Conference topics and agenda are largely decided by Tribes with Forest Service support, and include: heritage resource management, cultural resources, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) issues, fire management, watershed resources, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technologies, traditional plant use (and access), Sacred Sites, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOS), vandalism issues, and land management planning.

Tribal Historic Preservation Officers are established when Tribes take on formal State Historic Preservation Officer responsibilities for the preservation of significant historic properties on tribal lands. The Caddo Nation was the first tribe in Oklahoma to assume these duties. Other formally established THPO’s are: Choctaw Nation, Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Quapaw Tribe, Miami Nation, Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes, Comanche Nation and the Wyandotte Nation. The majority of tribes in Oklahoma are committed to working in the areas of historic and cultural preservation. The President of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Ms. Bambi Kraus, was also in attendance.

A few highlights from this year’s conference included a panel session entitled “We Are Distinctly Unique Peoples and Cultures” which included presentations by: Dr. Richard Allen, Cherokee Nation (Policy Analyst), Karen Kaniatobe, Absentee Shawnee Tribe (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer), Sandra Massey, Sac and Fox Nation (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer) and Timothy Baugh, Ph.D. Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office. During this panel, tribal representatives stressed how each tribe has separate, unique cultures and distinct histories and how that should be taken into account when working with each tribe. Dr. Allen of the Cherokee Nation also screened a DVD entitled “What Is A Real Indian Nation?” which addressed the issue of fraudulent tribes often claiming to be Cherokee.

In addition, Dr. Andrea Hunter, Osage Nation (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer) and Chairman Michael Burgess, Comanche Nation, both gave presentations during a panel session on “Preservation Issues: NAGPRA and Sacred Site Protection”. Both stressed the vital need for and importance of meaningful and timely consultation with tribes. Chairman Burgess, in particular, discussed the history and relationship between the Comanche Nation and Fort Sill Military Reservation related to the Medicine Bluffs and their great cultural importance to the Comanche Nation.

The majority of the day on March 31st was dedicated to the discussing the topic of “The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) and Vandalism”. Vandalism and looting of sites related to the Oklahoma Tribes (and others) is a common occurrence on federal/tribal/state land and although much is being done to address this horrendous act, everyone agreed that more needs to be done. From State Archaeologists, to Tribal Staff to Patrol Captains for the U.S. Forest Service, there was a unified expression of this being an overwhelming issue with neither parties having enough funds or manpower to properly address it. It was expressed that perhaps through a stronger unification and public outcry from all those affected by looting and vandalism (Federal, State, Tribal and even local) this issue would be more noticed by the general public and by those who create the punishments for these violators. Mr. Bobby Gonzalez, of the Caddo Nation, was one of the panel presenters who gave examples of looting taking place at ancient Caddo cemeteries in the Caddo homeland. He stressed the difficulty in being able to properly address this issue due to budget constraints and how important it is for the federal agencies to work with tribes. Everyone agreed there needs to be more public education about vandalism of archaeological/American Indian sites.

This ongoing conference and partnership has gone far beyond an original intent of “bridging the gap” between local Tribes and local FS units, and is now embracing a national perspective. In a number of respects, this is a natural, and intended, consequence, because Tribes now resident in Oklahoma have ancestral homelands in many of the U.S. Forest Service regions (and across the nation). This conference truly serves to bridge many gaps: cultural gaps, communication gaps and unification gaps. It is a wonderful example of tribes, federal officials and others coming together to address difficult issues proactively while considering each others unique perspectives. Once again, Oklahoma is demonstrating that it is truly a unique and appropriate gathering place for important dialogues such as this one.

	Stacey Halfmoon, Caddo, Delaware, Choctaw Director of Community Outreach & Public Programs staceyh@aiccm.org

As all of us were gathered in the Visitor’s Center and as we sipped hot chocolate and snacked on delicious traditionally-prepared foods, images taken of the sun setting in the center of the tunnel scrolled across a large monitor for all to see.  The images of the sun bursting through the tunnel were breath-catching and reminded me how distinct and truly native our site and its architecture are.  Close to the time of the setting sun, we all gathered to hear a beautiful song by Mr. Johnny Kimble, a Ponca singer and elder.  There in that moment, as the sun was setting and we were listening to the song and the drum, all gathered together, it hit me!  We were creating a new ceremony around this solstice.  We were marking this day and this time with our presence and our participation.  When I look back on that day, I will remember the shortest day of the year in 2009, I will remember where I was, where the sun was; I will remember all of us gathered together in good spirits.  The spirit of that moment permeated all of us – native and non-native.  We came together to share in an ancient practice and we all shared it together in a new way.  That is what the AICCM will be about – about rising from the ashes, about coming together, about sharing, about honoring each other and honoring this earth we live on together.  Maybe it was the hot chocolate spiced with chili, but for a moment, as the sun was setting on the shortest day of the year – I understood more fully why we mark events like this and one of the most important things seemed to be that we mark them together.  They become a part of our collective memory and they remind us of what has passed and what is to yet to come.  Native people have understood the importance of this for thousands of years and thus created calendars on the earth’s landscape.  Here in Oklahoma, we are flaming the embers of an ancient fire.  And on December 21, 2009 I was honored to be standing amongst so many wonderful people in the heart of Okla Homma, at the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum. 

