aicjuly99

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 by the Vice-Chair, Garet Moravec. Minutes for June were accepted with no changes.

Discussion Topics:

Darrel Dominick has accepted a detail to act as the Director of Native American Programs (Mary McNeil's old position). Darrel works for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as the State Conservationist in Maine. He is President of the NRCS American Indian/Alaska Native Employee Association and Chair of the NRCS Civil Rights Committee. He is a member of the Chief's State Conservationists Advisory Committee (for NRCS) and is in the "Harmony Cadre," whose members teach courses to other government employees on how to work effectively with American Indians, Alaska Natives, and tribal governments. Darrel is also a member of the Choctaw Tribe of Oklahoma. His phone number is 720-3805; he'll be working in the Whitten Building in 239-W. The Council heartily welcomes Darrel. We appreciate this important position being filled, if only temporarily, by someone so well qualified. AND, we really appreciate Darrel leaving Maine to spend a muggy summer in Washington D.C.!!

Dave Bell passed along the responsibility of maintaining our AIC web site to Wayne Brewer and Garet Moravec. Later this month, they will meet with Shirley Watts, Dave's office mate, who has been helping all along in the web site development. Many thanks to Shirley and Dave for getting us up and running. Any suggestions for development of the web site should be directed to Wayne or Garet. Members are encouraged to sign up for the free classes given by the USDA Computer Center to learn web page development software. (The Computer Center also offers a variety of FREE classes in other software applications). Our site can be accessed through the USDA Home Page. Click on "Agencies," then, under "Administration," click on "Human Resources Management," and then on "USDA American Indian Council Programs."

There was discussion about developing an AIC logo. Joe Mitchell mentioned that the Forest Service's American Indian employee organization has just adopted its new logo and that FS has a graphic artist who may be willing to help us develop our design. Members seem to agree that the logo should be a simple design that will be easily reproducible at almost any size. Members are encouraged to submit designs for a logo at our next meeting.

Three other employee organizations, the Asian Pacific American Network in Agriculture (APANA), the Hispanic American Culture Effort (HACE), and the Forum on Blacks in Government (BIG), are drafting a letter to send to Secretary Glickman regarding the future of USDA's Special Emphasis Programs. The leaders of those employee organizations have asked the AIC Chair to also sign this letter. AIC officers have discussed the content of the letter and concur that the letter is in general agreement with the letter we already sent to the Secretary on May 5. Chair Wayne Brewer will probably sign the letter, along with the leaders of the other three groups, pending his review and approval of the final draft.

There was discussion about the erosion of the Special Emphasis programs at the Departmental level and within the agencies. Examples were noted of poorly trained and/or overburdened SE Program Managers. There was discussion about whether or not, or when, to bring matters such as this to the attention of Congressional representatives.

The Secretary has not replied to our letter of May 5; however, our letter did not specifically request a reply. In addition to the Special Emphasis issue, our letter requested that the Director of Native American Programs' position be filled -- and it has been, at least on an interim basis.

The Director of the USDA Day Care Center, located in the basement of the Yates Building (the "Auditors" Building), has invited members of the American Indian Council to visit with the pre-school children (ages 3, 4, and 5) on August 25. Our visit last year was a memorable success and we are happy to be invited back again this year. Special thanks should go to Karen Waldvogel for her efforts in coordinating this event. A special meeting to plan our presentation will be held on July 15 at 1:00pm. A second planning meeting will be held on August 12, immediately following our regular Council meeting. Tentative plans are to show a few minutes of a pow wow video and teach the children an "Indian song" (in English!).

Emily has been representing the AIC at meetings of the National Outreach Council, chaired by the Chief of NRCS, Mr. Pearlie Reed. Over the next year, the NOC is planning to conduct four outreach meetings or conferences in different areas of the country. Details are still being worked out but it seems likely that the four meetings will be comprehensive "mini-summits," that will include presentations by more than 25 USDA agencies and offices, including the Office of Civil Rights. Locations are not confirmed but might include Roanoke, Virginia; Jackson, Mississippi; Fresno, California; and the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. This will be a pilot effort and it is hoped that the following year it will be possible to hold more than just four of this type of outreach meeting.

Announcements:

August 20-22, Baltimore American Indian Center Annual Pow Wow, Cantonsville College, Baltimore, MD Information: Baltimore American Indian Center, 113 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231. 410-675-3535.

The National Congress of American Indians' annual meeting will be in Palm Springs, California, October 3-8 this year.

The Intertribal Agriculture Council's annual meeting will be in Oklahoma City, at the Westin Hotel, November 15-19.

The annual pow wow of the American Indian Society of Washington, D.C. will be held August 7 and 8 in Urbana, Maryland (Exit 26 off Interstate 270). For more information, call John Wigle (301-983-2768) or Mitchell Bush (804-448-3707) or visit the AIS web site at http://www.tuscaroras.com/ais/. Emily recommends this one!

Handouts for this month:

Article from the Potawatomi Tribal Newspaper, the HowNiKan, "WIC Program Annual Report"

Five USA Today articles, "President Stops at S.D. Reservation that Prosperity Passed By"; "Bald Eagle May Make It Off Endangered List"; "Protesters Regret Rally's Violent End"; "34 Indian Tribes File Suit Over Tobacco Illnesses"; and "What's a Tribe to Do?".

Seven Washington Post articles, "'Slam Dunk' Seen in Indian Suit"; "U.S. and Indians Argue Over State of Trust Funds"; "Activists Team Up Against 'Redskins'"; "The Test of a Great Owner"; "Don't Publish a Name Rooted in Racism"; "Military, Indian Church Agree on Peyote Policy"; "Clinton Tells Poorest Tribe: 'We Can Do Better'";

Two Oklahoma Observer articles, "Oklahoma Is Native America"; and "Still Screwing Indians."

AP article, "Clinton Visits Poorest of Poor: American Indians"

Memo to Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration from the Secretary's Hispanic Advisory Council, 4-19-99.

Flyer/Invitation to Groundbreaking Ceremony, National Museum of the American Indian

American Indian Society Pow Wow Flyer

Flyer for Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania Summer Pow Wows

The next AIC meeting will be on Thursday August 12, at noon, in room 2854-S. Mark your calendars! AIC Vice Chair Garet Moravec adjourned the meeting at 12:50 pm.