Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission

Meeting Minutes

September 15, 2005

Mahoney State Park

Peter Kiewit Lodge ~ Lower Level

Little Bluestem & Cottonwood Rooms

Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Curran, Mitchell, Ruth, Slader, Stokes, Wehrbein, and, Williams.

Staff in attendance: Swenson and Bastemeyer.

Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Bat Shunantona, Elizabeth Ahlin (OWH reporter), Ernie Ricehill, Don Grant, Vic Gutman, Nancy Hoch, and Bob Pawloski.

Commissioners not in attendance: Johnson, gaiashkibos, Moulton, and Smith

A quorum was satisfied.

Chairman Ron Hull called the meeting to order at 9:17 a.m. and welcomed everyone. Hull then called for a motion to approve the July 21, 2005 commission meeting minutes. Jeanene Wehrbein first moved and Dick Williams second. Approved unanimously.

Chairman's Report:

Hull began his report by reminding the commission that at the July 21, 2005 commission meeting, Dan Curran's motion to have monthly commission meetings starting March 2006 passed. Hull proposed that the commission start monthly meetings beginning in January 2006, which would mean adding a February commission meeting to the schedule. Curran moved to add a February meeting and Williams seconded. Motion carried with unanimous approval.

Ron will call the Governor's office to set-up a meeting. The governor has been a big supporter of our commission and we are grateful for his support and want to keep him up to date on commission activities. The whole commission is invited to attend the meeting. Hull will inform the commission when the meeting date has been set.

Hull and Jim Swenson met with Ernie Ricehill, Don Grant, and Dr. Rudi Mitchell on Tuesday, September 13 to discuss participation for 2006 events. Ricehill has organized Native American Art shows. Ricehill believes that the event can be done with reasonable costs.

While David Hendee was in Oregon accepting a Lewis & Clark National Trail Heritage Award, Hendee observed that lapel pins were big sale items. Therefore, Hull proposes that our commission sell our own lapel pins. Swenson will take pins to Ponca and Niobrara. He also has shirts and caps on display for sale. John Slader also has lapel pins at Fort Atkinson for sale.

It was proposed that the November 17, 2005 commission meeting be held in Ponca. Curran made the motion. Leroy Stokes seconded. Approved unanimously. Swenson will take care of the meeting arrangements.

Don Grant, former Chairman of the Omaha Tribe, will contact the other tribal chairmen and ask them to attend the Lewis & Clark Commission meetings. Hull thanked Grant and stated that the commission will do their best to meet with the Nebraska Tribal Chairs and the recognized tribes of Nebraska.

Executive Director Report:

Swenson gave the commissioners and guests the September issue of GPC Newsletter. On the front cover was a picture of Ron Hull, John Slader, and the Standing Bear bust given to the commission by the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. The Standing Bear Bust is now on display at Fort Atkinson.

On September 25, 2005 Nebraska Game & Parks is hosting an expo at Ponca State Park.

The 2006 events at Ponca will occur during Labor Day weekend.

Dr. Mitchell asked that the Omaha Tribe be notified when the Corps of Discovery II will be returning to Nebraska in 2006. The corps took an Omaha flag with them to the Pacific and will return the flag to the reservation in 2006.

Swenson stated that he and Ron met with Nancy Hoch, Jim Johnston and Doug Friedli to discuss the 2006 farewell event in Nebraska City. They agreed that the best time to hold the event is the third weekend in September, during the Apple Jack Festival.

Update from Coordinator:

Kim Bastemeyer updated the commission on the Native American Symposium, planned for Monday, September 26, 2005. The symposium will be held at Metro Community College – Fort Omaha Campus. It will begin at 1 p.m. Three great speakers will give presentations.

Robert Miller, an associate professor, Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, Ore. He teaches Indian Law courses and Civil Procedure, and is the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Grand Ronde Tribe. Mr. Miller is a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. In 2003, his tribe appointed him to the Circle of Tribal Advisors to the National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial. He is currently working on a forthcoming book entitled "Native

America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Manifest Destiny."

Dr. James Riding In, a citizen of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and an associate professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. He received a master's degree in American Indian Studies and a doctorate in History from the University of California, Los Angeles. He has played a prominent role in the development of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University and edits the Wicazo Sa Review: A Journal of Native American Studies. His research about repatriation and historical and contemporary Indian issues appears in various books and scholarly journals.

Leonika R. Charging, an associate attorney, Johnson Thompson LLP, Omaha, Neb. She is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara) of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and a juris doctorate degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2003. While in law school, Ms. Charging served as an editor for the South Dakota Law Review and authored a law review article entitled Atkinson vs. Shirley: A Taxing Decision on Tribal Sovereign Powers. Ms. Charging practices in the field of Indian law, focusing primarily on administrative appeals, tribal governance and jurisdictional issues. She has a special interest in the development and strengthening of tribal court systems.

Bastemeyer stated that 25 students from the Umonhon Nation Public School in Macy, NE would be attending the symposium, as well as State Senators Kruse, Kopplin, Wehrbein and representatives from Senator Chuck Hagel and Congressman Osborne's office.

A dinner reception will follow the symposium. All commission members and a guest are invited to attend. Bastemeyer asked that those commissioners that plan to attend the dinner to send her the RSVP card or send her an email. She needs to give the caterer an accurate number for dinner.

