American Indian/Alaska Native Employees Organization for NRCS

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Respect, Harmony and Beauty

 

RESPECT, HARMONY, AND BEAUTY

In 1993, Ed Oliver, Hal Brockman, Alan Epps, Richard Vigil, Marcy Arrowchis, and Roylene Rides-at-the-Door held the first teleconference to discuss an idea of forming an American Indian and Alaska Native employees’ organization within the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).  After the discussion, an informal poll of American Indian and Alaska Native employees was taken to find out if such an organization was needed. Not surprisingly, the result showed a definite need for an organization to represent its community.  The support grew and more teleconferences were held and the constitution and bylaws were drafted for the organization.

In 1994, the draft constitution and bylaws were presented to a group of NRCS employees at the U. S. Trust Responsibilities:  Building Government-to-Government Partnerships training session in Denver, Colorado. At this meeting the constitution and bylaws were enhanced and a decision was made to get the organization chartered by NRCS.

In December 1995, at a Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments meeting in Tempe, Arizona the constitution and bylaws were established and the American Indian and Alaskan Native Employees Association of NRCS (Association) was officially formed. The Association started doing business with an interim National Council composed of: Jerry Rouse, President; Darrel Dominick, Vice President; Alan Bucktooth, East Regional Representative; Anna Whitebird-Perales, Midwest Regional Representative; Tim Oakes, Southeast Regional Representative; Ed Kephart, South Central Regional Representative; Roylene Rides-at-the-Door, Northern Plains Regional Representative; and Marcy Arrowchis, West Regional Representative. Furthermore, Alan Epps, Darrel Dominick, and Dick Gooby made a request to NRCS leadership to have the Association chartered.

On December 14, 1995, Anna Whitebird-Perales became the first Lifetime member of the Association.

In February 1996, Richard N. Vigil, Alan Epps, Darrel Dominick, Gerald Rouse, Anna Whitebird-Perales, and Thedis Crowe met with Leroy Stokes in Denver, Colorado to discuss the future of the Association.

On April 10, 1997, NRCS Chief Paul Johnson formally endorsed the formation of the Association.

In November 1997, the Association held its First Annual Training Conference in Chandler, Arizona.  The conference was held in conjunction with the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s (IAC) annual meeting.  To hold the conference and begin doing business as a formal organization; charter members (Gene Andreucetti, Arun Basu, Carole Jett, Alan Epps, Diane Gelburd, Gerry Gonzales, Richard Gooby, Penny Karty-Lee, Charles Lattuada, Phillip "Skip" Nelson, Manuel Roman, Gerald Rouse, Suzanne Schenkel, Mike Somerville, Rosendo Trevino III, Richard Vigil, and Tom Weber) made a financial contribution to the Association to cover the meeting expenses. The Association didn't even have a receipt book to record membership payments and track registration—the Association started its business only with a pen and pad of paper.  The meeting agenda included several sessions being held in conjunction with IAC.  The Association sessions were conducted under a tent on the hotel's tennis courts. At this conference, the Association held its first election of officers, adopted the Constitution and Bylaws, selected the Association name, and adopted the official logo.  The first Executive Officers or National Council were: Jerry Rouse, President; Darrel Dominick, Vice President; Alan Bucktooth, East Regional Representative; Anna Whitebird-Perales, Midwest Regional Representative; Tim Oakes, Southeast Regional Representative; Ed Kephart, South Central Regional Representative; Shawn Big Knife, Northern Plains Regional Representative; and Marcy Arrowchis, West Regional Representative.   The regional representatives were elected by separating the attendees into their respective regions.  The newly elected National Council appointed Stevanie Runninghawk as Secretary and Thedis Crowe as Treasurer.

In 1998 and 1999, the Annual Training Conferences were held jointly with IAC in Reno, NV and Oklahoma City, OK, respectively. Daryl Dominick and Richard Vigil were Presidents during these years.  During the Reno meeting, the silent auction was started as a fundraiser for the Association's scholarship fund. The silent auction became a tradition and now raises thousands of dollars each year to support the scholarship program.

In November 2000, the Association decided to hold its annual conference separately so it took a different direction than in previous years.   

In April 2001, the 4th Annual Training Conference was held in Albuquerque, NM.  Roylene Rides-at-the-Door was President.  At this conference, the Association’s Elders Council and Drum Group were formed.  The Elders were Norman Lopez (Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, CO), Louie Dick (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Tribe, OR), Evans Spino Sr. (Warms Springs Tribe, OR) and Leland Debe (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, MN).  Drummers were: Norman Lopez, Martin Bales, and Gerald Allison. Presentation of Colors was presented by Martin Bales and Gerald Allison. Due to changes in Departmental policy on meetings, this was the first time the Association was able to cover all expenses without using outside funds.  During the membership business meeting, members voted to hold future conferences on tribal land or in tribally owned facilities.

In June 2002, building upon the success of previous training conferences, the 5th Annual Training Conference was held in Cherokee, NC on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian reservation.  Noller Herbert was President.  The Tribe co-hosted the training conference, which made it the first conference held on Indian lands.  Originally scheduled to coincide with the opening of the Tribe’s new conference facility, this conference was truly self-supported despite weather-delayed construction of the new facility and a last moment substitute facility was acquired.  Given only the key to the meeting room, the Association easily took care of all its own arrangements resulting in a truly unique and successful meeting.  At this meeting, our first Alaska Native member attended and educated the National Council on the meaning of Alaska Native vs. Alaskan Native.  Thanks to Crystal (Poindexter) Leonetti’s guidance, the Association’s name was changed to American Indian and Alaska Native Employees Association for NRCS.  The same year, the Association was incorporated in the State of Arizona as a non-profit, 501 (c) 3 corporation.  In addition, the Elder’s Council grew to include; Jerry Wolfe (Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, NC) and Loretta Metoxen (Oneida Nation, WI). 

