Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission

Meeting Minutes

March 17, 2005

Nebraska Room - Peter Kiewit Lodge

Mahoney State Park

Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Moulton, Slader, Sommer, Wehrbein, and Williams.

Staff in attendance: Swenson, Emanuel, and Bastemeyer.

Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Jeff Troupe, Randy Yates, Mindy Bush, and Donna Goodier

Commissioners not in attendance: Johnson, Curran, Mitchell, gaiashkibos, Ruth, Smith, and Stokes.

A quorum was not satisfied. No new business was conducted. Recent activity was shared.

Chairman Hull called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and welcomed everyone. Hull began the meeting by passing along Judy Johnson and Larry Ruth's regrets for not making the meeting.

Hull then talked about the Executive Committee's meeting with the new Tribal Chairman of Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Mr. Michael Harwell and their meeting with Governor Dave Heineman. Ron stated that the new tribe chairman has very aggressive economic development plans for the tribe. Chairman Harwell is also interested in keeping our current relationship.

Jim Swenson agreed that the meeting with Chairman Harwell was good. Chairman Harwell and his wife were impressed with Nebraska and the partnership between the commission and the tribe.

John Slader stated that they had a good visit at Fort Atkinson. Chairman Harwell liked how the tribal flag was displayed.

Hull stated that Chairman Harwell would like to commission an artist to capture the meeting between Lewis and Clark and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.

Hull and Swenson went to Ponca City, OK to meet with the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Council on March 14-15. Twelve tribal members came to dinner on Monday night. The Tuesday morning meeting with the whole tribe was successful. Hull and Swenson discussed with the tribe that the Commission's focus/philosophy is on education, culture, and Native American history. It is the Commission's intention to work with the four recognized Nebraska tribes and the Otoe-Missouria tribe and find ways for them to actively contribute to the 2005-2006 commemorations. Hull stated that for the 2006 commemoration, a possible concept is to have a Native American art show hopefully at Joslyn Art Museum as well as recreating the concerto and having a pops concert featuring '"Brule". This of course will be dependent upon fund raising success.

Kim Bastemeyer discussed the Keel Boat Symposiums. A Humanities Grant was applied for in order to help cover the costs of supporting the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles's travels down the Missouri River as well as to help cover the costs of transporting Native American students to and from the keelboat locations. Several speakers agreed to participate in the symposiums (Gary Moulton, Matt Jones, Annette Arkeketa, Darrel Draper, and Beverly Hinds). Because the Discovery Expedition is composed of volunteers, Bastemeyer expressed that she was having a difficult time communicating with her contacts within the expedition to coordinate the event. Bastemeyer sent out over 700 letters to Nebraska schools within a two county radius of the Missouri River to let them know about the keelboat traveling down the Missouri and inviting them to the symposium. The letter was very non-specific, more for information purposes. Bastemeyer plans to send an additional letter to the same schools once all of the locations and times have been confirmed. Bastemeyer has also been working closely with Ms. Carol Rempp of the Nebraska Department of Education to inform the Native American schools about the Commissions intent to help cover the costs of transporting students to and from the keelboat symposiums. A formal press release will also be written by staff to inform the public of the Keelboat Symposiums and which speakers will be at each symposium location.

Bastemeyer also discussed the Native American symposiums. She is working with Dr. Rudi Mitchell and Chris Howell of the Kansas Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission. The Kansas Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission is the lead state and Howell is managing the overall symposium project. The symposiums are being planned for July or August 2005. The symposium presentations will focus on three areas of American Indian diplomatic relations beginning with the diplomatic policies that were in place prior to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The second portion of the panel presentation will focus on Federal, State, and Local governments' American Indian policies and diplomatic relationships in the past 200 years. The final presentations will focus on what changes are anticipated in the future for American Indian policies of Federal, State, and Local governments. The many goals of this project include increasing public awareness of the importance of diplomatic relationships with American Indian tribal governments, encouraging statewide participation in the Midwest Trail States' Commemorative activities, and finally, providing a forum for American Indians to share their heritage in their won words by participating in the panel discussions.

Swenson gave the executive director report. He began by discussing the MOU agreement with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, which expired on September 30, 2004. While at Ponca City on March 14-15 an addendum to the MOU was signed. There are three clauses to the addendum:

1. Extend the agreement between the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and the commission through Dec. 31, 2007.

2. Define the involvement of the tribe in planning and participating in a 2006 commemoration.

3. Out clause. If either Commission should not be funded or if funding cannot be provided, by writing a letter either party, including the Otoe-Missouria Tribe, can opt out of the agreement.

This addendum was presented to the Tribe at their meeting on Tuesday, March 15 and the Otoe-Missouria council unanimously voted (one member not present) to approve the addendum. The tribal council will now draft a resolution stating which members of their tribal council they wish to represent the tribe at our meetings.

At the March 14-15 meeting the Otoe-Missouria Tribe also, extended an invitation to our Commission to attend their summer encampment July 15-17 (Fri-Sun).

Swenson also discussed the preservation of the National Parks Service Challenge Cost Share. As part of the Circle of States Advisors (COSA) he was asked to write a support letter that will be mailed to Congress to help fight for funding within the National Parks Service. Funding for the National Parks Service is severely threatened. It will decline over the years.

Richard Williams interjected and stated that the upcoming fiscal Parks Service budget will cut the Challenge Cost Share budget in half, from $5 million to $2.5 million. The OMB is intending to cut this budget in half this fiscal year and zero out the budget in the next fiscal year.

John Slader suggested that a letter of support for the National Parks Service should be written by the Commission stating the economic, cultural, educational, and historical impact of CCS.

Mindy Bush of Vic Gutman and Associates presented four copies of a marketing and communication report. The report contains copies of all newspaper/print articles about the 2004 commemoration.

Gary Moulton presented Lewis and Clark nickels to the commissioners. Wells Fargo Bank gave the nickels to Moulton. Hull stated that he would write a letter of thanks to Wells Fargo.

The Commission reconfirmed for Jeff Troupe that they plan to support the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles and the transportation of Native American school children up to $10,000.

Hull thanked the commissioners and guests for attending the meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2005.

Meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m.