Scott Williams swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Scott Williams John Herrington, the first Native American to explore space, discusses his experiences Friday during a presentation at the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena.
The first Native American space explorer urged Menominee Nation students Friday to view their future opportunities in much the same way he saw the universe firsthand — vast and limitless.
John Herrington, a Chickasaw Nation tribal member from Oklahoma, became the first Native American astronaut in space when he participated in a space shuttle mission in 2002.
Now retired, Herrington visited the College of Menominee Nation on Friday and thrilled audience members with stories about his space travels and about his personal journey from tribal member to American hero.
Speaking before an audience that included college students and other young people, Herrington recalled a time in his career when he faced questions about his Native American heritage and whether he was truly qualified to serve as an astronaut with NASA.
He urged those in the crowd to approach their lives and their futures knowing that, as Native Americans, they can achieve great things with education and hard work.
“We are worthy,” he said. “Our ancestors did some pretty remarkable things.”
Gathered in the college’s Cultural Learning Center in Keshena, the audience included students from surrounding high schools and middle schools.
Avari Fernandez, an eighth-grade student at Menominee Tribal School, said she dreams of becoming a doctor someday. Knowing that someone like Herrington came from a similar background, she said, inspires her to pursue her goals with renewed energy.
“I think it’s awesome,” she said of the astronaut’s achievements. “It helps me — like, I want to go for it.”
During his hour-long presentation, Herrington discussed his humble beginnings in Oklahoma and his first unsuccessful attempt at college. After flunking out, he returned to college and discovered that studying math opened up many other possibilities in physics and other sciences.
After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and became a naval aviator and test pilot. That led him to NASA and the astronaut program, culminating in an 11-day mission into space in 2002 as a crew member aboard the Endeavor space shuttle.
Diana Morris, the College of Menominee Nation’s interim president, introduced Herrington to the audience as someone who has broken down barriers for Native Americans and who has demonstrated the power of education.
“His life has been full of marvelous achievements,” Morris said. “He is a living testimonial to lifelong learning.”
Audience members applauded when they heard that Herrington carried a Chickasaw Nation flag into space with him aboard the space shuttle.
Herrington described in detail his experiences on the space shuttle, as well as a rare opportunity to venture outside the shuttle and walk in space. Staring out into the universe, he said, made him think about the millions of other galaxies that exist far beyond any human’s ability to see — or sometimes even imagine.
“I felt very, very small,” he said.
Some in the crowd gasped audibly as Herrington displayed images and videos from space exploration, even showing Shawano Lake in an image captured far above the Earth’s surface.
Brian Kowalkowski, the college’s dean of continuing education, said he hoped the astronaut’s presentation would inspire young people to take an interest in science and related topics in school. Kowalkowski called it extra special that Herrington could speak to Menominee kids as a Native American himself.
“For this community, it’s great,” Kowalkowski said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”