What your job is. Thank you, my job is assistant director for a culture at the Smithsonian National museum of the American Indian. I lead the scholars, historians, curators at the museum who are in charge of producing the exhibitions, the books, a lot of the Educational Programs and symposiums, and work with a collection of about 824,000 objects. But i have a real interest in photography, we also have over 500,000 photographs in the National Museums of american Archive Center. So i have been working very hard, i in the year ive been at the museum. Ive a 30 year career at the smithsonian, but i only joined this museum last year. And these photographs of the archives. The. It has become more and more familiar with it over time, so when i was asked to think about the opportunity to consider what photographs we have online for the public to see and for students to study online, it was a great opportunity, because i was able to review and get really deep into all of the collections of photo
For more than 50 years and authored various articles and ed di edited various books on cherokee history. I can say he continued his Research Even yesterday at the library of virginia. So it gives me pleasure to invite jack baker. [ applause ] thanks, elizabeth. Its an honor to be part of the symposium, but i come before you as a citizens of the United States and also a citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Im an eighth generation oklahoman. At the time of the forced removal cherokees on farms and even large plantations and as lindsay pointed out, our constitution was adopted in 1827. By 1819, our people had seeded 90 of our original lands. And lindsay pointed it out on the map, as well, the dark area at the bottom is all there was left at the time of removal. So these remaining lands we sought to keep on our white neighbors desired to the turkey farms, sought to have them removed. The Supreme Court in 1832 decision the case of worcester versus georgia recognize the sovereignty of the Cherok
But if we own the underlying title and they own an occupancy right, then doesnt that mean that were sort of like their landlord, right . Because thats the one that were familiar with. So, the landlord owns the building. You have an occupancy right to live there. And how do you get rid of tenants you dont like . Well, you change the lease terms. So, now it would be, you know, i love your dog. Hes a great dog, but you know, a 20,000 pet deposit, its not unreasonable. So, youre more than welcome to stay as long as you want to. As long as you want to, with the dog, but i need 20,000. Youre like, oh, this is terrible, im moving. You say, oh, ill miss you. Youve been great, right . And thats sort of what happens to the cherokees. What troup does is he marches into the legislature of georgia and says, look, were their landlords, and he uses that. And so, we can theyre our tenants. We can change the lease terms and you guys should do something to act on this. And thats pretty much troups contr
American veterans memorial. We broke ground this morning and we will turn to the business of building the memorial next week. And so were glad that youre here. Were excited to be talking about the memorial and lets get right to it. With me is harvey pratt. Harvey is a citizen of the tribes of oklahoma. Shes a cheyenne peace chief. Hes been a career Law Enforcement official. Hes a working artist and he is a marine and a vietnam veteran. So please greet harvey pratt. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you. Harvey, what caused you to submit a proposal, a proposed design for the memorial . Well, our veterans director just kept after me. I had no really had no hope that i would even come close or submit a design. He kept after me. He said, do it for the tribe, harvey. Submit something. And i thought about it and i said let me dream on it. I have to dream. I do some of my best creativity is done early in the morning, in that dream period. Thats what i did. I went home and i dreamed about it and i
Committee and the and i can say they with spent a lot of time. His lip and persistence their culture and their dove naj before the ships arrived there is a lack on the grounds as well as other tribal leaders, resulting in the formation of the indian congressmentive commission and the dedication of the mantle in 2018. Chief amounts says to have numerous causes across the commonweal commonwealth. Thank you, elizabeth, for those kind words. Good afternoon. It is an honor to be here to to be part of this event. We started this about 15 or 18 months ago when we briefed each other on what moblts were for us to have such an event as this. And were fortunate to be able to have it in this special row indication today. Im going to give you a brief history. As the indians know, and know very well, the doctrine of discovery still very well alive in the United States. And in some case its is very well alive here in virginia. People continue to suffer, it came about from the kat welcome churn much t