NCIA Newsletter

NCIA Newsletter Summer 2009









Greetings from our Director!

Dear Readers,

We give thanks for the sacred dances and powwows which bring our people together to celebrate

our culture in the moon of ripening cherries and chokecherries. In order to fulfill our mission

with our current funding levels, we regret that we will no longer be mailing you the old school

hard copy newsletter and instead will be sending you an electronic monthly publication.



On the bright side of this news, we hope that an electronic newsletter published monthly will

contain more up-to-date and timely news. It will also enable us to provide links to additional

useful information that we were unable to provide with our old hard copy newsletter. We appre-

ciate your continued support of our sovereign nations here in Nebraska, and we look forward to

sharing with you the latest news from Indian Country.



Miigwech,



Judi M. gaiashkibos, NCIA Executive Director







Message of Equality is Remembered

at Chief Standing Bear Events

Five hundred breakfast attendees gathered to remember

the historic story of Ponca Chief Standing Bear and honor

his timeless message of equality at the Fourth Annual

Chief Standing Bear Breakfast held at Embassy Suites in

Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, May 15, 2009. The sold out

breakfast entertained more than 500 guests, including dig-

nitaries from local, state and federal government, as well

as the chairmen and representatives of all four of Ne-

braska’s headquartered tribes.

Standing Bear Play P er-

Lewis St. Cyr, a lifelong Winnebago resident from the Ho- formers at State Capitol

Chunk and Oglala Lakota Nations, woke up the early

morning crowd with a high energy hoop dance. Keynote

speaker, author Joe Starita, held the audience entranced 2009 Chief Standing

with a moving talk recounting key moments of Standing

Bear Honorees

Bear’s struggle for justice.



Starita, a Lincoln native, is a journalism professor at the Scholarship Recipients

University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the author of the re- Curtis Boschult

cently published book “I Am A Man: Chief Standing Bear’s

Journey for Justice.” He was introduced by The Honorable Millicent Wolfe

Joseph F. Battaillon, Chief Justice of the United States Andre Fast Horse

District Court - Omaha. Tyler Lee Faulkner

Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler and Nebraska Lieutenant

Governor Rick Sheehy both made remarks and presented Organizational Award

proclamations at the breakfast. Winners

St. Augustine Indian School

Four $500 Chief Standing Bear Scholarships were pre-

sented to American Indian students at the breakfast. The Umonhon Nation Jr./Sr.

scholarships were presented by one of last year’s scholar- School Band

ship recipients, Lucas LaRose, who returned to Lincoln Ponca Elementary School

after serving as an intern for Nebraska Senator Ben Nel-

son at the senator’s Washington office.

Essay Contest Winners

Noon Commemoration Event Evan Hernandez

The Fifth Annual Chief Standing Bear Commemoration William Morris

Celebration at the Rotunda of the State Capitol featured

Patience Teboe

the performance of portions of the play “MAH-CHU-NAH-

ZHA: I Am A Person.” This play was specially written for Aaron Kurpgeweit

performance at the 130th anniversary celebration of the

landmark Chief Standing Bear trial at the U.S. District Court in Omaha, Nebraska.



Nebraska author and personality Roger Welsch, recipient

of the 2008 Chief Standing Bear Humanitarian Award, pre-

sented this year’s award and a Pendleton blanket to Mur-

dock, Nebraska resident Lieutenant Colonel Thomas

Brewer. Brewer, who is currently the Operations Officer

for the National Airborne Operations Center, spoke about

his efforts to bring freedom and democracy to citizens of all

countries.



In addition to Brewer’s award, the Umonhon Nation Junior-

Senior High School band, Ponca Elementary School, and

St. Augustine Mission School each received Chief Stand-

ing Bear Organizational Awards. One of the high points of

the event occurred when students from St. Augustine’s

performed a “Thank You” drum song for the audience.

Members of the Umonhon Nation School Concert Band

Essay W inner at Stat e Ca pi- also provided music at the commemoration.

tol Co mme morat ion Ev en t.

McDonald’s corporation once again sponsored the Chief

Standing Bear Essay Contest and awarded $50 savings bonds to four Nebraska grade

school essay winners. The winning students were Patience Teboe, from Bloomfield Ele-

mentary School, William Morris of Winnebago Elementary School, Evan Hernandez of

Eastridge Elementary School-Lincoln and Aaron Kurpgewiet from Falls City Elementary

School. Each of the students read their winning essays at the commemoration. Tray liners

featuring reproductions of the State Capitol Chief Standing Bear mural and the winning

student’s essays were recently featured at 82 different McDonald's locations across Ne-

braska and the eastern part of Iowa. View Tray liner



This year’s May 15 events were a part of an unprecedented cooperative effort by several

organizations and agencies to jointly celebrate the 130 th anniversary of the landmark legal

ruling declaring Native Americans as “persons” under the law.



