Omaha Indigenous Peoples Summit draws up National Tribal Declaration
OMAHA – Attendees at the annual Indigenous Summit didn’t want to take this walk on an 86-degree afternoon.
Native drummers and singers set the stage for the Indigenous Peoples Summit, which kicks off Friday in Omaha. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
But they did it in principle and highlighted a key reason that brought together about 125 leaders of tribal governments, Native groups and others: to seek to reclaim cultural power and traditions.
What prompted attendees to walk a quarter mile from the University of Nebraska at Omaha auditorium to lunch in Elmwood Park on Friday – many wearing jingles and other traditional garb – was Because they are not allowed to bring food from preferred culturally sensitive caterers to UNO venues.
UNO has an exclusive contract with global food services company Sodexo. Summit organizers’ efforts to find a solution were rebuffed, so they moved lunch periods off campus.
“We were put in a position where we had to sacrifice our dignity and tradition,” Sheelah Bearfoot of the Chiricahou Apache Nation told the Nebraska Observer.
more important than lunch
Choosing to walk to the park is inconvenient, especially for seniors who could use a ride. But environmental justice advocate Belfort and other planners of the event said there were more important things than lunch.
Friday’s gathering themes were empowerment, rebuilding Indigenous nations, achieving economic sovereignty, climate justice, sacred sites and traditional ecological knowledge.
Chef Anthony Warrior prepared traditional food for Omaha conference attendees. Warrior is an enrolled member of the Absentee Shawnee Nation and a descendant of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
The group seeks to strengthen partnerships, create opportunities, learn and share successes. Expert speakers represented a range of tribes and academics from as far away as Zimbabwe, and were joined by climate and society researcher Aya Khourshid to discuss rethinking the economy.
Awaiting everyone at the Elmwood Park pavilion after the morning workshop were colorful dishes prepared by Nebraska chef Anthony Warrior, who specializes in indigenous cuisine, including bison stew with Umoⁿhoⁿ ethnic corn medley. , White Earth Style Rice and Pie Pot Squash.
The group walked back to UNO’s Milo Bail Student Center for afternoon activities.
Speakers included state Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha and state Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, who welcomed the group to his district and offered to work on legislation To help with his work, he has fought for Native American issues, including laws protecting public school students from discrimination based on cultural hairstyles, tribal symbols and headdresses and funding for the Chief’s Standing Bear Museum.
“No solution is too remote”
McKinney, responding to a question about how to shape state policy, said any legislative initiative should start with “the core of who you are.”
Bluebird Cultural Initiative founder Steve Tamayo and fingerknitter Morgan Mullin sell crafts made by Aboriginal youth, including Mullin, at the Aboriginal Summit. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
“But to be as creative as possible, as bold as possible…no solution is possible,” McKinney said.
At the same economic sovereignty panel, Comunidad Maya Pixim co-founder Luis Marcos noted the significance of the lunch dilemma.
He said First Nations and tribal governments want to be respected and treated as sovereign nations.
Victoria Kohout, director of external relations for UNO, said Sodexo is the exclusive caterer for all major campus buildings except the Thompson Alumni Center. She said this is common practice at universities.
“When is this going to stop?” Marcos asked, raising his voice to the attendees. He pointed to an earlier meeting discussion that delved into ways to rebuild sovereignty and authority stolen from First Nations.
“When will we be recognized as a sovereign nation?”
Misty Slater, chief of staff for the Iowa Tribes of Kansas and Nebraska, said it’s unlikely anyone will be able to “codify culture” or make culture into law or business.
But she said leaders could “push” for more cultural values to be incorporated into policy. “Stand together and steer clear of industries and businesses that cause harm to Indigenous communities and goals,” she said. “It hurts their minimum income.”
For Aboriginal people, money is more of a “medium-term goal,” Slater said. The larger goal of economic development is to have a positive impact on the collective community.
Panelists who spoke at the annual event included (from left) Perry Worden of Bridgepoint Investment Banking; Tim Pendrell, policy assistance to the Nebraska Legislature; Luis Marcos, co-founder and CEO of Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim; Agricultural Trust Gene Willoughby of the Fund and Misty Slater of the Iowa Tribes of Kansas and Nebraska. (CIndy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
national model
Perry Worden, a panelist at Bridgepoint Investment Bank and vice president of Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim, told the summit that Nebraska-based Ho-Chunk Inc. has become a national model for self-empowerment.
Hecheng Company, For example, companies that own War Horse Casino, farmland, housing, and manufacture and distribute Native American tobacco products.
The ancestral name of the Winnebago tribe was Hochungra, often abbreviated to Ho-Chunk. Worden said the tribe’s holding company businesses can help create generational wealth and lead to financial independence.
Friday’s summit continues the annual gathering of the pan-Indigenous community. Last year’s event took place over two days at multiple locations in the Omaha area and included a holy water ceremony on the banks of the Missouri River.
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