Jackson Knox, a senior at Ramstein High School, examines an American Indian tool and buffalo head during Peter Heiser’s talk on American Indian culture and history on Wednesday. (Chris Miles / S&S)
Jackson Knox, a senior at Ramstein High School, examines an American Indian tool and buffalo head during Peter Heiser’s talk on American Indian culture and history on Wednesday. (Chris Miles / S&S)
Peter Heiser lets students of a U.S. Minority Studies class look at American Indian artifacts, including a stuffed buffalo head, tomahawks and smoking pipe. (Chris Miles / S&S)
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — A blond German isn’t exactly who you would expect to be the guest speaker for Ramstein High School’s Native American Heritage Month.
But on Wednesday, Peter “Forest Wolf” Heiser, a German who owns a moving company in Idar-Oberstein, spoke to three history classes on American Indian heritage and culture.
Bryan Sanchez, who describes himself as belonging to the Zuni tribe in New Mexico, had asked Heiser to speak to the classes.
Sanchez, coordinator of the school’s internship program, says he believed Heiser had a better feel for the culture and the history than he has.
“Even though I’m the Native American, he’s the more knowledgeable man,” Sanchez said. “People asked if he’s authentic. He’s 100 percent authentic, a solid resource. He’s been on a reservation more times than I have.”
Heiser showed the students various artifacts including a stuffed buffalo’s head, smoking pipe and weapons while briefly explaining American Indian belief systems.
Throughout his presentation, Heiser pointed out that every person is fundamentally the same, no matter what race or color.
“I try and teach a deeper understanding of human beings,” Heiser said.
He also compared the American Indian tribes to the Celtic and Germanic tribes who once lived in the area, saying they had similar structure and beliefs.
In the early 1990s Heiser learned about American Indian culture from Archie Fire Lame Deer, a Lakota chief and medicine man who had come to Europe to teach American Indian practices to Europeans interested in the culture.
Over the years Heiser has visited numerous tribes around the United States and has performed American Indian rituals like the sun dance, in which participants dance for four days without food or water and sitting in a sweat lodge to discover personal visions.
The fact that he was German, he said, didn’t make a difference when talking about the American Indian culture.
“I’ve learned something and want to bring it to the students,” he said.
Students said they were interested in what he had to say.
“It was kind of weird because he’s a German,” said Ryan Langhorst, a freshman. “But as he says, we’re all related.”
