Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2005

Mahoney State Park
Riverview Lodge

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

Staff in attendance: Swenson, Emanuel, and Bastemeyer.

Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Bat Shunantona, Marge Hudson, Bob Pawloski, and Chris Howell.

Commissioners not in attendance: gaiashkibos, Moulton, Smith, and Stokes.

A quorum was satisfied. 

Chairman Hull called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. and welcomed everyone.  Hull then called for a motion to approve the May 19, 2005 commission meeting minutes.  Judy Johnson first moved and Dick Williams second.  Approved unanimously. 

Hull introduced Marge Hudson, Linda Francis, and Bat Shunatona of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.  Hull welcomed them and thanked them for making the long trip.

Before the report from Vic Gutman, Hull stressed the importance of having a quorum at each commission meeting.  Hull also stated that the executive committee, in an effort to move the 2006 event planning forward, contracted with Vic Gutman to create a strategic plan for the commission.  Gutman did a very good job in organizing the commemorative event in 2004, and he understands the commission's goals. Therefore, the executive committee felt comfortable that the commission would approve of this contract.

Larry Ruth wanted to clarify to the commissioners that the contract with Vic Gutman is through the Friends account.

Vic Gutman began his report by stating that he has met with the executive committee and he knows the goals for the 2006 event.  However, Gutman recommended that the commission meet for a planning retreat.  At the retreat the commissioners need to set objectives and brain storm ideas.  The executive committee set the planning retreat for August 18, 2005 at Mahoney State Park, Peter Kiewit Lodge.  Prior to the August 18 meeting, Gutman will meet with Jennifer Barlament of the Omaha Symphony, visit the Lewis and Clark Landing, and research Native American Art exhibits in other cities.  After the planning retreat, Gutman will provide the commission with recommendations for the 2006 event and fundraising ideas by September 15, 2005. 

Gutman stated that it would be hard to match last year's commemorative event.  The 2006 event will have to be something different.  The Omaha symphony is expensive.  Plus, they perform several free concerts in Omaha in throughout the summer.  Therefore, the commission should not assume that a symphony performance would draw a large number of people.  For the amount of money that the commission intends to spend, the goal should be to draw more than a couple thousand people.

Dick Williams interjected that the main focus of the 2006 events should be on education and Lewis and Clark. 

Hull concurred and stated that the commission cannot just feature "plug and play bands."  The commission is better than that.

Gutman stated that the 2004 event at Ft. Atkinson was successful because of the mix of activities – entertainment and educational.

Dr. Mitchell wants to be sure the Otoe-Missouria tribe representatives are at the August 18, planning retreat.  Bat Shunatona stated that he would be there.  Dr. Mitchell also mentioned that the Otoe-Missouria tribe will bring a flag back to Nebr. on September 2006.

Chairman's Report:

Hull asked that commission representatives that traveled to Oklahoma for the Otoe-Missouria encampment (Dr. Mitchell, Jeanene Wehrbein, Mary Ethel Emmanuel, and Hull) talk about their experience.  Dr. Mitchell began by welcoming Marge and Bat to the meeting and he thanked them their hospitality and the presentation of the blankets.  Dr. Mitchell stated that he and his family had a wonderful time.  

Wehrbein stated that Chairman Harwell did a great job of coordinating the event.  An Oklahoma state senator (Senator Meyers) was Senator Roger Wehrbein and her host.  Senator Meyers gave a wonderful tour of the Oklahoma State capitol.  Oklahoma raised a lot of money to put a beautiful dome on the capitol building.  While at the state capitol, they met with the Lt. Governor.  At the Lt. Governor's office, Wehrbein met a woman that is originally from Plattsmouth.  Wehrbein also stressed the wonderful hospitality that she and senator Wehrbein received. 

Mary Ethel discussed the tour of Standing Bear Park.  Since 1993, $64 million has been raised for the park.  The park is 64 acres.  Within the park is a beautiful 30-foot tall statue of Standing Bear. 

Hull talked about the tour of the $60 million State Historical Society Building that the state of Oklahoma is currently building.  It is going to be a wonderful facility.  Hull also expressed that the hospitality that he received at the Otoe-Missouri encampment was outstanding.  At the encampment, commissioners were presented with blankets.  Ron and Mary Ethel carried in a Nebr. State Flag and Dr. Mitchell carried an Omaha Tribe Flag during the grand entry.  The Otoe-Missouria also gave a gift to the commission, a maquette of Standing Bear.  Hull stated that the commission wants to share this maquette as broadly as possible.  He asked for a motion for loaning the maquette to Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, for display at the agency's various park installations near the Missouri River.  Judy Johnson made the first motion to temporary loan the Standing Bear maquette to Nebr. Game & Parks through the 2006 commemoration.  After the 2006 commemoration, the commission will revisit the situation before it sunsets.  Dan Curran seconded the motion, followed by a unanimous voice vote.

