Smithsonian stands behind selection of Gover

Monday, October 1, 2007  

The acting secretary of the Smithsonian Institution says the board of trustees for the National Museum of the American Indian should have been informed about the hiring of Kevin Gover.

"I agree that we should have made sure all the members of the board were informed prior to the announcement, and regret that this was not the case," acting secretary Cristián Samper said in e-mail to the board.

But Samper defended the process used to hire Gover. The selection committee kept the candidates secret before recommending the former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to head the NMAI.

"I was impressed by both candidates and concurred that Kevin Gover had the qualities and experience that we need in a Director," Samper wrote. "I am confident he will be a good leader for NMAI going forward."

Gover, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, is set to take over the museum on December 2. He replaces Rick West, a member of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.

Relevant Links:
National Museum of the American Indian - http://www.nmai.si.edu
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Kempthorne - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
In The Hoop: Smithsonian Is Sorry (10/1)
Cobell: Gover the wrong choice to head NMAI (9/21)
Secrecy shrouded hiring of new NMAI director (9/19)
Gover outlines vision for Indian museum (9/18)
Cobell: Gover's hiring an affront to Native people (9/18)
Whites outnumber Indians on NMAI search panel (9/17)
Editorial: Kevin Gover, experience and NMAI (9/14)
Gover defends record after criticism from Cobell (9/13)
Cobell blasts Gover's appointment to NMAI (9/12)
Kevin Gover to take over NMAI on December 2 (9/12)
Kevin Gover named new director of NMAI (9/11)