The National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial has unanimously affirmed tribal involvement as its number one priority for the bicentennial commemoration. To establish what "tribal involvement" means to the tribes, the Circle of Tribal Advisors adopted a Mission and a Vision Statement for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial (both attached) . The National Council asks and expects your fullest collaboration so that we may all accomplish that vision together.
This Guidance is provided to express that the National Council expects all organizers of bicentennial events, activities, programs and campaigns to engage in early, substantive, meaningful dialogue, to communicate regularly, and to work together in partnership with the tribes in whose homelands they are functioning. It shall apply to all projects, including but not limited to: National Heritage Signature Events; Corps of Discovery II; bicentennial licensing and merchandising; conferences; symposia; media campaigns and press events; education and trail stewardship programs and events.
Cultural Resource Protection
The Circle of Tribal Advisors' number one priority for the bicentennial commemoration is cultural resource protection. The National Council and its official partners - Circle of Tribal Advisors, Circle of State Advisors, Circle of Conservation Advisors and Corps of Education Partners - do not endorse or support the commercialization, appropriation or exploitation of cultural resources without the express written consent of the tribes or nations whose resources may be adversely affected. We ask you to honor and support our top priority by planning all projects to:
- Deliver clear messages about stewardship, site protection, and respect for the land and the people;
- Ensure no appropriation of tribal cultural, sacred or intellectual properties without express written consent;
- Permit no sale of cultural resource site information, specifically no archaeological reports;
- Permit no use of the names of tribes or tribal persons in proposals, applications, promotions, products, publicity, etc. without the express permission of the tribe or person named; and
- Adhere to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (attached).
Programming
In order to create opportunities for education, respect and understanding, we expect your project to:
- Demonstrate appropriate tribal diversity through language, clothing, songs, dances, foods, oral histories, living technologies and exhibits;
- Include time and venues for substantive tribal programming, tribal convocations and private ceremonial observances;
- Provide adequate infrastructure for activities and events in which you invite tribal participation;
- Include tribal activities in event signage/traffic movement plans to direct the flow of visitors to tribal attractions, exhibits and activities;
- Provide equal media opportunities and media time for participating tribes;
- Allow no censorship of tribal messages;
- Ensure benefit sharing for participating tribes.
Protocol
In order to encourage long term, lasting relationships and partnerships that can make a difference, we ask you to observe the following traditional courtesies:
- Establish a meaningful role with the tribe(s) who are indigenous to your location - it is most appropriate for them to formally welcome visitors and commence events;
- Where appropriate, encourage, orchestrate and promote the welcoming back of peoples removed from their aboriginal homelands along the trail; and
- In gifting, thanking, compensating, recognizing, crediting, announcing and publicizing sponsors, volunteers, speakers, elected officials, visiting dignitaries, and other participants, be sure to include Indians as well as non-Indians.
Event Leadership and Fundraising
The composition of your event's or activity's organizational leadership should reflect appropriate and proportionate tribal representation:
- If there is an executive committee, or leadership group, tribes should be represented as full voting participants;
- If there are co-chairs, tribal representatives should be asked to serve as one of the co-chairs; and
- If there are applications for funding, tribal administrative protocol requires consultation, review and approval before use of tribe(s)' name in proposals.
The following must be appended to, and incorporated as part of, each National Heritage Signature Event's Memorandum of Understanding with the National Council:
- Circle of Tribal Advisors (COTA) Mission ;
- COTA Vision Statement for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration;
- COTA Guidance for Tribal Participation in the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration;
- Indian Arts and Crafts Act Fact Sheet
Circle of Tribal Advisors - April 13, 2002, Lewiston Idaho
