Kimberli Robberson, Kiowa Women Warriors Color Guard, Digital Photography
Canon EOSR6M2 83mm f/13 1/1000 sec ISO 1600 EXP 0.7 No flash, $300

Kiowa Women Warriors Color Guard, Red Earth Festival, FallFest 2024

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Pictured in this 2024 image are  left to right: Sergeant First Class Audrey Svitak Colston, Kiowa Veterans Director and U.S. Army Sergeant LaRue Gouladdle, and Marine Lance Corporal Kimberly Toyekoya.

The Kiowa Women Warrior Color Guard was established in 2011 at the Kiowa Black Leggings Warrior Society event. Kiowa veterans Marine Lance Corporal Kimberly Toyekoyah and U.S. Army Sergeants LaRue Gouladdle and Darlene Faye Sankodota-Sanders presented colors in that first event. More than 80 Kiowa women have served in the United States military branches since World War II. Elders and male veterans told the women that since they were veterans and warriors, they had the right to wear the feather war bonnets, which traditionally were worn by men. William C. Meadows of Missouri State University Anthropology and Native American Studies wrote, “One of the Kiowa Women Warriors’ goals has been to promote equal treatment of women as veterans, as many of its members say they experienced discrimination while serving in the military and have received little recognition as veterans. They also try to be positive role models for younger women and educate those considering military service about the potential benefits and risks.”