―Homeland‖ Play – Lied Center, Lincoln

“Homeland” a play written by Christopher Cartmill and inspired by the story of Chief Stand-

ing Bear was performed at the Lied Center in Lincoln.



MAH-CHU-NAH-ZHA: I Am a Person—Roman L Hruska U.S. Courthouse, Omaha

This theatrical performance brought the trial of Chief Standing Bear to life in the modern

setting of the landmark trial.



The Trial of Standing Bear—General Crook House Museum, Omaha

The Douglas County Historical Society staged an event featuring Native music, Standing

Bear trial character portrayals and interpretations, and culminated with the Tibbles run for

Standing Bear.

View Standing Bear Slide Show







Senator Johanns Meets With

Nebraska Tribal Representatives

Representatives of the Omaha, Ponca,

Santee Sioux and Winnebago tribes as

well as representatives of the Nebraska

Commission on Indian Affairs met with Ne-

braska Senator Mike Johanns, his State

Director, Nancy Johner, and his Omaha

Director of Constituent Services, Emily

Brummund. The meeting took place at Jo-

hanns' Omaha office on April 4. The pur-

pose of the meeting was to give the tribes

an opportunity to meet with Johanns, who

Senator Johanns with members of his is a member of the Senate Indian Affairs

staff, tribal representatives, and NCIA Ex- Committee, and share with him the issues

ecutive Director Judi M. gaiashkibos at his that each tribe is facing. Key issues identi-

Omaha Office. fied by the tribes included health care, law

enforcement, improving tribal courts, and state/federal tribal relationships. The tribal lead-

ers and Johanns discussed how they can work together on these issues and establish a

better working relationship with members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.



A second meeting with Senator Johanns took place at his Omaha office on July 1. The

subject of this second meeting was to give tribal representatives an opportunity to focus

exclusively on Native healthcare issues. Representatives voiced a variety of concerns

including attempting to service growing populations with inadequate funding, health care

monies being eaten up by critical care “level one” problems leaving precious little funding

for prevention programs, and unique challenges serving an economically disadvantaged,

mostly rural minority population.



Senator Johanns summed up four key issues that he would like to pursue. They are:



1. Separate critical care issues and funding from prevention issues and funding, or pre-

vention program funding will inevitably be sacrificed to pay for more urgent care

needs.



2. Find ways to implement educational programs for children emphasizing native his-

tory and traditions. Increase cultural understanding and instill a sense of pride in

native heritage.



3. Increase access to broad band, high speed internet and other high-tech services.



4. Work to develop ways of addressing generational health and mental health issues

and beak the cycle of poverty that exists on Nebraska reservations.



Johanns, who is a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, stated that his posi-

tion on the committee allows him to work closely with the chairman to try to find solutions

to the health care problems discussed at the meeting.



Indian Affairs Committee Recommendations







Johanns Receives Standing Bear Bust



NCIA Director Judi M. gaiashkibos presented Nebraska

Senator Mike Johanns with a bust of Ponca Chief

Standing Bear at a July 1 meeting at the senator’s

Omaha office. The gift was acquired with the assis-

tance of Barbara Warner, Executive Director of the

Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission, and a member

of the Southern Ponca tribe; Standing Bear Foundation

Executive Director T.L. Walker; and Foundation Chair-

man Carl Renfro. The bust was a replacement for a

damaged bust that was previously presented to Sena-

tor Johanns by Oklahoma Governor Keating.



Senator Johanns, a member of the U.S. Committee on

Indian Affairs, was excited to receive the surprise re- NCIA Director gaiashkibos

placement and extended his thanks to all of those who and Senator Johanns pose

made the gift possible. w ith the Senator’s new Chief

Standing Bear bust.









NCIA Director Receives Doorkeeper Award

The Douglas County Historical Society recently presented NCIA

Director Judi gaiashkibos with its Door Keeper Award. The Soci-

ety gives this award sparingly to persons who it feels have

opened new doors for the benefit of community or a cause.



The award is unique in that it is the U.S. Treasury Department’s

only hardware (door knob) design of its kind in the nation. It is

found only at the General Crook House Museum. The award is a

replica of that hardware on the entry door to the Crook House.





