Buffy Performs at Kennedy Space Center
AP photos. Click on pictures to see a larger image.
The following message was posted by Buffy Sainte-Marie at the Youth Council on Race site. Reprinted here with permission.Author: Buffy Posted: Sun Nov 10 4:54 PM
I’m at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, awaiting the launch of the first Native American astronaut into space, Commander John Herrington. Surrounded by his Chicasaw relatives, tribal governors and staff, and Elders, teachers and students from Lakota, Cree, Ojibwe, Mohawk, Navajo, Pueblo, Seminole, Passamaquoddy and many other indigenous nations, ours is a special pride this day. NASA personnel have rolled out the red carpet for us all, and are particularly clear with us that we should feel proud! Commander Herrington’s job in working on the International Space Station will be a precise and difficult one for which he is uniquely trained. Besides this, he will be not only the first Native American astronaut, but also the first of our relatives to walk in outer space.
But even beyond this mission, Commander Herrington (most of us call him John) is a hero to us. I have sat with him as he takes his own personal time to chat with young students who are developing an interest in science. I’ve seen him share his life with a room full of people, projecting photos and telling us the story of how he went from being a “regular” guy who loves to mountain climb to being a highly trained astronaut, even though he hadn’t particularly dreamed of it as a child but came to his present mission well after high school, like some of you will do.
John is a special hero to people not only because of his accomplishments but because he makes them feel good about themselves. So all you high school juniors and seniors who don’t yet have a vision of what you want to do in life, don’t feel bad. We all ripen at our own rate. Keep a good vision of yourself as a person, keep an eye out for your dream, and know that there are people just a little older than yourselves who love you and are pulling for you, even from outer space!
And as for me, tonight I’ll have the honor of singing at the launch: Starwalker, Eagle Man, a new version of America the Beautiful, and Up Where We Belong. Safe trip, John Herrington!