News>10th Air Base Wing hosts Native American summit
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From left: Richard Antelope, Hubert Friday and Eugene Beaverheart listen to a briefing on sites of possible cultural interest during a consultation with the 10th Air Base Wing at the Air Force Academy Aug. 9, 2011. Antelope and Friday represent the Northern Arapaho Tribe, and Beaverheart represents the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. Six other tribes also attended the two-day event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)
Greg Long opens a two-day meeting between the 10th Air Base Wing and representatives of eight Native American nations at the Air Force Academy on Aug. 9, 2011. Long is chief of the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron's Asset Management Division and action officer for the summit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bill Evans)
Betsy Chapoose visits Cathedral Rock during a consultation between the 10th Air Base Wing and several Native American tribes at the Air Force Academy on Aug. 10, 2011. Chapoose is the tribal historic preservation officer for the Ute Indian Tribe of Uintah and Ouray, based in Fort Duchesne, Utah. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Kaplan)
8/12/2011 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The 10th Air Base Wing wrapped up a two-day meeting with representatives from eight Native American nations Aug. 10.
Col. Tim Gibson, the 10th ABW commander, said that while command of the wing has changed since the last summit in June 2010, the Academy's resolve to honor and respect Native American history and culture has not.
"I took command ... in late June from Col. Rick LoCastro, whom some of you may remember from last year's consultation," Gibson said during opening remarks Aug. 9. "Although there's been a change of leadership, I assure you there's no change in our commitment to making this a productive, open dialog."
Brig. Gen. Catherine Chilton, the mobilization assistant to Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, said the Academy's personnel are focused on respecting the interests of tribes with historic or cultural ties to the base's land.
"Last week, General Gould held a number of superintendent's calls where he talked with the entire staff and the Cadet Wing," Chilton said. "One of his key messages ... was respect: having respect for everyone. We recognize that you have ties to this land that go back many, many centuries ... and we are committed to preserving and protecting the many sites to which you find cultural and spiritual connections."
In addition to deliberations over memoranda of understanding, tribal representatives also held lunches and dinners with 10th ABW representatives and visited historic sites.