Director gaiashkibos

displays her aw ard.









Neihardt Conference Focus On Current State of First Peoples

The Neihardt Center in Bancroft, Ne-

braska was the setting for a conference

entitled “Neihardt and 21st Century Na-

tive Realities.” The conference took

place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 and

was sponsored by the John G. Neihardt

Foundation, Wayne State College

School of Arts and Humanities, Ne-

braska Humanities Council, and the Ne-

braska Arts Council.



The event was moderated by Charles

Trimble and featured speakers including:

Dr. George Tinker, Judi M. gaiashkibos, Participants at the Neihardt Conference

Front: (left to right) Dr. John Day, Rev. Dr.

Delphine Redshirt, Dr. John Day, and

George Tinker, Walter Echo -Haw k

Walter R. Echo-Hawk.

Rear: (left to right) Nancy Gillis, Shirley

Indian Country Today Article

Sneve, Charles Tri mble, Judi M. gaiashkibos









2010 Census Has Impact on Native Communities

Planning for the 2010 U.S. Census is

well underway with a local census office

open in Lincoln and other regional offices

scheduled to open soon at other loca-

tions across Nebraska.



The 2010 Census will bring opportunity

to the Native American community in

several ways. The most immediate posi-

tive impact will be jobs.



The federal government began selection

and hiring for a variety of positions in

February, 2009. The positions include

Census Takers, Crew Leaders, Crew Census Partnership Specialist Jeffrey

Leader Assistants, Recruiting Assistants Baker, presents gifts to NCIA Commis-

and Census Clerks. The temporary part- sioners Ansley Griffin (left) and Louis

time jobs offer good pay, flexible hours LaRose (right).

and the opportunity for employees to

work in their own neighborhoods.



According to Census officials, hiring a workforce from the community in which they live

is vital to getting a complete and accurate Census. The Census Bureau counts on be-

ing able to hire tribal members to complete census work in 2009 and 2010 on reserva-

tion lands but also in urban areas.



The second positive impact of the Census will be the gathering of information useful to

Native communities. Alvin Warren, Cabinet Secretary of the Indian Affairs Department

of New Mexico, speaks of the importance of the 2010 Census to ensuring the future of

Indian Nations:



"Indian Nations have a major role and a tremendous

“I enjoy working within my opportunity to ensure that all Native Americans are

tribal boundaries and with counted in the 2010 Census. Obtaining a full count of all

Native Americans is paramount to securing maximum

my tribal people. We have a federal funding to support tribal and state programs that

mutual commitment to mak- help our children, elders, and community members.

ing sure that everyone is

Additionally, the data obtained through the 2010 Census

counted correctly. There is so will provide us with knowledge about the demographic

much information that peo- and economic make-up of our communities, allowing us

ple need to have so that they to better plan for and justify the needs in tribal communi-

ties. Fully documenting our population and demograph-

understand how important it ics is another powerful way to underscore the important

is to all of us. I work hard to contribution that Indian Nations and Native Americans

make sure reservation resi- make to our country as a whole.”

dents as well as those living Perhaps Sonny Subia, a Census partnership specialist,

near the reservation have the brought home the positive impact of the census best

opportunity to help with the when he quoted a community organizer who stated

“filling out a census form is like writing a check out back

Census effort.” to your community and your schools.”

Laura McCauley, Census

Tribal Liaison for the Omaha It is important that tribal members know that their census

responses are protected by law. All information collected

Tribe by the Census Bureau under the authority of Title 13 of

the U.S. Code is strictly confidential.









Red Owl Receives Governor’s Points of Light Award

Myrna Red Owl received Nebraska Gover-

nor Dave Heineman’s Points of Light

Award at a ceremony held at the State

Capitol on February 11, of this year.



Myrna Red Owl is a board member on the

Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition in

Omaha. She was Director of the Omaha

Elders Program at the Nebraska Urban

Indian Health Coalition from 2001-2006.

During her tenure as Director, she pro-

Governor Heineman with Myrna Red Owl

vided encouragement and support to a pro-

gram for Native American elders called “Tired Moccasins.” This group provides nutritious

meals, health education, social, recreational and educational opportunities for the elders.

She continues to support the group’s activities and fundraising.



For over 40 years Red Owl has participated in presentations and demonstrations sup-

porting fair treatment for Native American peoples. Recently she was a teacher of Ameri-

can Indian craft and stories during the Intergenerational Culture Transfer service-learning

activity at Liberty Elementary School in Omaha. Myrna has also been an unpaid grand-

parent caregiver for two children since their infancy and is an active advocate for all eld-

ers and grandparents in Nebraska.









