augustminutes

The meeting was called to order at 12:10 by the Chair, Wayne Brewer. Minutes for July were accepted with no changes.

Discussion:

We watched a 15-minute video, "Fred Goodhope's Reindeer of Alaska." This video explains the tradition of reindeer herding in Alaska. Meat and antlers are harvested. There is a big Asian market for the antlers, which are used to make a tea that is thought to improve health and well-being. Antlers are also sold to markets in many big U.S. cities. The Alaskan antlers are preferred over New Zealand or Russian products because of the free range allowed the animals and the lack of pollution. Also, the Alaskan reindeer harvesters have become expert at shipping and handling the antlers to maintain maximum freshness and quality.

Dave Bell wants to remind members to submit copies of their old Heritage Month posters to him so he can scan them onto our AIC webpage. Dave will be retiring in November; after that, Wayne and Garet will be managing the site.

There was again discussion about developing an AIC logo. Members 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 or to any AIC officer at any time!

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), drafted a letter to send to Secretary Glickman regarding the future of USDA's Special Emphasis Programs. The leaders of those employee organizations asked the AIC Chair to also sign this letter. AIC officers discussed the content of the letter and concurred that the letter seemed to be in general agreement with the letter we already sent to the Secretary on May 5. Chair Wayne Brewer decided not to sign the letter after reviewing the final draft. We also learned that the Office of Outreach (in the near future?) will have the responsibility of Special Emphasis and the Special Emphasis Managers will work on groups' issues from that Office. There is also discussion about placing the Office of Outreach in the Office of Civil Rights. We don't know for sure when this reorganization may happen, but we will try to stay informed. Members seem to agree that this would be a positive change.

AIC members will visit the children at the USDA Day Care Center, located in the basement of the Yates Building (the "Auditors" Building) on August 25. Our visit last year was a memorable success and we are happy to be invited back again this year. A special meeting to plan our presentation was held on July 15 and 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. The report is the same as last month's: 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.

Cherokee Nation Training -- Rochelle, Tedd, and Emily attended the one-day training, which was held at a downtown hotel on August 3 and 4. It was generally agreed that the training was very much needed and provided a good overview of Indian law with a little Cherokee culture added as well. USDA granted the Cherokee Nation funds to provide the training. Reva Crawford, a member of the Loyal Shawnee Tribe, and a long-time Cherokee Nation employee, was the main speaker. She was assisted by other Cherokee Nation employees and a Cherokee elder. The turnout was pretty good, but the training could have accommodated more students. We wish the training had been better advertised. Some attendees were notified at the last minute and some agencies seemed conspicuously under-represented. Thanks to Darrel Dominick (the Acting Director of Native American Programs) for getting many folks to attend on short notice.

AIS Pow Wow in Urbana, Maryland, August 7 and 8 -- A big success, as usual. Emily hopes to bring pictures next month to share.

A planning meeting was held for Heritage Month activities in November. We need a theme; members, please send your suggestions for this year's theme to your agency's Native American Special Emphasis Program Manager, or to any AIC officer. The program has been scheduled for the Patio in the Whitten Building on November 3, from 10 until 11:30. Two hundred posters and buttons have been ordered. The poster and button design was chosen from the Rod Enterprises catalog and depicts a stylized raven, from the Pacific Northwest. We are planning to have a flute player or, at least, flute music on CD. We will ask the American Indian Society of Washington, DC (a non-profit organization) to set up its vendor booth. We also plan to have informational booths set up. We will ask various American Indian organizations to participate, such as the National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian), the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the American Indian student organizations at American University and University of Maryland, and the various USDA American Indian employee organizations. Everyone is welcome to participate in the planning of this event!

Handouts:

AP article, "Foreclosing on Reservations: Tribes Accuse USDA of Discrimination"

Six Washington Post articles, "We Are Our Destiny"; "Unearthed Skeleton Launches a Debate On First Americans"; "Inca Chic in Machu Picchu"; "Intern Program Tackles Problems"; "Judge Orders U.S. to Pay Indians"; "Saying the Words That Save a Culture."

A USA Today article, "FCC Dials In On Phone Inequities."

A printout of our AIC webpage.

Two articles from News Feed@civic.com, "Navajo Schools Get a Boost from Microsoft"; and "Commerce Department Calls for More IT Help in American Indian Communities."

Information on the BRAVO project, "Bringing Rural American Venture Opportunities."

Announcements:

August 13-15, 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 next AIC meeting will be on Thursday September 16, at noon, in room 2854-S. Also, October 14 and December 9.

December is election month. We will elect AIC officers for 2000. If you want to vote but cannot attend that meeting, let an officer know as soon as possible. Mark your calendars!

Wayne adjourned the meeting at 1:10 pm.