To create a collaborative, sustainable legacy honoring the achievements, struggles and contributions of the students who attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, the Genesis of the Indian Boarding School era that spread across North America. To bring awareness to the general public the government policies that enabled the development of the Indian Boarding School era and the goals of Indian education and assimilation.An all-Indian Board of Directors who are honored to collaborate with community partners such as The Cumberland County Historical Society that has gathered and researched student records and artifacts for decades, Dickinson College Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Project that has unearthed a treasure trove of compelling student stories, the Army Heritage & Education Center, as well as consultation with NARF, the National American Indian Boarding School Healing Coalition, the National Museum of the American Indian and the Holocaust Museum. Finally, we are proud to work with our American Indian Tribes who continue to deal with the impact of the boarding school era in their communities.All of us together look forward to an honest interpretation of American history accompanied by Native businesses that represent contemporary Indian America in the place where Native cultures were intended to end.

A Native American advocacy group centered in the Lancaster area. Partnering with the Mennonite Historical Society, Circle Legacy contributed to the planning and building of the Longhouse located on the Hans Herr House grounds in Willow Street, PA. We feature educational programs held on the 2nd Friday of each month at the Community Mennonite Church on W. Orange Street in Lancaster.Working with the U S Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, site of the Carlisle Industrial School campus on a regular basis to promote events that include Native Americans in the life of the Carlisle Barracks in honor or the students who attended the school from 1879 to 1918.Jim Thorpe Sports Days, a long tradition at the Barracks, now includes a Native American Veteran special guest who participates in the Opening Ceremonies every year, Native Veterans play a significant role in the Heritage Days at the U S Army Heritage & Education Center each year, and a Remembrance Ceremony on Memorial Day Weekend where our combined communities pay tribute to the Native students buried in the Carlisle Indian School Cemetery. Myself and MaryAnn Robins, descendants of Carlisle students, enjoy leading tours for groups and individuals.The Circle Legacy Center and others envisioned a Carlisle Indian School Heritage Center dedicated to the Boarding School experience in the place where Native Cultures were intended to end. Although no one can dispute the dark history of CIIS, the "whole" story is that there were triumphs as well. CIIS was the birthplace of the Pan-American Indian movement; the National Congress of American Indians is a result of the vision of Carlisle alumni; and Jim Thorpe's legendary football team won the championship title in 1912 defeating all the powerhouse teams of the day. Look for more Indian presence in Carlisle Barracks events!

The Eastern PA Committee on Native American Ministries for the United Methodist Churches is one of 10 conference committees under the Northeast Jurisdiction Native American Ministries Committee. At this year's conference, I was elected Vice President of the Northeast Jurisdiction.

A Lifetime member of NCAI, I have served on various committees, drafted several resolutions to sharpening pencils and filling water pitchers. During Wayne Ducheneaux's administration, 1990-1992, I assisted with mailings, conference preparation, planned events, set up rooms for meetings and meals and enjoyed every minute of it.

At the request of President Bill Clinton, a nationwide committee was formed to gather data on the status of off-reservation Indians in the categories of population, employment, average income, housing, health issues, and social services available. We prepared the first report on Urban and Rural Indian Policy statistics that included proposals, if implemented, might improve off-reservation Indians ability to access social services wherever they lived. Our report was faxed to President Clinton from the Oval Office to Air Force One as he was on his way to the Middle East in April, 1994.