Pawnee Tribe Returns to Nebraska









Kearney schoolchildren greet Pawnee tribal members returning to Ne-

braska with a giant sign outside of the Great Platte River Road Archway.









A Historic Moment: Members of the

Pawnee contingent arriving at the

Homecoming luncheon.









The tear running down Pawnee Chief

Pat Leading Fox’s cheek as he spoke at

the luncheon honoring the historic re-

turn of the Pawnee tribe to Nebraska

spoke louder and more eloquently

than any of the many speeches deliv-

ered at the June 19 event.









NCIA Executive Director Judi gaiash-

kibos presents Pawnee Chief Pat Lead-

ing Fox with a certificate from the

Commission honoring the return of

the Pawnee tribe to Nebraska.









Time to Celebrate! Thousands came to the Archway on June 20 to wit-

ness the “Dancers of the Plains” Pawnee Powwow exhibition. The pow-

wow area reached maximum capacity as hundreds more had to be

turned away. Archway director Gary Roubicek was overwhelmed by the

turnout for the event. The Pawnee have already been invited to return

in 2010 said Ronnie O'Brien, the archway's director of operations and

the principal organizer of the June 20 homecoming. "I have initial word

from the Pawnees that they would like to return.



NTV News Report

Kearney Hub Article

Indian Country News Article









Roger Welsch Selected to Represent Pawnee

Nation on Nebraska Indian Commission

I am grateful to the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs for

providing an ex-officio seat for the Pawnee Nation on the

Commission and I am deeply honored that the Business

Council and Nasharo Chiefs Council of the Pawnee asked me

to occupy that chair. The return of the Pawnee to Nebraska is

of enormous importance in Nebraska’s and the Pawnee Na-

tion’s history and I am proud to be a part of it. I am also aware

of the great responsibility that is part of that honor and intend

to do all I can to merit the trust of the Pawnee people and the

other tribal representatives on the Indian Commission. Indian

issues have concerned me for over fifty years and my life has

been enriched by my relationships with the Omaha, Lakota,

NCIA Ex-Officio Represen- and now the Pawnee tribes; there is no way I can ever repay

tative Roger Welsch all the kindness shown me over these fifty years by Indian

friends and family but I hope that my service on the Commis-

sion will let me repay that debt in some small way. I often wonder what America, Ne-

braska, and our history would have been like if non-Indian invaders to this hemisphere

had said less and listened more to the original inhabitants, but yet I am comforted that

the generous spirit of Native Americans still, after all these centuries of arrogance and

ignorance, holds out an open hand to those who will accept it. Perhaps it is not too late

for the learning to take place, and I would like to be a part of that process.









Village of Barneston Remembers Tribal Origins



The history of the village of Barneston,

Nebraska is intermingled with that of the

Otoe and Missouri Indian tribes. In 1854,

when the Nebraska Territory was being

organized, Chief Arkeketa of the Otoes

was instrumental in designing the terms

of a treaty that reserved 250 sections of

land along the Kansas-Nebraska line for

the tribe. They built a permanent village

along the banks of the Big Blue River

near what was described as "a splendid

spring which supplied the entire tribe as

Native performers Lewis St. Cyr and Buffy Han- well as the white population at the

del entertain visitors at Barneston’s 125th Anni- agency." The tribe eventually moved to

versary Celebration. Oklahoma in 1881.



On May 30, members of the Otoe-Missouria Reservation Heritage Project and the peo-

ple of Barneston paid tribute to the village’s tribal origins recognizing the tribe’s history

as an integral part of the Village of Barneston’s 125th Birthday Celebration.



The remaining part of the Indian Mission School/Farm House associated with the Big

Blue Indian Reservation was open to the public for tours, and a display of Otoe-

Missouria historical documents, books, and images assembled by Matt “Sitting Bear”

Jones was available for review. Outside of the building a fully furnished tipi was also set

up for the public to tour.



Jeff Barnes, a free lance writer who has produced a valuable combination of history and

travel guides for all students of the Northern Plains Indians, spoke about his book,

"Forts of the Northern Plains: Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indian Wars."



Lewis St. Cyr from Winnebago, Nebraska and Buffy Handel from Winnipeg, Manitoba

presented an educational and entertaining program demonstrating a variety of native

folk arts including stories, music, song, and dance. Encouraging participation by chil-

dren in the audience, St. Cyr said, "We love to educate people about our traditions and

there is no better way than to involve people in actually doing them." About 15 children

volunteered to participate and danced with St. Cyr.



