Author: Fred Atchison

Jennifer Raff developed an early love of science, earning advanced degrees in Genetics and Biological Anthropology from the University of Indiana. She is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Kansas, utilizing genetics to study the origin of humans in the Americas. Her best selling book “Origin“, published February 2022, tells the dramatic story of how genetics has changed our understanding of the history of the Americas. It was believed for many years that humans crossed a land bridge between Asia and North America through an ice free corridor and quickly populated the two continents, killing off the megafauna in the process. DNA recovered from ancient peoples reveals a wealth of scientific information about the origin and movement of these peoples, and tells a much more complex story. Many scientists now believe that humans were here some 25,000 years ago and utilized a coastal route to populate the Americas.

Unfortunately, there is a history of scientists sometimes exploiting native people . Raff makes a case for the importance of researchers respecting tribal sovereignty. The study of early humans is a field that is changing very fast with the discovery of new sites and advances in the science. Raff also presents public talks and writes on aspects of science literacy. She has numerous publications, podcasts and interviews to her credit.

Ancient animal bones can tell a story according to French zooarcheologist Lauriane Bourgeon. Bourgeon spoke by Zoom to talk about her work at Bluefish Caves in the Northern Yukon. She is an expert in the study of animal remains and is trained to identify signs of humans, including fire signs, cut marks and fracture patterns. Bourgeon was recently working on the Kansas University Campus and traveled to Bluefish Caves as part of a research team. What the team found was what they believed to be an ice age hunting camp. The excavation produced bone remains of elk, deer, mammoth, wolf, bison and horse. A number of the bones bore scrape marks believed to be made by humans.

The bones were dated and found to be quite old, the oldest dating to 23,000 years ago. The work at Bluefish Caves is controversial as the archaeology community believed for many years that human presence in the Americas was dated to 12,000-13,000 years ago. No human remains were found at the site, perhaps because it was a temporary camp. It is hoped that the far north will yield other sites to study and to compare to the findings at Bluefish Caves. Bourgeon described the remoteness and difficulty of working at the site. The team traveled to the site by helicopter and had to deal with difficult supply and weather conditions. Bourgeon is hoping to return to the area to work on a newly discovered cave.

It is important to understand the history of a place and honor the people who lived in that place. Dr. Eric P. Anderson, Chair of Indigenous Studies, Haskell Indian Nations University, explained the concept of a Land Acknowledgement Statement. Many institutions have adopted statements that speak to the history and presence of native peoples who lived on the land in the past. These statements identify these tribes as a demonstration of respect for their history and culture. Dr. Anderson has assisted in the writing of Land Acknowledgement Statements for Watkins History Museum and the Symphony in the Flint Hills annual event. He cautions that these statements are in no measure a threat to the present system of land ownership.

Dr. Anderson grew up in Wichita and did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Kansas. His primary research interests include American Indian education and the system of federal boarding schools established in the 1900s. He is also interested in American West studies. Dr. Anderson is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

Barbara Ballard was elected to the Kansas State House of Representatives in 1993 and presently serves as the House Minority Chair. Ballard attributes her career success to a number of factors, starting with her family. Her parents raised her with the expectation of achievement and the belief that she would do something special with her life. She serves on key committees dealing with appropriations, transportation, redistricting, mental health. She believes her political success is due to hard work, the ability to compromise and work across the isle, a civil temperament, and the ability to change her mind. Ballard answered questions on the big issues of the day, including redistricting, the new Panosonic Plant in De Soto and the August ballot measure on abortion.

Ballard graduated from Webster College and earned advanced degrees from Kansas State University. She has served in a number of Kansas University administrative positions and is Associate Director of the Dole Institute. Ballard also serves on numerous boards and professional associations.

The new Rotary District 5710 Governor, Stephane Meyer, visited to talk about Rotary in eastern Kansas. Meyer is a member of the Shawnee Rotary Club and she conveyed energy and enthusiasm for her role as District leader. District 5710 consists of forty-three Rotary Clubs in Eastern Kansas, totaling 2,075 members. The district provides grants for local and global programs, sponsors youth programs, provides consulting and training, as well as other resources for member clubs. The District experienced a membership decline of approximately five per cent last year. Even before the pandemic Rotary Clubs were experiencing losses, a trend Meyer hopes to turn around.

Meyer has an interesting back story having overcome significant challenges in her youth, growing up in the Wichita area. She did undergraduate work at Kansas State University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Kansas University. Meyer served on the Shawnee City Council for a number of years. She represents DLR Group in Overland Park as a consultant to public entities working to pass bond issues for building programs. Meyer loves to travel and is a big Chicago Cubs fan. She donated a kidney to the husband of a good friend and joined a group of kidney donors who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Governor noted that there would be a District Training session in Lawrence at the Cider Gallery on August 20 and the annual District Conference will be held at the Hyatt Place in Overland Park September 22-24.