HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-19-2003-6bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 19, 2003
Action Agen~
Item No.
SUBJECT: Acceptance of Occaneechi Work of Art on a Loan Basis for Display as Part of
Orange County's 250th Anniversary
DEPARTMENT: Arts Commission PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
7/8/03 Letter from Sharn Jeffries with
Artistic Renderings of Tribal Emblem
and Wooden Display Base
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martha Shannon, ext. 2335
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider accepting a medallion of the Occaneechi Tribal Emblem on a long-
term loan basis for display by the Orange County Arts Commission in the lobby of the Orange
County Government Services Center in Hillsborough as part of Orange County's 250tH
Anniversary Celebration.
BACKGROUND: Upon request of Sharn M. Jeffries, Tribal Council Secretary, the Tribal
Council has given permission for a medallion of the Occaneechi Tribal Emblem to be displayed
by the Orange County Arts Commission in the lobby of the Orange County Government
Services Center in Hillsborough. This work of art would be on long-term loan from the
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation to Orange County until it can be relocated into the
planned Tribal Center at a later date. The display of the medallion would begin during Orange
County's 250tH Anniversary Celebration. Joe Liles, Art Instructor at the NC School of Math and
Science, designed the Tribal Emblem. The medallion (glass pieces in a circular piece - 33 3/
inches across) was rendered by Robert Cooper. It was presented to John Blackfeather Jeffries
by Robert Cooper and his wife, Kitty Cooper, for the Occaneechi Village in Hillsborough. Staff
will work with Tribal representatives to determine a suitable location in the lobby of the
Government Services Center that is mutually agreeable to both parties
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Because the medallion will not be installed permanently, a wooden
display base or some other acceptable display means will be constructed to allow for display of
the medallion. The Orange County Arts Commission will pay for the construction of the display
structure for the Tribal Emblem medallion using existing Arts Commission funds. No additional
funds are requested. Construction costs are estimated to be less than $150.
This base used to display the medallion in the Government Services Center will eventually
travel with the medallion for use as needed in the planned Tribal Center.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1. accept the Tribal Emblem medallion from the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi nation on
along-term loan basis for display in the Government Services Center as a part of Orange
County's 250th Anniversary Celebration;
2. authorize the Manager to negotiate an agreement acceptable to Orange County and the
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi nation regarding display, insurance, removal of the
display and other related issues; and
3. authorize the Chair to sign the agreement.
OCCANEECHI BAND OF THE SAPONI NATION, INC.
- --- -i" PO Box 356.207E Center Street • Mebane, N C 27302 •919-304-3723/Office • 919-304-3724/Fax
July 8, 2003
Martha Shannon, Director
Orange County arts Commission
PO Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dear Ms. Shannon:
In agreement with the Qra~nge bounty; arts. Conunisson:and in cclebr-atiou of Orange County's 250'
Anniversary, the Occaz;~echi $arxd.af the Saponi Nation (OBSV) Cvould lifce; to propose the display of the
mosaic depiction of ~t'Tribal Seal at one of the Orat3ge Cotu~:~ GavernrneYZt $uil~ir~gs.
The mosaic was, crafted and dorfated to OBS}Vl?ythe reno~ied artist Mr. Robert CQ~1per. It is
approximately 3b; ineh-diarnet~r circle,~and dEp~ets th~~Red Tailed fla1v1~9andNative ~rnerican in a Canoe
on the Eno Rivex. 'the or-igzual Tribal Seal was designed by Ali. Joe Liles,
OBSN is currentl~r wo.rn~ Ca.cha"sepxogeTty within its antestra°spxnrnunity in AlamanCe County for
the eventri~l= corTStr~ction of'a T`nliai Bus7iress artd Cultural.Cpiater; ~`Thrs vz~iibe.the.fiittrre-.home and
permanen~„~.acattpn o~`the Tn'b.~1 Seal °::U`nt~i t1~is endeavor zs completed, 0~3.51"~ would like t~a,display the
Tribal Seal on ``mciefmiie loan." xn ~;poinrnei~t location in. a~c•Qrange~Ceunty GcivenlrnentB~ilding.
;,. - ...
The terms of "inc`inite Mari" of the O~BSN Tribal Steal mosaic would be'yery basic;:;
,..
1. OB~1~ 4vould requireOrange County"t~~ provide basic insurance' and protection of the Tribal Seal
from pofal damage, vandalism, ass, or theft.
2. OBSN wad further ret~uire that Qrang~ Coitrrt~+" to ~rovtde'3.0 day wntten notification to the
OBSN Tnl7a~~;ir~if the~.O~ange ~otanty wished-to r~tttrn the Tribal S,eal~mosaic.
3. At any time, ~I~SN:vvouTd rese~-ve tl~ right to r~trte~e the Tribal Seal<fro~a Orange County after
submitting proper"30 day wrrtten:notficahon ~9 the appropriate•4range County Official.
The Occaneechi Band of the=-Sapaht,~lation is•pleased'to haue the opportunity to prominently display its
Tribal Seal in an Orange County Building T}}e Tribe` ooks f~rwa~d to continuing a great working
relationship with Orange County, and srerely thanks the Orange'~County Board of Commissioners and
Orange County Arts Council for their continued support and friendship.
Sincerely,
fin.---. ~ `~~°
Share M. Jeffries, Executive Secretary
Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation
NATIVE PEOPLE OF ALAMANCE• ORANGE & CASWELL COUNTIES
3
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THE TRIBAL EMBLEM
The Tribal Emblem on the front of the program was created by Mr. Joe
Liles of the North Carolina School of Math and Science, Durham, North
Carolina. in it, the native person in the canoe is seen saluting the Red
Tailed hawk, which was representative of wisdom and strength for many
of the Indian people of this region. This reminds us that the Indian
people have traditionally seen themselves as only one part of the whole
creation, with responsibility to live in harmony with al! other living
creatures. The emblem is enclosed in a circle of birch limbs, native to
this area also, ,again representing a traditional Indian idea of the circle
as the perfect shape.. All of nature follows a circular cycle: the seasons,
the, passing of the sun, moon, and stars, even the course of man's life.
When the Creator spoke to Adam and told him he was dust, and to dust
would. return, it again reflects the idea of the circle of life.
The Eno Occaneechi Tribal Emblem
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