Turkish Coalition of America on Twitter Turkish Coalition of America on Facebook Turkish Coalition of America on YouTube
Turkish Coalition of America
  • Amerika Turk Koalisyonu

Native American Representatives Return From Turkey

Top row: Zeynep Guven (TCA), Mrs. Yilmaz and Mr. Ibrahim Yilmaz of Istanbul Handicraft Center, Basak Kizildemir (TCA). Bottom Row: Lincoln McCurdy (TCA), Valerian Three Irons, Dr. Halit Eren (IRCICA Director General), Huseyin Avni Karslioglu (Chief of Staff to President Gul); Scott Kilner (U.S. Consul General); Andre Gallardo and Shawn Real Bird.
Top row: Zeynep Guven (TCA), Mrs. Yilmaz and Mr. Ibrahim Yilmaz of Istanbul Handicraft Center, Basak Kizildemir (TCA). Bottom Row: Lincoln McCurdy (TCA), Valerian Three Irons, Dr. Halit Eren (IRCICA Director General), Huseyin Avni Karslioglu (Chief of Staff to President Gul); Scott Kilner (U.S. Consul General); Andre Gallardo and Shawn Real Bird.

Five Native American tribal representatives have returned from Turkey after taking part in “Infrastructure Development Cooperation Between Turkey and Indian Country”, Istanbul Technical University’s first-ever infrastructure development forum held October 18-26.

The trip, facilitated by the Turkish Coalition of America, brought participants together with ITU's leading engineering, energy, architecture, management, and mining experts to explore areas for Turkish collaboration with tribes, while promoting ITU's unique scholarship program for Native American students.

In addition to infrastructure discussions and a networking event with ITU alumni in prominent commercial leadership roles, participants also met with representatives from the Turkish Mass Housing Authority and the Turkish Stock Exchange, and sampled traditional Turkish court music, folk music, and folkloric dances at ITU's State Music Conservatory.

A highlight of the trip was the opening reception for the photography exhibit “Native Americans: Memory of an Ottoman Connection,” organized by TCA and the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture, and sponsored by the Istanbul Handicraft Center. The exhibit was made possible through TCA's efforts to display a sample of photographs that were gifted to Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II by the Smithsonian Institute in the 1880s. The exhibition will be on display at the historic Yildiz Palace through October 29. The reception also welcomed Huseyin Avni Karslioglu, Chief of Staff to Turkish President Abdullah Gul, and U.S. Consul General Scott Kilner.

Native American representatives also had the opportunity to screen Turkish documentary filmmaker Ece Soydam's “On the Trail of Sitting Bull” – a film about the history and the living traditions of the Sioux people. It is the only movie not produced in North America to be nominated for an award at the 36th Annual American Indian Film Festival.

The participants in the forum were:

  • Karen Diver, Chairwoman, The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Minnesota
  •  Shawn Real Bird, Chairman, Montana State Tribal Economic Development Commission, Crow Tribe
  • Ronald J. Solimon, President and CEO, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, New Mexico
  • Valerian Three Irons, Professor, Native American Studies, Fort Berthold Community College, North Dakota
  • Andre Gallardo, Executive Director, Tunica Biloxi Economic Development Corporation, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
  • Post this article to Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Print this page

2011 News and Events

  • Turkish Embassy Celebrates American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage MonthTurkish Embassy Celebrates American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Monthread more
  • TCA and Turkish Embassy Celebrate American Indian Alaska Native Heritage MonthTCA and Turkish Embassy Celebrate American Indian Alaska Native Heritage Monthread more
  • TCA Sponsors Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute EventTCA Sponsors Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Eventread more
  • TCA Chairman Receives Macedonia Friendship AwardTCA Chairman Receives Macedonia Friendship Awardread more
  • Ambassador Ricciardone Visits TCA Istanbul OfficeAmbassador Ricciardone Visits TCA Istanbul Officeread more
  • TCA, TCF Host Historic Dinner with House SpeakerTCA, TCF Host Historic Dinner with House Speakerread more
  • TCA Hosts Reception Honoring Ambassador Francis RicciardoneTCA Hosts Reception Honoring Ambassador Francis Ricciardoneread more
  • TCA Hosts Istanbul Technical University President in D.C.TCA Hosts Istanbul Technical University President in D.C.read more
  • Native American Representatives Return From TurkeyNative American Representatives Return From Turkeyread more
  • TCA Supports Ties between Native Americans and TurkeyTCA Supports Ties between Native Americans and Turkeyread more
  • Home
  • About US
  • Support TCA
  • Contact
  • Internships
    • TCA Washington Summer Internship Program
    • Previous Programs
  • Youth Congress
    • 2019 Youth Congress Application
    • 2018 Youth Congress
    • 2017 Youth Congress
    • 2016 Youth Congress
    • 2015 Youth Congress
    • 2014 Youth Congress
    • Turkish-Canadian Youth Congress
  • Turkish American Women’s Leadership Initiative
  • Grants
    • Turkey Study Tour Grants
    • Academic Grants
    • Public Awareness / Grassroots Grants
    • Heritage Grants
    • Humanitarian Grants
  • Issues & Information
    • U.S.-Turkey Relations
    • PKK Terrorism
    • Turkey and Europe
    • Armenian Issue
    • Cyprus Issue
    • Turkish History
    • Turkish Minorities Abroad
    • TCA Issue Papers
    • Reading Lists and General Resources on Turkey
  • Turkish American Community
    • Turkish American Appointed Officials
    • Turkish Americans Elected to Political Office
    • Elected Officials with Turkish Heritage
    • Turkish American Organizations
    • Turkish American Publications and Broadcasts
    • Turkish American Online Services
    • Prominent Turkish Americans
    • Turk Evleri
  • U.S. Congress
  • The Turkey Caucus
  • Outreach to Heritage Communities
    • African American Outreach
    • Native American Outreach
    • Hispanic American Outreach
  • Scholarships
    • Study Abroad Scholarships for American Students of Minority and Heritage Communities
    • Scholarships by Other Organizations
    • Previous TCA Programs
  • News & Events
    • News and Events
    • TCA Issue Papers
    • TCA Newsletters
  • Media
    • TCA in the News
    • Posters and Advertisements
    • Submit a Media Request
  • TAKE ACTION
  • LEGAL RIGHTS
  • CULTURE
Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Support the Turkish Coalition of America by Shopping at AmazonSmile
  • Turkish Coalition of America on YouTube
Turkish Coalition of America
Amerika Turk Koalisyonu
  • Boston
    P.O. Box 611
    Bedford, MA 01730
    Phone: 978.318.0047
    Fax: 978.318.0037
  •  
     
     
  •  
     
     
  • Copyright © 2023 Turkish Coalition of America. All rights reserved.
    Site Map