nicolette williams as worked as a park ranger at the national mall in washington, d.c. years. she enjoys interacting with tourists from all over the globe. >> every single day, we work at our different memorials and provide historical tours at those memorials for the visitors. >> on august 23rd, 2011, she's assigned to the washington monument. >> it's 500 feet up and we have windows on all four sides. you can see very far into maryland, virginia, about 30, 35 miles at least. >> security camera footage from just before 2:00 p.m. shows nicolette on the observation level as high up in the monument as visitors can go. she's waiting to take a group of about 20 tourists down in the elevator. >> as i'm sitting there, the elevator actually starts to make noise. >> she realizes immediately something unusual is happening. >> i know the elevator's noises and these are loud banging sounds, then the walls of the elevator begin to vibrate. >> the monument begins to shake dramatically. nicolette doesn't know what is happening, but she knows staying on the observation level is probably

the navaho nation council does not support the washington team. [ applause ] >> hello, my name is nicolette i'm studying public policy i'm a doctoral student. kevin, you mentioned earlier that indians are malleable to whatever institution whatever their need is. and so i guess my question is -- and anybody else can answer this, too -- how are the perceptions buts of american indians -- how does that impact policy federal indian policy? i'm thinking particular example, congressman ghoster mentioned that indians were wards of the state when he was discussing giving up oak flats. so that's sort of the -- i think the mentality perhaps and if you can comment more on that? >> i'm sorry, what is the last thing you said? >> i have an announcement to make after. >> well, the way you would expect right? if people are imaginary if you're understanding indians is based on imaginary indians that they've been taught about then they're not going to gasp the depth and complexity of the contemporary issues that native american people are bringing forward. and so when i speak with tribal leaders about the mu