Arnold Air Force Base Cultural Resources hosts meeting with Tribal Governments

  • Published
  • By Deidre Ortiz
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  A meeting, hosted by Arnold Air Force Base Cultural Resources, was held May 21-22 at the Arnold Lakeside Center to provide a face-to-face government-to-government consultation with Tribal Historic Preservation representatives of federally recognized tribes.

“The purpose was to review and discuss the cultural resource program at Arnold,” said Shannon Allen, National Environmental Policy Act, Natural and Cultural Resources planner. “It has been 10 years since the last meeting, so this is an opportunity for Arnold Air Force Base and tribal cultural resources personnel to meet each other and discuss any concerns. Arnold regularly consults with the tribes via letter, email and phone, but face-to-face consultation is less frequent.”

Allen added that Arnold currently consults with 15 federally recognized Native American governments on cultural resource issues. They are the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Kialgee Tribal Town, Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Four representatives of these tribes were able to attend the face-to-face government-to-government meeting, with two others calling in to participate.
To begin the meeting, AEDC Commander Col. Scott Cain provided an overview of the research and testing capabilities of the facilities onsite at Arnold as well as AEDC’s geographically separated units. Following this, Cain and AEDC Superintendent Chief Master Sgt. Robert Heckman presented each tribal representative with a framed envelope that included a first-day of issue metered Theodore von Kármán postage stamp as a token of appreciation.

There have been government-to-government meetings previously, with five taking place from 2004 to 2009. The first of which was held at Arnold, with subsequent meetings alternating between Ada, Oklahoma, at facilities provided by the Chickasaw Nation.

Allen explained that these types of meetings are requirements of applicable laws and regulations the base must follow in regards to consulting with Tribal Governments.

“During, and since these early meetings, Arnold has continued to consult with all of the interested tribes regarding base activities that might impact our cultural resources,” Allen said. “In addition to the tribes, we regularly consult with the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Officer in regards to our cultural resources.”

Routine consultations include offering the base’s Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP) and the Annual Cultural Resources Report for review and comment.

“Also, if the consulting tribal members wish to visit the base, we accommodate their requests as much as possible,” Allen said.

She noted that over the years Arnold has developed a good working relationship with all the consulting tribes and their concerns with base operations have been minimal.

“The issue of main concern with all the tribes is the treatment received by any human remains that may be uncovered in the course of earthmoving activities,” Allen said. “Arnold Air Force Base has Standard Operating Procedures that were developed in consultation with the tribes for this situation. They are outlined in the base’s ICRMP, and to-date we have had no incidents of disturbing any human remains as part of mission-related activities.”

Allen added that the consultation ended with the tribal representatives thanking Cain for inviting them and expressing positive opinions about the meeting and its accomplishments.

Arnold Cultural Resources will continue hosting and attending consultations to further the relationship with the Tribal Governments.