In 2003, the 6th Annual Training Conference was held on the Fond du Lac reservation in Minnesota.  Herb Webb was President.  The conference was co-hosted by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who supported the Association and conference significantly.  This is the home state and reservation of Elder Leland Debe.  During this conference, breakout sessions were added to the agenda to provide more training opportunities to participants. This is also the home and reservation of original Lifetime member, Anna Whitebird Perales.  This is the first time the Association had a tour of a tribal college - Fond du Lac Tribal College. The college also includes the Center for Excellence where students worked and edited soil survey maps.  As a gift of appreciation for the tribe’s support and success of the conference, the Association donated $500 to Fond du Lac Tribal College to support the college’s scholarship fund.  This was also the only time that the awards banquet was held on water.   The Vista Fleet cruise ship provided an excellent banquet and unique opportunity for our event while cruising on Lake Superior.  The Association kicked off its scholarship program by awarding two scholarships. 

In 2004, the 7th Annual Training Conference was held on the Oneida Nation in New York, the Association’s second meeting at an Indian-owned venue.  The conference included one day of SEPM training and accommodated the NRCS National Civil Rights Committee, which held their meeting in conjunction with the AIANEA conference.  New York NRCS signed a cultural resources agreement with the Oneida Nation during the conference.  Anna Whitebird Perales was President.  The conference also included meeting with USDA Civil Rights Division (Diversity Council).  The conference had a strong focus on cultural resources, which attracted many NRCS archaeologists to attend the event.  Ted Herrera, who would become a member of the Elders’ Council in the future, was a speaker at the 2004 conference.  One unique aspect on the agenda was a day devoted to economic success stories of Tribes and tribal members.  Speakers from across the country told their stories of blending traditional knowledge, skills and crafts into economically sustainable enterprises.   Topics included basket making from Maine, skin and body care products from Washington, bison production from Texas, wild rice products from Minnesota, along with many others.  This was also the year that the Smithsonian Institution opened the National Museum of the American Indian.  The Drum Group was invited to perform for the USDA ceremony “Celebrating America’s First Farmers” to commemorate the opening.  Several AIANEA members and Elders marched in the processional ceremony for the opening.  The Drum Group also performed for the Forest Service’s award banquet during the opening week.  In November, the drum group was invited back to Washington, DC by the Chief of NRCS to kick off Native American Month celebrations.

In 2005, the 8th Annual Training Conference was held at the home of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on Flathead Indian reservation in Polson, Montana.  Ivan Dozier was President.  NRCS officially kicked off the NRCS Tribal Scholars Program as five students were awarded scholarships during the conference. The Elder’s Council grew again to include Marie Meade (Yup’ik Eskimo, AK) and James “Billy” Smith (Poarch Band of Creek Indians, AL).  Elder Evans Spino retired his position due to other personal commitments.  The unique addition to this conference was the “traditional giveaway ceremony” and traditional meal which included bison, salmon, wild rice, berry soup and other traditional foods, as prepared and served entirely by members of the Association.  The giveaway and meal was led by Elder Louie Dick.  Conference attendees also attended the Arlee Pow Wow with guides from the People’s Center and tours of the National Bison Range.  The Bison Range was a topic on the agenda since the Tribes are in negotiations with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) over management of the range.  Chief Arvol Looking Horse (19th Generation Keeper of the original Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe of the Lakota) was the keynote speaker for the conference.  The conference also included Michelle Morningstar of IBM.  She presented IBM’s story of their programs for Native American employees and outreach to communities.

In 2006, the 9th Annual Training Conference was held in Anchorage, Alaska in partnership with the Asian Pacific Islander Organization.  This was the first time that two NRCS employee associations met jointly; and has allowed the two organizations to make a lifetime friendship.  Crystal Leonetti was President.  The Elder’s Council grew to a total of 8 Elders, with the addition of Joe Joaquin (Tohono O’Odham Nation, AZ).  The Association applied for and received official USDA Recognition as a USDA Employee Association; and now participates in the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights’ Recognized Employee Association meetings.  At the business meeting in Anchorage, members encouraged the National Council to consider the Association’s benefits to its members.  It is this time that a long-term visioning process began.  The keynote speaker at the 2006 conference was Father Michael Oleksa, who spoke about communicating across cultures, a message that attendees will carry with them forever.

In 2007, the Association held its 10th annual training conference in Corpus Christi, Texas.  David Elliott was President.  Ted Herrera became the ninth AIANEA Elder and a member of the AIANEA Elders Council during the conference.  Reflecting on the past, living in the present, and planning for the future, the Association further learned that the Elders played a valuable part of the conferences.  As a result, during this conference the Association honored Elder Louie Dick for his life long dedication to educating and sharing his culture across the nation.  Louie was selected as the lifetime Sequoya Fellowship membership to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES).  Furthermore, as part of the long-term planning of the Association, the Visioning Committee selected the Appreciative Inquiry process—focusing on the positive success of the past to lead an organization—to move toward a successful vision of the future.  The committee also decided that the Seven Generations Planning process, developed by Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA), would be woven into the Appreciative Inquiry process, and a visioning summit will take place at the Association’s 2008 Conference.

2008 – Under Construction…

 

 

 

 

 

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