International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center

It will feature pre and post United States and international displays and information related to the arts, culture, history, education and science specifically dedicated to the Indigenous peoples and tribes. It will also hold recurring and special events, classes, workshops, presentations and more.

Public Areas

The location will include two public restrooms and a lobby area with a staff attended information section. The lobby area will have special wall signage acknowledging sponsors of certain levels. It will also feature a permanent wall section of bricks engraved with the names of public sponsors or as a memoriam from a special fundraising program.

Private Areas

The private secured areas will include an archive/processing/storage room with a separate loading entrance, a staff unisex restroom, 2 offices, a small conference room, a break room (with small kitchen and staff lockers) and a multipurpose room for electronics, security, office and emergency supplies.

Design Concept

It will have one main public entrance which will open into a lobby area with a staff attended information section. It will be an open-plan concept with each area clearly designated, but allowing free flow between and usage of all amenities.

It will have prescheduled recurring and special events, presentations and displays related to the arts, culture, history, education and science that would be open and available to the general public for free.

The prescheduled recurring and one-time events will include presentations, lectures, seminars, group activities, workshops, classes and more. There will be activities designed specifically for both children and adults.

These activities will be coordinated with local individuals, organizations and businesses as well as special projects with other national and international individuals, organizations and groups.

Group Viewings and Tours

Group viewings will be coordinated for public and private schools and be available for the general public to schedule as a group. Guided tours and private guided tours and/or private viewings will also be available but may incur a cost.

The governing board will oversee the implementation of the policies and procedures for the administrative level, paid workers and volunteer positions in addition to the procedural requirements.

Indigenous Advisory Committee

A special Indigenous Advisory Committee will provide guidance directly to the board. It will consist of Indigenous individuals, representatives from Indigenous tribes and educators with an Indigenous studies background. The Indigenous Advisory Committee will be invaluable in aiding in the areas of curation, displays, procurement, public programs and events.

Museum Standards

The International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center Museum will follow the American Alliance of Museums Code of Ethics and Core Standards. It will also follow the Standards for Museums with Native American Collections (SMNAC) issued by the School for Advanced Research and the American Alliance of Museums.

Library and Educational Center

The Library will be a modern library. The Educational Center will host a variety of displays, events, presentations and workshops.

The International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes is dedicated exclusively to promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of the Indigenous peoples and tribes of the world, providing public educational opportunities, and direct assistance to Indigenous tribes and individuals.

Council Composition

The International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes will consist of Indigenous tribal representatives and members from throughout the world. This council will be unique both in its ability to represent indigenous peoples and tribes across the world and in its size of representation.

There are approximately 5,000 Indigenous peoples and tribes worldwide and every effort will be made to reach each single one. The organizational efforts will be overseen by the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center. This will be accomplished by direct communication and utilizing international groups that have representatives from the majority of the groups.

Representation and Decision Making

Each group will have the opportunity to have a representative become a member of the council thus having a say and vote in what the council does as a collective and how money raised is allocated.

The council will have an annual meeting physically based in Knoxville, Tennessee USA although the members may attend via live video or audio communication. It will set up an International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Trust Fund that would be exclusively controlled by them. This is where all the money raised will be kept from the annual exposition and all other fundraising results.

The International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Annual Exposition family friendly event will be extremely unique. There is nothing similar being done anywhere in the world covering the size and scope of it. While there are international showcases representing indigenous peoples and tribes being held, they are usually limited to specific areas only, like foods, crafts or sports.

Event Details

The International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Annual Exposition will be held every year during the week of August 9th, which is the International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples. It will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA at the World's Fair Park or an appropriate alternate site. It will be an all ages ticketed event, held rain or shine, and take place Thursday – Sunday. All net profits from the event will go directly to the benefit of the International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes.

Organization and Sponsorship

It will be organized by the International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes, the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center, and the Institute for Natural Philosophy. All efforts will be funneled through a special committee, the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Annual Exposition Committee. The committee will report directly to the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center board with the oversight of the International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes.

It will be co-presented by the International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes, the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center, and the Institute for Natural Philosophy. It will be co-sponsored by approved sponsors that make a $25,000 minimum financial donation and/or cover air fare and lodging for the attending council members equaling the same amount. The actual on-site activities of the event itself will be coordinated by the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Cultural Center.

Pre-Event Activities

The Monday & Tuesday before the exposition the International Council of Indigenous Peoples and Tribes will meet privately to hold official business and also decide where the money raised will go. On the Wednesday before the event a public one-day free event, with the press invited, will be held at the International Cultural Center's Conference Center to do a last-minute promotion for the event, announce the meeting results, perform a meet and greet, answer questions and provide information. There will be a display area with free literature handouts that explain the council, the event and highlight the people and cultures represented. There will also be a kiosk to provide access to donation opportunities.

Event Policies and Safety

The only alcohol sold at or on the premises will be authentic to the cultures represented, be sold in an enclosed, adult restricted area and with further restrictions that consumption must be completed before leaving the enclosed area. A 2-drink maximum per day will be enforced by recording identification. No smoking or vaping will be permitted in public areas with the exception of unless it is directly related to a cultural presentation.

Security workers will roam the areas, maintain a security station next to the first aid station, maintain a presence at the ticketed entrance(s), and will be on-site 24 hours a day during the entire event. Emergency first aid workers will be present and available during the entire event by maintaining a presence at a basic first aid station during the open public hours.

Vendors and Sales

Preapproved vendors selling or promoting businesses and organizations will be allowed to set up and sell for a fee with very strict protocols in place. All food and drink sold on location will be authentic to the cultures represented without exception. All retail sales on location will be authentic to cultures represented without exception. Vendors promoting a business or organization will be allowed on location but must be related to the indigenous community at large.

Water stations will be located throughout the premises and each location may be separately sponsored. Additional public restrooms (port-a-potties) will be strategically located throughout the premises as needed and may also be separately sponsored. The ticket prices will be set according to the research findings of the International Indigenous Peoples and Tribes Annual Exposition Committee and based on comparable event ticket pricing. No electronic devices for display purposes will be allowed by vendors at or inside any booth or building with the exception of if it is necessary for one of the professional performances.

Passport Program

A special passport program will be in place with a passport card with a blank space for each tribe represented. Each tribe space will have a unique ink stamp to stamp on the passport card. Anyone who gets all passports successfully stamped with all the tribes' stamps will be entered into a special drawing with 3 prizes: 2 runner ups and a grand winner. Prizes will be set prior to the event's start date. Each passport card will incur an additional cost to purchase and will be available at the ticketed entrance(s).

Presentation and Activities Areas (World's Fair Park)