Help Yourself
Frequently Asked Questions
Terms & Definitions
There are many terms and definitions to describe tribal members such as Indigenous, Native American and American Indian and Alaska Native.
KCIC uses Indigenous and Native American interchangeably to describe the community we serve in the Kansas City metro area. American Indian and Alaska Native are specific terms for academic studies or to denote service recipients for state and federal programs and is a specific racial category used by the U.S. Census. The term “Indian” is not widely accepted among tribal groups because it leads to confusion regarding our country of origin from India and not Turtle Island or the United States.
Indian Checks
There is no such thing as an “Indian check” for Native Americans. Unfortunately, Native Americans have the highest poverty rate among any group in the country. The assumption that we receive free handouts or money from our tribes and the government is simply not true.
KCIC administers specific programs and services under eligibility requirements. Check out our website to understand what you quality for. If you have questions about additional resources that may be available to Native Americans through tribal affiliation, please contact your tribe.
Eligibility for services
Each program and service provided by KCIC has unique eligibility requirements. If you have questions about whether you qualify, please see the Help From Us section with detailed eligibility information.
Not a museum
KCIC is not a museum. Unlike some urban Indian Centers, we do not house artifacts or art for public display. We are primarily a social service organization and administer services by appointment only. However, we always welcome visitors! Feel free to call,email or stop by.
Land Acknowledgements
Land acknowledgments have become a popular way to acknowledge historical and contemporary relationships of tribes and Indigenous people to the land. For a land acknowledgement to be more than a performative statement, it must be thoughtful and lead to deeper knowledge, engagement, and support of the land, tribes, and Indigenous People.
If you’re interested in a land acknowledgement, please check out some examples and toolkits for creating your own here:
https://nativegov.org/about/our-land-acknowledgement-statement/
https://nativegov.org/resources/?_sft_resource_topic=land-acknowledgment
https://sovereignpartnerships.ku.edu/constructing-land-acknowledgements-kansas
http://osageculture.com/culture/historic-preservation-office/osage-lands-acknowledgement
Guest Speakers
KCIC is honored to have many highly skilled teachers and public speakers on staff. We welcome the chance to speak at community events and gatherings to share our knowledge, perspectives and more about what we do. If you’re interested in having a KCIC speaker at your event, please let us know. We require a minimum $250 honorarium for our time. November is the busiest time for us because of Indigenous Peoples Day. If you do not already have a previous existing relationship with us, please refrain from asking us to participate in your events during November. We’d be happy to talk about potential collaborations in the future and always open to new opportunities and relationships.
If we are unable to participate in your events and are looking for lesson plans or educational materials, check out these resources from the National Museum of the American Indian:
https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360
Indian Child Welfare Act
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is among many laws and policies that have a direct impact on Indian Country. Essentially ICWA seeks to give tribal communities jurisdiction over child custody cases involving Native American children. Implementation of this law not been without challenge as tribal communities attempt to ensure that Native children remain under the care of Native American caregivers. Resources and more information on ICWA linked below.
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) (Haaland v. Brackeen)
Policy Issues
The political landscape changes fast. It’s very difficult to keep up to date on policy issues impacting Indian Country. Check out these trusted news sources to understand what’s happening and what’s at stake for Native American communities:
ICT: An independent, nonprofit news enterprise.
Home
https://indianz.com/
https://www.nativeamericacalling.com/
https://www.ncai.org/
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Tribes in the Area
There are 575 federally recognized tribes in the United States, four of which reside in the state of Kansas (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska). More information about tribes in Kansas located here:
https://www.knaa.ks.gov/tribes-in-ks
There are no federally recognized tribes in the state of Missouri due to federal relocation policy in the 1800's.
As the only Native American Indian Center in the region, we serve tribal people from all over the country. We have the unique privilege of being in intertribal relationships with relatives from countless tribes and affiliations.