Ruth suggested that Bastemeyer email the speakers to let them know that there will be high school students in the audience and ask them to prepare a segment of their presentation for the students.

Report from Vic Gutman:

After the planning retreat with the commission on August 18, 2005, Gutman understands that the commission has $115,000 available for the 2006 events. Any expenses above that amount would have to be raised. The goal is to have a commemoration of Lewis and Clark's return at three locations: Ponca, Omaha, and Nebraska City. Funds in the amount of $15,000 will be allocated to Ponca and Nebraska City. The number one priority for the 2006 events is education.

For the Omaha commemoration, the commission will partner with Omaha's major tourist attractions and cultural institutions such as: the Rose Theater, the Omaha Children's Museum, the Joselyn Art Museum, Durham Western Heritage Museum, Omaha Public Library, National Park Service, Omaha Symphony, Orpheum Theater and the Holland Theater. Gutman has already met with all of these institutions and they are interested in participating. These major tourist attractions will be open to the public for free, and host programs related to Lewis and Clark and Native American History. A trolley service will be used to transport the public to each location.

Friday, September 8, 2006 a few of the above institutions will provide Lewis and Clark educational and entertaining activities for school field trips. The commission needs to inform schools of our plans by early Spring 2006. For budgetary purposes schools generally schedule field trips months to a year in advance. Also, the commission should consider subsidizing school busing.

On the evening of Saturday, September 9, 2006 the Omaha Symphony will conduct an outdoor Pops concert on the Omaha on Lewis & Clark landing. The Pops concert will feature the Lewis & Clark concerto, written by Phillip Glass. This concerto for piano and orchestra, commissioned by the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission for the 2004 First Council Signature Event will be the centerpiece of this performance. Further, the extremely popular Native American music and dance group, BRULE', can be invited to showcase and accentuate Native American culture as part of this evening of American music

Gutman suggested that the commission meet with the Kiewit Foundation and ask for their financial/monetary support in providing the symphony concert.

Gutman will give a written report of the 2006 strategic plan to the commission in the next few weeks.

Motion was made by Larry Ruth to endorse Vic Gutman's general concepts that he presented to the Commission and give the executive committee approval to finalize the specific details once Gutman submits the report. Dick Williams first moved and Dan Curran seconded. Roll call vote was taken (see attached voting sheet).

Nancy Hoch suggested that the three venues for the 2006 events should be required to match the Commission's $15,000. She also suggested that the marketing plan for the three venues as well as all the communities along the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Trail be the same. Hoch would also like to see the 2006 commemorations have more emphasis on the Missouri River; a "Nebraska Adventure on the river."

Williams stated that having events and boats on the river would be a great educational tool.

New Business:

Nancy Hoch talked about the upcoming "BISON-tennial" at the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. The event is in celebration of the grand opening of the Plains Indian Earth Lodge. Michael Harwell, chairman of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, will be one of the speakers.

Dr. Mitchell stated that he would like to have the Drum & Fife Corps come to Macy. He also asked how will the Otoe-Missouria be involved in the 2006 commemoration.

Hull replied that the Otoe-Missouria along with the Nebraska recognized tribes would be invited to participate as speakers and to submit art for the Native American Art show.

Ernie Ricehill stated that he has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts and he has experience in working with artists. He is willing to volunteer his time to act as a leader in organizing the art show. The art show could be held at all three venues (have a traveling display). Ricehill believes that the art show could be organized on a limited budget. One idea could be to have an auction sale of the art. In Santa Fe, NM their Native American Art Show in August is the largest auction for Native American art in the United States. Approximately 3-10,000 people attend the auction.

Hoch stated that she would be interested in being a partner in organizing the Native American Art Show as well.

Ricehill also stated that an Omaha Tribal Flag was taken by the Corps of Discovery II when they passed through Nebraska in 2004. He would like someone to follow-up with them to make sure that they still have the flag and also if anyone would be at Ft. Clatsop in November to take a picture with the flag at the Pacific Ocean. Jim Swenson stated that he would be there and that he could take the picture.

Roundtable Discussion:

John Slader inquired whether the new Historical Society Director would be Larry Sommer's replacement on the commission. Hull stated that he would call to find out.

Leroy Stokes stated that he likes the idea of using the river for 2006 activities, but wonders what the commission's liabilities would be for such activities.

Dr. Mitchell invited the commission to a pow-wow at Macy, NE on September 24. He also stated that the National Symphony will be coming to Macy next year!

Hull thanked Don Grant and Ernie Ricehill for attending the meeting and for their valuable input and ideas.

Grant stated that he appreciates the commission for their hard work and all their efforts. The Omaha tribe has been in this area for over 200 years and Grant is one of the last full bloods left in the tribe.

Ricehill gave his complements to everyone and stated that he is willing to volunteer and help out. He expressed his appreciation for Grant's and Dr. Mitchell's help and stated that the three of them can pull together events and will do their best to provide assistance. This is there history as well.

Bob Pawloski stated that information about the Native American Symposium is up on the website. The Mouth of the Platte gave a $1,000 to Bev Hinds for the visitor center in Onawa, IA. Pawloski suggested that the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Council and the Iowa Lewis & Clark Commission should be involved in the 2006 event planning.

Ricehill interjected an idea to invite a T.V. personality like Al Roker to our 2006 events in an effort to attract national publicity.

Hull thanked Elizabeth Ahlin of the Omaha World Herald for attending the meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 11:28 a.m.