internship.
  Since that time, Steve has been one of the main consultants from the 
Plains Tribes for the National Museum of the American Indian. He has 
been part of numerous exhibitions, including an exhibit scheduled to 
run for 15 years called ``As We Grow,'' featuring historic games and 
toys of the Plains Indians.
  In 2015, Steve traveled to Washington, D.C., to erect a teepee that 
he painted on The Mall and presented to President Obama, which is now 
part of the Smithsonian's collection.

  He had the opportunity to paint two buffalo robes for Willie Nelson 
and Neil Young at the ``Harvest the Hope'' concert in Neligh, Nebraska, 
to honor them for their work in preserving our Nebraska land.
  Steve's work has helped to educate our country about our history, the 
culture, and the struggles of Native American people.
  Today, Steve leads study groups on all four reservations in Nebraska 
and nine reservations in South Dakota. He travels to schools and 
museums throughout the country to help train students, docents, 
conservators, and curators on the significance of traditional Native 
arts, as well as the dangers of cultural appropriation.
  Steve is on the Artists in Schools and Communities roster for the 
Nebraska Arts Council. He serves as the cultural consultant for the 
Omaha Public Schools' Native Indigenous Centered Education program. He 
works as the cultural specialist for the Nebraska Urban Indian Health 
Coalition. Steve has also been an adjunct instructor for the University 
of Nebraska Omaha and Metropolitan Community College.
  In 2014, he was honored by Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman at the 
Nebraska Arts Council's Governor's Arts Awards when he was presented 
the Heritage Art Award. His proudest moment was when his mother saw him 
receive that award.
  Steve has also become a source of pride and empowerment for his 
children. Of his six children, his eldest

[[Page H8546]]

daughters, twins Nicole and Rebecca, work in the field of Native 
American advocacy, health, and education. Steve and his wife, Susan, 
love their children and their numerous grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Steve for all of his contributions. Because of 
his work, generations to come will learn about the culture and 
contributions of the indigenous people.

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