Otoe-Missouria Reservation Project chairperson Lori McAlister was excited by the level

of interest shown by attendees and has high hopes for continuing to build on the suc-

cess of the event, expressing a desire to continue to work on preserving the mission

building as a platform for telling the story of the Otoe-Missouria tribe. She expressed

her hopes that one day perhaps the village might be able to host a “Welcome Home”

event for members of the tribe.

Beatrice Daily Sun Article









Briar Cliff College Offering Aid to Native

American Social Work Students

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Briar Cliff University Department of Social Work has been

awarded a $550,000 grant to provide educational stipends for Native American social

work students who are pursuing careers in child welfare, beginning in the 2009-2010

academic year this fall.



The grant also has been designated to develop and promote child welfare competencies,

with a focus on Indian child welfare through social work education at Briar Cliff. Accord-

ing to Heather Craig-Oldsen, chairperson of Briar Cliff’s social work department, “We are

very fortunate to receive this highly competitive funding. Applications were numerous,

representing masters and baccalaureate social work programs from all over the country.

We are one of nine programs receiving funds.”



Awarded by the U.S. Children's Bureau, the grant is a five-year project in collaboration

with the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute. It was developed by the advisory

committee of the Siouxland Indian Child Welfare Traineeship Project: Developing Native

Bachelor of Social Work Child Welfare Workers for Native Families (SICWTP).



“This project has been an extraordinary example of community teamwork,” said Frank

LaMere, member of the SICWTP advisory committee. “The advisory committee worked

very hard to develop this successful and highly competitive grant. This would not have

been possible without the community's resolve and many years of diligent work on issues

of Indian child welfare in Siouxland. Good will come of it.” LaMere, who works for the

Casey Foundation through Sioux City’s Four Directions Center, is known nationally for

his advocacy for Native American issues.



Applicants must meet the criteria set forth by the SICWTP advisory committee and the

Briar Cliff Department of Admissions. Priority will be given to applicants enrolled in a fed-

erally recognized tribe. For more information, please contact Heather Craig-Oldsen at

712 279-5489.



Siouxland Indian Child Welfare Traineeship Project









First People’s Fund Awards Shortbull Fellowship

(Rapid City, SD) – First Peoples Fund, a Rapid City-based

native arts fund supporting the work of indigenous artists na-

tionwide has awarded Topeka, Kansas resident, a Oglala La-

kota artist, Arthur Short Bull, its 2009 Artist in Business Lead-

ership Fellowship.



“Mr. Short Bull embodies the Collective Spirit, the heart of the

First Peoples Fund, which is that which manifests self-

awareness and a sense of responsibility, to sustain the cul-

tural fabric of a community. It is that which moves each one of

us to stand up and make a difference, to pass on the ancestral

Arthur Shortbull knowledge or simply extend a hand of generosity. First Peo-

ples Fund honors and celebrates native artists who exemplify

indigenous values of generosity, wisdom, respect, integrity, strength, fortitude and hu-

mility.”



The purpose of the Artist in Business Leadership program is to cultivate entrepreneu-

rial artists to a small business level (consistent and reliable income) where business

concepts are understood and applied. Each year First Peoples Fund finds and selects

six "Fellows" per year based on demonstrated artistic talent, evidence of possessing

the qualities of an entrepreneur and indication of embodying the values of First Peo-

ples Fund. Those selected are provided with a one year fellowship with one-on-one

technical and business assistance, one year of group trainings, and access to national

markets and shows.



Short Bull was awarded a First Peoples Fund Cultural Capital Fellowship in 2006 for

his work regarding the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. His website

can be viewed at: http://www.dawnhawk.org.









Upcoming Events

Powwows



Lincoln Indian Center Powwow

September 18-19

Location: Lincoln Indian Center

1100 Military Road, Lincoln, NE

Phone: 402-457-2253 or 800-228-9553 ext. 2253

E-mail

More Information





Intertribal Pow Wow

September 19

Location: Metropolitan Community College-Fort Omaha Campus

30th and Fort Street, Omaha, NE

Phone: 402-438-5231

More Information



Other Events



NCAI Annual Conference

Palm Springs, California

October 11-16



Governor’s Interstate Indian Council Meeting

Palm Springs, California

October 17









Dedicated to protecting tribal sovereignty, strengthening government to-

government consultation, and preserving the integrity of State-

Tribal relations by legislating, educating and advocating in partnership

with tribal governments, Indian citizens and organizations.