To:

Commissioner Jim Fyke, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Deputy Commissioner Paul Sloan, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Charlie Tate, State Parks' Director of Natural and Cultural Resource Management Tennessee Historical Commission Herbert Harper Pat Cummins, Archaeological Advisory Council Corky Allen, Archaeological Advisory Council Brian Beadles, Historical Commission, Historic Preservation Specialist (National Register) Joe Garrison, Historical Commission, Historic Preservation Specialist (Review and Compliance, Section 106) Claudette Stager, Historical Commission, Historic Preservation Specialist (National Register) Tennessee State Parks Kevin E. Smith, MTSU Director of Anthropology Guy Weaver, Tennessee Council for Professional Archaeology Mark Norton, Pinson Mounds archaeologist, Tennessee Division of Archaeology Mark Tolley, Tennessee Ancient Sites Conservancy Native American Indian Association of Tennessee Tennessee Archaeological Advisory Council Tennessee Council for Professional Archaeology

Commissioners, Historians, Preservationists, Recreationists, Archaeologists, Council members, All,


The current questions regarding the future of the Pinson Reforestation Complex (West Tennessee Tree Nursery) on the Pinson Mounds National Historic Landmark brings up several issues regarding the preservation, protection and advocacy of Native American cultural resources owned and managed by the State of Tennessee.

The State of Tennessee owns many properties, including three State Parks (Pinson Mounds, Old Stone Fort, Red Clay), whose significance is directly tied to Native American culture, both past and present. There are no publicly-available Management Direction Statements for these properties and parks (www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/mgtplans.php), and there is no mention of Native American cultural resources or input in the 2003-2008 Tennessee State Recreation Plan or the August 2005 Tennessee State Parks Strategic Direction. The lack of reference to State-managed Native American cultural resources in State planning documents indicates a serious problem of cultural sensitivity and ethnic/racial representation in the State's land management practices.

The issue of continued tree farming on the Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Area/National Historic Landmark should be resolved by direct discussions with the interested parties, especially with Native American representatives, with the goal of creating a Cultural Resource Management Plan for Pinson Mounds which can then serve as a template and benchmark for developing Cultural Resource Management Plans for all other State properties of Native American cultural significance.

Plans to improve Native American advocacy in State site preservation, protection and interpretation should include the following changes:

1. Involvement of the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs in the Tennessee State Parks Review Process.
   
   
2. Development of Tennessee State Parks Cultural Resource Management Plans for all Tennessee State Parks with Native American cultural resources by 2010.
   
   
3. Development of Management Direction Statements and full Management Plans, with full and direct Native American participation, for all state-owned sites of Native American significance.
   
   
4. Development of Management Direction Statements and full Management Plans, with full and direct Native American tribal participation, for all state-owned National Historic Landmark sites of Native American significance.
   
   
5. Appointment of Native Americans to the Tennessee Recreation Advisory Committee.
   
   
6. Appointment of Native Americans to the Tennessee Historical Commission.