Jerry Elliott, a former NASA physicist and one of the first native americans hired at NASA's Johnson Space Center, speaks during Native American Heritage Month event at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

JIMMY YELLOWHORSE, A MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE TRIBE, PERFORMS A TRADITIONAL SONG DURING THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH EVENT AT NASA’S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER NOV. 29.

Famie Willis (left), 2009-2010 Choctaw Indian Princess, displays artifacts during Native American Heritage Month activities at Stennis Space Center on Nov. 24. The celebration featured various Native American cultural displays for Stennis employees to view. Shown above are (l to r): Willis, Elaine Couchman of NASA Shared Services Center, John Cecconi of NSSC and Lakeisha Robertson of the Environmental Protection Agency.

MATTHEW YAZZIE, FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE NONPROFIT, “OTHERS PROJECT”, SPEAKS TO ATTENDEES AT MSFC 2018 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROGRAM

JIMMY YELLOWHORSE, FROM DECATUR, ALABAMA, PLAYS A HAND-CARVED FLUTE DURING THE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROGRAM NOV. 13 AT NASA’S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER. YELLOWHORSE CRAFTED THE FLUTE HIMSELF FROM CEDAR, WALNUT AND MAHOGANY, USING TRADITIONAL CHEROKEE TECHNIQUES. THE ANNUAL OBSERVANCE, COORDINATED BY MARSHALL'S OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, HONORS THE CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS THROUGH STORYTELLING AND ETHNIC FOOD SAMPLINGS.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At a luncheon celebrating Native American Heritage Month held at the Patrick Air Force Base NCO Club, astronaut John Herrington speaks to invited guests. Herrington is a tribally enrolled Chickasaw and the world’s first Native American astronaut, who last flew on mission STS-113 in 2002.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At a luncheon celebrating Native American Heritage Month held at the Patrick Air Force Base NCO Club, astronaut John Herrington speaks to invited guests. Herrington is a tribally enrolled Chickasaw and the world’s first Native American astronaut, who last flew on mission STS-113 in 2002.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After a luncheon celebrating Native American Heritage Month held at the Patrick Air Force Base NCO Club, astronaut John Herrington signs autographs for invited guests. Herrington is a tribally enrolled Chickasaw and the world’s first Native American astronaut, who last flew on mission STS-113 in 2002.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Col. Everett Thomas (left), 45th Space Wing, presents a framed memento to astronaut John Herrington during a luncheon celebrating Native American Heritage Month held at the Patrick Air Force Base NCO Club. Herrington is a tribally enrolled Chickasaw and the world’s first Native American astronaut, who last flew on mission STS-113 in 2002.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Astronaut John Herrington (left) accepts a carved sculpture from 2nd Lt. Bernice Zollner, 45th Space Wing, during a luncheon celebrating Native American Heritage Month held at the Patrick Air Force Base NCO Club. Zollner was emcee of the event. Herrington is a tribally enrolled Chickasaw and the world’s first Native American astronaut, who last flew on mission STS-113 in 2002.

LITTLE BIG MOUNTAIN PERFORMS A TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HOOP DANCE AT NASA MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER’S 2015 NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE EVENT. THE EVENT, HELD NOV. 3 ON THE LAWN OF THE ACTIVITIES BUILDING, BUILDING 4316, HONORED THE CONTRIBUTIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS, SACRIFICES AND CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL LEGACY OF AMERICAN INDIANS. IN ITS EARLIEST FORM, THE STORYTELLING HOOP DANCE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF A HEALING CEREMONY DESIGNED TO RESTORE BALANCE AND HARMONY IN THE WORLD. WITH NO BEGINNING OR END, THE HOOP REPRESENTS THE NEVER-ENDING CIRCLE OF LIFE. THE SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAM -- SPONSORED BY THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY -- WAS PART OF MARSHALL’S OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

Michelle Amos, mistress of ceremonies for the kick-off of African-American History Month, works with the audience to assist them in the pronunciation of a few token words in native Swahili. The theme for this year’s observation is "Heritage and Horizons: The African-American Legacy and the Challenges of the 21st Century." February is designated each year as a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans to Kennedy Space Center, NASA and the nation

Michelle Amos, mistress of ceremonies for the kick-off of African-American History Month, works with the audience to assist them in the pronunciation of a few token words in native Swahili. The theme for this year’s observation is "Heritage and Horizons: The African-American Legacy and the Challenges of the 21st Century." February is designated each year as a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans to Kennedy Space Center, NASA and the nation