Hull stated that he is working with Ernie Ricehill to get participation from the 4 Nebr. Tribes for the 2006 Events.  The 4 Tribes are going to meet to choose a spokesperson to represent the 4 tribes.

Hull read the resolution of thanks for Larry Sommer.  Sommer has resigned from the Nebr. Historical Society and the commission is sad to see him leave.  Larry Ruth moved to approve the resolution; John Slader seconded.  A unanimous voice vote approved the resolution.  Hull called Whitney Bunkers, Governor's representative of State Boards & Commissions, about the vacancy position on the Commission.  Bunkers suggested that he call the interim director at the Historical Society, Tony Schmidtz and inform him of the situation.  Sommer was on the commission because of the position he held.

Executive Director Report:

On behalf of the Game and Parks Commission, Jim Swenson thanked the Lewis & Clark Commission for loaning them the Standing Bear maquette.  The maquette was then passed to John Slader for display at Ft. Atkinson SHP.

Swenson stated that he has received a copy of an MOU from the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.  He asked for commission approval to table signing the MOU so that he may review the document.  Following proper review of the document, the MOU will be signed at an executive committee meeting.

Swenson informed the Commission that during recent COSA meetings focus has been both towards the ongoing Lewis and Clark commemorations, as well as future stewardship and legacy.  Current discussion is on how State Commissions are going to sunset and who will continue the legacy or management of infrastructure, programming, etc.  Swenson informed the Commission that he is assisting with a survey to determine each State's status and future plans, and this will be an agenda item at the next COSA meeting at Oregon in November.

Swenson shared with the Commission a copy of a magazine article, which promotes the annual Winnebago Tribal Pow-Wow.  Swenson also shared information regarding the upcoming Missouri River Expo event to be held at Ponca State Park, indicating that a similar event would be staged in conjunction with Lewis and Clark's return in September of 2006.

New Business:

Chris Howell, Assistant Director of Kansas Art Commission and Vice Chair of the Kansas Lewis and Clark Commission, talked to the commission about the Midwest Trail States Native American Symposium.  The Nebraska Native American Symposium is scheduled for Monday, September 26 at Metro Community College – Fort Omaha campus at 1:00 p.m.

Howell stated that there will be a total of eleven symposiums.  Upcoming symposiums are: August 10 in New Town, North Dakota and September 26 in Omaha.

This series of symposia seeks to broaden the circle of interest beyond Corps of Discovery enthusiasts and give voice to important but under-represented perspectives. These symposia will offer a forum to examine and compare the diplomatic cultural practices of the United States and those of the Indian nations met by the Corps of Discovery.

The symposium presentations will focus on three areas of American Indian diplomatic relations.  The first presentation will discuss the policies that were in place prior to and leading up to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The second presentation will focus on federal, state and local governments' Native American Indian policies and diplomatic relationships during the past 200 years. The final presentation will start will focus on changes anticipated for future American Indian policies of federal, state and local governments.  A question and answer session will follow the presentations.

The project's many goals 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 own words by participating in the panel discussions. 

These public symposia will seek to reshape and enrich the conversation about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the cultural aftermath experienced by the Tribal Nations following the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  It is the hope of the Midwest Trail States that these symposia will lead to further research and perhaps foster changes in the diplomatic relationships of the United States and Tribal Nations across the United States. 

Round Table Discussion:

Dr. Rudi Mitchell invited the commission and the Otoe-Missouria to their upcoming Pow-Wow on August 18-21, 2005.

Larry Ruth asked if Dr. Mitchell or Judi gaiashkibos could provide the commissioners with a schedule of Nebraska Pow-Wows so that commissioners can plan to attend.

Dan Curran made a motion to have monthly commission meetings again starting in March 2006.  Dick Williams seconded; unanimous voice vote.

Swenson announced that a new assistant superintendent has been hired at Fort Atkinson, his name is Jason Grof.

Bob Pawloski stated that he has updated the website.  He's working with the Omaha World Herald about creating a link on the commission website to online news articles they published on the Lewis and Clark Commemoration. Pawloski would like to look at a copy of Vic Gutman's summary report of the 2004 event so that he can make sure the website online news articles correspond.