Native American Commission - December 5, 2019 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Native American Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, December 5, 2019.
The Native American Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Sharon White Bear, Anna Johnson, Lenore King, Rebecca Knutson, Chalsey Snyder, Whitney Fear, Heather Keeler
Absent: John Strand
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair White Bear welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Prayer
Member King led the Board in Prayer.
Item 3. Approve Order of Agenda & Minutes
Member Snyder moved the Order of Agenda and the minutes of the November 7, 2019 Native American Commission meeting be approved. Second by Fear. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4: Sponsorship Request: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), Amanda Vivier
Amanda Vivier presented an overview of the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women event and activities scheduled for February 14, 2020.
Discussion was held on regarding the process of obtaining non-profit status, and how this event will be marketed.
Ms. Vivier noted that MMIW has a Facebook page and that the next event planning meeting will be held December 18 at the Plains Arts Museum at 2:00 p.m.
Member Snyder moved to approve a $1000 sponsorship with fund to be release in January when available. Second by Member King. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 5. Old Business
a. Bylaws Update
Chair White Bear reviewed the updates discussed at the November meeting noting the proposed removal of the treasurer position. She also reviewed how the committees listed in the bylaws currently work and indicated if Members have changes to propose to the bylaws to submit them.
Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield noted that the update proposed is to establish consistency amongst the City Boards.
Member Snyder moved to remove the treasurer position from the bylaws. Second by Member Fear. On Call of the roll Members Knutson, Keeler, King, Snyder, Johnson, Fear, and White Bear voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Strand. The motion was declared carried.
b. Elections
Chair White Bear noted that in January Member King will become the new Chair of the Native American Commission and that a nomination and vote is needed today for a new Vice Chair.
Member Keeler nominated Member Anna Johnson for Vice Chair.
Member Snyder nominated Member Whitney Fear for Vice Chair.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie stated staff serving as the nominating committee is recommending Member Whitney Fear to serve as Vice Chair.
Member Johnson declined the nomination.
Member Snyder moved to appoint Whitney Fear as the Vice Chair of the Native American Commission. Second by Member King. On call of the roll Members Keeler, King, Knutson, Johnson, Snyder, and White Bear vote aye. Member Fear abstained from voting. Absent and not voting: Member Strand. The motion was declared carried.
This item was heard after Item 5d.
c. Winter Powwow – January 11, 2020
Ms. Christie noted that the Winter Powwow planning committee has identified First Nation Electric to serve as a fiscal agent for this event.
Member Keeler provided a background on First Nation Electric.
Planning Director Nicole Crutchfield provided a brief overview of how a fiscal agent works for an event like this.
Member King moved to approve the agreement with First Nation Electric as presented. Second by Member Johnson. On call of the roll Members Knutson, Snyder, Johnson, Keeler, Fear, King, and White Bear voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Strand. The motion was declared carried.
d. Sponsorship Request: Youthworks Native Youth Circle
Brandon Baity, Youthworks, spoke on behalf of the application and provided an overview of the events.
The Board discussed other funding sources, transportation for the program, and feedback from past events.
Member Fear moved to approve the sponsorship request for $1000. Second by Member Johnson. On call of the roll Members Snyder, King, Knutson, Keeler, Johnson, Fear, and White Bear voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Strand. The motion was declared carried.
e. FM Native Programs Consultant
Member Snyder provided an update. She noted the process of establishing a working board that would transition to a governing board. Ms. Snyder stated in January she will be reaching out for input and resources to create a cohesive group to identify the needs of the community. Those with suggestions can email fmnpinfo@gmail.com or call 701.715.2967.
Item 6. Public Comment
Kathy Langenwalter, Circle of Nations School, gave a brief overview and history of the Wahpeton Indian School and provided the Board with a handout. She noted that enrollment has been declining and they are working on getting the word out on the school.
Item 7. Announcements
Member Fear shared that December 21 is National Homeless Persons Memorial Day and a walk will be held at 6:45 pm starting at First Presbyterian Church and ending at First Lutheran Church. Following the walk a non-denominational service will be held starting at 7:00 p.m.
Member Fear Absent.
Chair White Bear extended her thanks to the Native American Commission Board members during her time as Chair, and thanked the Planning Department for their work.
Item 8. Staff Report
a. Budget Exercise
Ms. Christie stated that the packet contains a budget exercise regarding Native American Commission spending priorities for the upcoming year and asked all Members to complete and turn in before leaving.
b. Sweat Lodge Update
Planning and Development Director Nicole Crutchfield stated that Guy Fox has resigned his position on the Native American Commission and that if there are future complaints of concerns regarding the Sweat Lodge to direct them to Member King.
She shared that work is being done to formalize the process and noted attention to the sweat lodge line item on the budget exercise form.
Item 9. Adjourn – Next Meeting: February 6, 2020
The time of adjournment was 1:07 p.m.