	Stacey Halfmoon, Caddo, Delaware, Choctaw Director of Community Outreach & Public Programs staceyh@aiccm.org

I recently attended the Oklahoma Museums Association (OMA) annual fall conference, which was held in Lawton, Oklahoma.  This is such a great organization and a great way for the folks who work for Oklahoma museums to come together and learn, share, get inspired and have fun.  One of the cool things about OMA is their opportunities for OMA members to also join a Standing Professional Committee.  These SPCs meet several times a year and include: Oklahoma Museum Educators (OKME), Oklahoma Registrars Association (OKRA!  Ha ha) and now (drum roll please…..) the Oklahoma Native American Museum Professionals Association (OKNAMPA).  It is very exciting to see more and more tribal museums, cultural centers or native museum staff and professionals join this group and increase the overall native participation in the OMA and at the fall conference.  This year at the fall conference, there was a panel entitled “The Growth of Tribal Museums/Cultural Centers in Oklahoma”.

This was a great session and included presentation from the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, The Chickasaw Historic Sites Program, the Citizen Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center and the Creek Council House Museum!!  While in Lawton, several conference-goers were able to pop over to the Comanche National Museum to attend the opening of their “Fifty Years of Pow Wow” exhibit!  Also, the Museum of the Great Plains hosted a wonderful Polynesian-themed dinner, beautiful dance demonstrations and even real leis made from Hawaiian flowers.  It was a great night and the live auction, as always, got pretty interesting.

OKNAMPA held its business meeting during the fall conference, as well.  In fact, OKNAMPA also hosted a presentation by Mr. Stephen Fadden (Mohawk) on “Rethinking the Portrayal of American Indian Cultures & Histories in Native Museums” on Wednesday, October 16, 2009 at the downtown library in OKC.  I feel very honored to serve as the Coordinator for OKNAMPA and I hope that we get more and more tribal participation and representation!  Much thanks to Brenda Granger, Stacy O’Daniels, and the OMA Board for all that they are doing in Oklahoma to support museums and to support the Oklahoma Native American Museum Professionals Association!!!  I hope that anyone interested in joining OMA and OKNAMPA go to the OMA and check it all out.   Ho-wey.  Stacey   

	Stacey Halfmoon, Caddo, Delaware, Choctaw Director of Community Outreach & Public Programs staceyh@aiccm.org

Tribal members and students in the Cherokee immersion schools alike are using this technology to chat on the web in Cherokee, to video conference with each other as a way to stay connected, and to create their own wonderful, community-driven videos – all in Cherokee!  

At the presentation itself, Mr. Erb was able to connect with a Cherokee tribal member through video conference, so that he could provide an opening blessing in Cherokee from his home.  Apparently, this interactive approach to language use, and the way it keeps the community connected, has been a great success and is creating a healthy environment for the Cherokee language to be perpetuated beyond class room settings.  It was inspirational to hear about this project and the staff at Apple seems committed to continuing to support community and tribal efforts like this one.  It was also inspirational to hear so much Cherokee being spoken (and sung) in one day!!

	Stacey Halfmoon, Caddo, Delaware, Choctaw Director of Community Outreach & Public Programs staceyh@aiccm.org

The American Indian Cultural Center & Museum was pleased to host the Edmond Public Schools Indian Education Program's Summer Camp students (under Director Sydna Yellowfish) for a day of activities held at the AICCM’s new “Visitor Center” on the site.

Activities included:

• Native Community Guests participated in an activity with the students (K-8) in the afternoon.  The “Community Guests” were from a variety of tribal affiliations in the state including Choctaw, Cheyenne, Creek, Euchee and Chickasaw.  An object-based learning activity focused on an “object” brought in by the Community Guests and the students were asked to pose questions about the objects to learn more about it and the guests.  At the end of the day, the students reported what they learned about the object and the community guest.
• Speaker Dennis Peterson from the Spiro Mounds State Park and Historic Site conducted a presentation and sideshow on the Spiro Mounds.
• A group tour of the “West Passage Tunnel” and the “Courtyard of Nations”
• Photos and videos of the students
• One of the highlights of the day was hearing what the kids suggested for future activities and programming at the site:  rock climbing, native storytelling, a gift shop, dances, sports, traditional crafts classes, to name just a few!