Hotel Kansas City was the site for First Call’s Soiree, which was held on September 28th. Karen and Jeffry Gerson were the event chairs. The newly reimagined event featured a keynote performance by live painter, John Bukaty. Guests were treated to a lovely dinner, an auction, and most importantly, stories of hope from former First […]

The Whole Person’s 2023 Casino Royale Night of Independence Awards Gala was held on September 22nd at Harrah’s Casino. The event raises funds for and toasts people living independently with disabilities. Receiving the Independence Award was 14-year-old Brinley Hutson, who has discovered her identity as an athlete! The spirited atmosphere featured dinner, casino games, silent […]

Children’s Mercy Hospital hosted Dream Big Day in September in Crown Center Square, with a one-mile walk and a family-friendly celebration. Besides having fun, the day was a fundraiser which rallied the community around the mission of providing answers, hope, and care to patients and their families.   Featured in the November 11, 2023 issue […]

The Snow Ball season has officially begun for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas! The Patron, Table, and Snowflake committee members gathered recently at Indian Hills Country Club to kick off the 50th Anniversary. Guest speakers included Lauren Solidum, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, and Kershana, a St. Rita program graduate. Veronica and Peter Mallouk are serving […]

More than 220 guests gathered for Jackson County CASA’s Cocktails for CASA – A Night of Hope auction, which was held on October 6th at The Guild. The fifth annual event featured special guests KC Wolf and Chiefs Cheerleaders, a wine pull, a specialty CASA-colada cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auctions, and more. Proceeds […]

The BOTAR Organization participates in conducting school tours of The American Royal twice, annually. Each year, members gather in May and October to help guide school children through the various programs and offerings at The Royal.      Featured in the November 11, 2023 issue of The Independent. Photo credit: Bailey Pianalto Photography

Kansas City Ballet Guild members gathered at the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity on September 28th to assemble invitations for the 2023 Nutcracker Ball. The Guild’s 56th annual gala will be held on December 1st at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Jo Anne Dondlinger is serving as the Ball chairman, and […]

Founded in 1995 by David W. Bland and Marianne Roos, Travois exists to support Indigenous clients as they build affordable housing and grow their economies. While this is not a Native-owned organization, they feel, “It is imperative that we steadfastly acknowledge this context and continually educate ourselves about the realities faced by those we serve.” […]

With the resurgence of interest in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, I felt that this list of First Nations and Native American authors is quite timely. There are a few authors who have entered into the national canon. Louise Erdrich is well known and well respected in literary fiction, Stephen Graham Jones is one of […]

The National Urban Indian Family Coalition, founded in 2003 by Janeen Comenote, elevates a national voice for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban communities and sustains indigenous values and culture through a strong network of urban Indian organizations. The NUIFC is proud to support the Kansas City Indian Center, one of the only […]

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kansas City underwent significant growth, transforming into a busy trading and transportation hub that attracted a continuous influx of settlers. Within the growing population, two Native American sisters, Eliza “Lyda” and Helena “Lena” Conley of the Wyandot tribe, found themselves in a fierce conflict with city officials […]

The era of the American frontier is a history passed down through generations. Yet, a particular chapter we don’t often hear of is stained with injustice. According to some, the ripple effects of European colonization and the Native American boarding schools they erected can still be felt among Indigenous communities. Within the walls of these […]

The discussion of land being taken away from and given to Native American Indians is a lengthy one fraught with many decisions and disagreements and recalibrations. Today, many institutions nationwide have been keen to acknowledge that the land upon which they sit is, indeed, Native American Indian land. We were particularly impressed with the depth […]

Complicated – the word that comes to mind most often when contemplating life today, in 2023, as a Native American Indian. Living, working, playing, raising children, worshipping, building a life and some wealth, honoring culture, sustaining family traditions – all of those seemingly normal activities are bestowed a level of complication when trying to carry […]

When Raven Chacon won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2022, the announcement surprised many American music-lovers, few of whom realized how strong the tradition of concert music by Native Americans had grown during the past two generations.  This year Raven was also awarded the MacArthur Award, given (as the MacArthur Foundation wrote) for “creating […]

Across cultures, jewelry has long held social, economic, and personal value. It allows people to express their identity, personality, and individuality. Within Native American culture, jewelry takes on a more spiritual role, offering pathways to healing and cultural reconnection. In some cases, Native American jewelry may act as a bridge to initiate meaningful dialogues and […]

October 13th was the date for the first-ever Night at the Mission fundraising event, which was held at the Shawnee Indian Mission to celebrate the historic landmark. Hosted by the Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation, and chaired by Jenny Waldeck, the evening boasted four conversations with experts in the fields of Mission history, master gardening, Missouri […]

Nathan Bowman doesn’t always advertise his Native American heritage when presenting himself to the public, but he is nonetheless proud of the deep roots that his family has always known are there. The co-founder and producing artistic director of Kansas City Public Theatre was raised knowing that, at the very least, he was descended on […]

Libby and Brad Bergman were the honorary chairs, and Katrina and Tom Henke and Kimberlee Ried and Erik Bergrud served as the event co-chairs of the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s annual Night at the Tower event on September 30th. Guests and food and beverages flowed throughout the venue, as they enjoyed a live auction, […]

A truly historic birthday of 120 years was celebrated in style recently honoring the Jewish Family Services agency. More than 650 guests gathered at the Overland Park Marriott and enjoyed cocktails, dinner, a live auction, and entertainment by the Jewbie Brothers. Co-chairs for the memorable event were Brenda Althouse and Paul Fingersh and Amy and […]

The Harriman-Jewell Series celebrated the start of its 59th Season at its Prelude event on September 11th at The 1900 Building. Guests enjoyed the American recital debut performance of pianist Mahani Teave, a talented native of Easter Island. The spectacular concert featured Easter Island folk music and familiar classical piano pieces. An elegant post-performance dinner […]