MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – Leaders and historic preservation staff from five Native American tribes met with McConnell leaders, Tuesday, to establish new lines of communication during the first tribal relations meeting.
Representatives from the Cheyenne River Sioux, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, Osage Nation, Kaw Nation, Northern Arapaho Tribe, and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes of Oklahoma attended the meeting.
The visit gave the leaders of the tribal nations and the leaders of Team McConnell time to communicate their interests to one another throughout the day, which included a unit mission brief, base tour and a community visit to the local Mid-America All-Indian Center.
“Team McConnell has a rich history across the Air Force, but our history also extends to the heritage of the land and every community that calls Wichita and Kansas their home,” said Col. Josh Olson, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander.
Opening dialogue is just one of many steps to building a fruitful and effective relationship between any two organizations, especially between organizations with proud heritage and many traditions.
“We share so many traits with our tribal leaders, and we are excited to continue building this relationship so we can make decisions that benefit everyone in our community,” said Lt. Col. Russell Allen, 22nd Mission Support Group deputy commander.