The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has announced a $2 million grant to support the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the historic journey by explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. In cooperation with state, federal, and tribal governments, the National Council promotes educational programs, cultural awareness, and the stewardship of natural and historical resources along the route of the expedition. Commemorative events will take place over four years in scores of communities from coast to coast along the Lewis and Clark Trail.
"The journey of Lewis and Clark embodies the pioneering spirit of American history," said Hewlett Foundation President Paul Brest. "The goal of the National Council is to commemorate and to seriously consider how this journey helped shape the American wilderness, the future of native peoples, and, in the largest sense, the history of the country. Our grant supports this multi-faceted approach to understanding the significance of the expedition and its history-altering aftermath." Brest noted that in addition to the inherent historical and cultural importance of the National Council's agenda, the events and exhibitions underscore several program areas important to the foundation, particularly those with a focus on the American West and environmental restoration.
Lewis and Clark and their party were greeted by more than a hundred American Indian nations as they made their way across the continent at the beginning of the 19th century. As part of the National Council's efforts, a handful of the nations along the Lewis and Clark Trail gathered and formed the Circle of Tribal Advisors of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial (COTA) to ensure an inclusive vision for the commemoration. By April 2002, COTA's membership included over half of the 58 modern tribal governments representing the 114 nations encountered by Lewis and Clark. COTA seeks to employ the bicentennial as an opportunity to preserve and celebrate the tribes' native lands, cultures and languages and to present their points of view about the expedition. It also hopes to address current issues of critical importance to native communities.
The participation of COTA was an important element in the foundation's decision to support the effort, said Hewlett Foundation Vice President Susan Bell.
"What makes the bicentennial initiative so dynamic is the degree to which it brings together many elements of the American identity," Bell said. "We are pleased that the foundation can play a role in promoting a national dialogue around these issues and hope this grant will encourage other organizations to support the National Council's efforts."
The National Council will coordinate numerous bicentennial commemoration programs, including:
- A series of official signature events in 15 communities along the route from what is today Virginia to Oregon that will coincide with key expedition dates;
- The National Tribal Awareness Campaign to highlight Native Americans' experiences with the expedition;
- The Trail Stewardship Campaign to encourage greater awareness and promote stewardship of the nation's trails, rivers and forests;
- The Corps of Discovery II, a traveling museum that will make stops in 400 communities in 19 states along the Lewis and Clark Trail.
The Hewlett Foundation grant will be distributed over four years and supports the oversight of core commemoration activities, construction of a website and funding of key staff to coordinate the national awareness campaigns.
# # # The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, incorporated as a private foundation in the State of California in 1966, was established by the late Palo Alto industrialist William R. Hewlett, his wife, Flora Lamson Hewlett, and their eldest son, Walter B. Hewlett. The Foundation's broad purpose, as stated in the articles of incorporation, is to promote the wellbeing of humanity by supporting selected activities of a charitable nature, as well as organizations or institutions engaged in such activities. The Foundation concentrates its resources on activities in conflict resolution, education, environment, performing arts, population, and U.S.-Latin American relations. In addition, the Foundation has initiatives supporting neighborhood improvement, philanthropy, and global affairs.
The National Council for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial is a private, nonprofit organization, congressionally designated to coordinate the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. The National Council is recognized by a Presidential proclamation, and its Circle of Tribal Advisors has resolutions of support from the National Congress of American Indians. As noted in its mission statement, the National Council hopes to "re-kindle [the expedition's] spirit of discovery and acclaim the contributions and goodwill of the native peoples." Its programs and events seek to commemorate the journey that shaped the boundaries and history of the United States while advancing a greater understanding of Native American perspectives of the Lewis and Clark expedition as well as issues affecting contemporary Native Americans.
