Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs

Our office hosted Dr. Susan Center board member David Boyer today. Boyer visited with our director to catch up on happenings and activities at the Center.

Finally.

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We are happy to announce the selection of our five Chief Standing Bear scholarship recipients. Each recipient will receive a five thousand dollar scholarship.
Carmella Rigatuso, Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin; Madison Ball, Rosebud; Ethan Yoakum, Iowa Tribe of Kansas-Nebraska; John Fulton, Oglala Sioux; Deborah Buckley, Western Cherokee; Nayeli Laflair, Winnebago (Alternate)

NCIA staff attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new school at Walthill. A wonderful bright future and great new place for the students to learn. Staff then visited the Dr. Susan Center and met with Center Director Liz Lovejoy for a discussion about the plans for the center.

Current National Congress of American Indians Director Larry Wright Jr. got to meet King Charles while he was visiting the United States. Wright, a member of Nebraskas Ponca tribe, is a former board chair of our commission.

Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs staff attended the dedication ceremony for the Sergeant Mad Bear NRD Lake near Gretna, Nebraska, on April 23rd. Pictured are NCIA Executive Director Judi gaiashkibos and Pat Leading Fox, Head Chief of the Pawnee Nation Nasharo Council of the Pawnee Tribe.

NCIA director Judi gaiashkibos ran into Delia Ice at Nebraska's innovation campus in Lincoln. Ice, age 14, currently attends Lincoln Northstar high school. She is Oglala Lakota Sioux and is currently the 2025-2026 Miss Red Sky Nation Pow Wow Princess.

Our office was pleased to host the director of Nebraska Department of Corrections, Rob Jeffreys for a meeting to discuss ways the two agencies could work together to communicate better and develop programs to benefit Native American inmates.

NCIA provided visiting students from Omaha Nation school with gift bags containing items donated by Vision Maker Media, Nebraska DHHS, Nebraska Tourism, Society of Care and University of Nebraska Lincoln. NCIA also provided the students with water for the trip home. Many thanks to all of those who donated. Pictured are the students with NCIA director gaiashkibos and staffer Scott Shafer. Also pictured is Director gaiashkibos with Brandon Benson , staffer for District 17 State Senator Glen Meyer. Benson assisted with distribution of gifts as Senator Meyer serves Macy area as part of his district.

NCIA Executive Director Judi gaiashkibos and Board Vice Chair Gabe Bruguier visited the Dr. Susan Center in Walthill and the Omaha Nation School Career Academy in Macy on Wednesday. During the visit, they examined the Dr. Susan maquette and received a tour of the Career Academy, including the Wade Miller scratch art, which they had helped return to the school.