Aberdeen could become the first ever Scottish city to twin with a Native American community in America.
Lord Provost Barney Crockett was in Texas this week representing the Granite City at the Offshore Technology Conference.
But as well as rubbing shoulders with oil and gas industry bosses, he met with James Collard, a representative of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Early talks have now begun in the hope of finding business links between Aberdeen and the more than 29,000 strong nation with an estimated economic impact of more than £375million.
The Potawatomi are a native American tribe now mostly based in Oklahoma with a de-facto capital in Shawnee.
Aberdeen is continuing to build relationships with cities abroad, especially outside Europe as Brexit uncertainty continues.
Planned trips this year to Houston, US, Doha, Qatar, Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico, Halifax, Canada, Karamay, China and Pemba, Mozambique, have already been budgeted at a cost of £43,000.
But opposition parties have called for the travel budget to be slashed further as the council has had to make more than £40million in cuts and savings at this year’s budget.
Mr Crockett said the idea of closer links was not “pie in the sky” and could result in tangible business opportunities in the future – including a potential twinning agreement.
He said: “I think there are golden opportunities now to build links with cities and communities across the US.
“The Potawatomi Nation is essentially an independent state within Oklahoma, they can control issues such as setting their own tax and business regulations.
“There are opportunities here for our businesses and theirs as there are great natural resources there.
“One day it could eventually lead to a twinning agreement.
“I have often said that people in Aberdeen don’t realise quite the impact the city has abroad and it was an honour when I was presented with a coonskin cap like that of Alamo hero Davie Crockett – who may well have been a forbearer of mine.”
FACTBOX
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the Great Plains, upper Mississippi River, and western Great Lakes region.
In the 19th century they were pushed from their lands by European settlers and eventually put into reservations.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation was set up with its own powers and now has nearly 30,000 citizens, mostly based in Oklahoma.
Population
Aberdeen – estimated 196,000 Citizen Potawatomi Nation – estimated 29,155
Main industries
Aberdeen – oil, fishing, financial services Citizen Potawatomi Nation – casinos, petrol stations
Politics
Aberdeen – council co-leaders Douglas Lumsden and Jenny Laing Citizen Potawatomi Nation – executive branch chairman John A. Barrett
