Honoring the Past and Shaping the Future

Honoring the Past
and Shaping the Future

Welcome to the latest edition of The Picotte Center newsletter! We are thrilled to share significant progress and exciting developments as we work toward our grand opening in early 2025. From new partnerships and exhibits to essential projects and community involvement, every step brings us closer to honoring Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte’s remarkable legacy.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building a space that celebrates the legacy of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte and serves our community for generations to come!

106 Group Design Updates: Honoring Omaha Culture

We’re excited to share the latest design updates from our collaboration with the 106 Group. The Picotte Center is proud to integrate elements of Omaha language and culture into our space, creating a truly unique and meaningful environment.

Here is a small preview of what you can expect to see incorporated into the Picotte Center design:

Bilingual Signage: Visitors will notice that signage throughout the building will be displayed in both Omaha and English, promoting language preservation and fostering a deeper connection to the heritage of the Omaha people.
Medicine Wheel Exhibit: A beautiful medicine wheel exhibit will be displayed, symbolizing the sacred teachings of balance and harmony. This display will offer visitors insight into traditional Native American spirituality and the wisdom of the Omaha Nation.
The Omaha Way Inscribed on the Steps: As you ascend the steps inside the building, you'll find “The Omaha Way” inscribed on each step in the Omaha language, a powerful reminder of the values and traditions that guide the Omaha people.

Below are the renderings of the design elements that will be featured at the Picotte Center. Join us on our social media as we take you on an in-depth journey through the design elements of the Picotte Center, focusing on one space at a time!

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Above is a rendering of the main floor hallway of the Picotte Center, featuring the Medicine Wheel.

Pictured above are the steps leading to the second story. Each step includes the inscription of one of the Omaha Values exemplified in Dr. Picotte’s life. These values will be expressed only in the Omaha language on the steps. Visitors will find English translations elsewhere in the exhibits.

A Special Addition to the Kids’ Area:
The Soft Buffalo

Thanks to a grant awarded to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in partnership with The Picotte Center, we are thrilled to introduce a unique and meaningful addition to our kids' area—a custom-made, soft buffalo and calf.

This project was funded with a focus on youth engagement within our community, and UNL generously provided the buffalo as part of their commitment to supporting this vision.

The buffalo, crafted to look lifelike, is more than just a fun feature. It symbolizes strength, resilience, and a deep connection to Native American culture, offering children both a playful and educational experience.

We are grateful for the partnership with UNL and the opportunity to create a culturally rich environment for the next generation.

This rendering shows the Children’s area, including the soft buffalo and calf.

Potential Collaboration UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute

We are excited to share that the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute is interested in providing childhood development services within the Picotte Center. This partnership has the potential to bring additional resources and services to our community that will greatly benefit children and families in the area.

Dr. Wescott, a respected member of our board and professor at UNMC and Lisa Spellman, Tribal Community Liaison at UNMC, are facilitating the preliminary discussions at UNMC to explore the potential partnership with the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

Dr. Wescott holds the Dr. Susan and Susette La Flesche Professorship in Public Health, focusing on community outreach, public health research, and education within the Native American community. We are grateful to have Dr. Wescott as a dedicated board member; her contributions to public health are invaluable. Lisa Spellman has taken a great deal of initiative in exploring this potential partnership.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day
at Joslyn Castle

For the third year in a row, Joslyn Castle hosted an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event celebrating the history and heritage of Omaha’s First Nations People.

The Picotte Center had a table where we were able to share our progress and showcase blueprints. The event also included traditional dancing performed by the White Eagle Club Dancers of the Omaha Nation Public School and a traditional meal of soup and fry bread prepared by members of the tribe.

We continue to be grateful for our relationship with Joslyn Castle and the community-focused values we share.

Exciting New Exhibit:
Loan of Artifact Collection

We are proud to announce that a relative of Dr. Susan is generously loaning their remarkable artifact collection to The Picotte Center. This collection, which holds significant cultural and historical importance, will be featured in our upcoming exhibits, reinforcing our commitment to honoring Dr. Susan's legacy and showcasing artifacts that reflect her influence and contributions.

To ensure the preservation and protection of these valuable items, we have engaged Doug Bootes (pictured left), an experienced appraiser from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to photograph and document the collection. As a member of the Institute of American Indian Arts, Doug brings invaluable expertise to this process.

We look forward to unveiling this exciting addition to our exhibits and celebrating the rich heritage associated with Dr. Susan!

Preserving History:
Plans for Dr. Susan's Original Home

Vida Stabler, a current board member, is presently residing in Dr. Susan's original home. The Picotte Center has ambitious plans to purchase and restore this historic property in the future, ensuring that it remains a vital part of our community’s heritage.

Currently, a condition assessment is being conducted to evaluate the home and determine the cost of restoration. Recently, the house sustained damage to its roof due to a storm. We are pleased to report that the American Rescue Plan Act is funding the installation of a new roof, with Vida’s home being one of the selected Native homes to receive these critical funds.

The Picotte Center is actively raising funds to acquire the house, and we are committed to preserving this significant piece of history. Stay tuned for more updates as we work toward restoring Dr. Susan’s home for future generations to appreciate!

Gratitude for Support from the National Park Service

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the vital support we have received from the National Park Service, which has played an instrumental role in bringing The Picotte Center to life. Their generous grant funding has helped us develop our vision and create a space that honors and celebrates Native American culture and heritage.

This partnership exemplifies the importance of collaboration in preserving history and fostering community connections. We are deeply grateful for the National Park Service's commitment to supporting projects like ours, enabling us to share the rich legacy of Dr. Susan and the Omaha people with future generations.

Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation Donation Helps Digitize Historic Album for Display

The Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation recently announced their generous donation to support digitizing a unique and historically significant album for our touchscreen display.

This album belonged to Susette La Flesche Tibbles (Bright Eyes), who collected autographs from notable figures during her tour of the East Coast and Europe with Chief Standing Bear after his landmark trial. Carolyn Johnson, a relative of Dr. Susan, currently possesses the album and has graciously offered it for digitization, allowing visitors to explore this remarkable piece of history in an interactive format.

A Message of Gratitude
to Our Supporters

As we move forward with these exciting projects and partnerships, we are grateful for the continued support from our community, donors, and collaborators. The Picotte Center is more than just a place—it’s a reflection of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte’s legacy and a space dedicated to preserving and celebrating Omaha culture and history.

We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the months to come as we make progress toward our vision. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

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