Native American Commission - January 3, 2019 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Native American Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, January 3, 2019.
The Native American Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Sharon White Bear, John Strand, Guy Fox, Anna Johnson, Lenore King, Rebecca Knutson, Whitney Fear
Absent: Chalsey Snyder
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Vice Chair King welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Prayer
Member Fox led the Board in Prayer.
Item 3. Approve Order of Agenda
Member Knutson moved the Order of Agenda be approved. Second by Member Fear. On the call of the roll Members Fox, Knutson, Johnson, Strand, Fear, and King voted aye. Absent and not voting: Members White Bear and Snyder. The motion was declared carried.
Member White Bear present.
Item 4: Approve Minutes
Member Fear moved the minutes of the December 6, 2018 meeting be approved. Second by Member Fox. On the call of the roll Members Fear, Fox, King, Knutson, Strand, Johnson, and White Bear voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Snyder. The motion was declared carried.
Item 5. Public Comment – citizens to be heard
Local residents Kelly Noack, Ellen Mahli, and Sister Roselima D’Costa shared information about upcoming events in the community.
Ms. Noack provided details to the Board about the upcoming Woodlands & High Plains Powwow on March 30, 2019. She noted that the Tri-College committee has several upcoming planning meetings.
Ms. Mahli and Sister Roselima shared that the Presentation Sisters and Associates will be hosting the Rejuvenation Event on January 13, 2019. They noted the film The Eagle and the Condor will be shown.
Item 6. Presentation: Jan Nelson, Heart Springs
Jan Nelson, Executive Director, Heart Springs Community Healing Center presented an overview of the Heart Springs Center and the Mind Body Medicine Program. She shared that she is looking to create a mind/body group directed towards the Native American community.
Ms. Nelson also shared information about the upcoming Food is Medicine Program and the opening for attendees. She presented details about the Safe and Sound Protocol and noted she is looking for 4-5 individuals to participate in a trial program.
The Board discussed community connections and partners for the programs and well as outreach to the Native American community. Member Fear was appointed as the contact from the Native American Commission to coordinate information.
Item 7. Presentation: Sunny Branick, Northern Narratives Writing Project
Sunny Branick, Fargo Public Library, gave a presentation on the Northern Narratives Writing Project. He noted the project seeks original writings for submission and those chosen will be published. Submissions will be accepted from people ages 13 years and older. He shared that there will be four writing sessions held for assistance and that submissions will be accepted until March 4, 2019.
Item 8. Human Rights Film Festival Wrap Up: Sean Coffman
Sean Coffman shared his thanks to the Native American Commission for their support of the Human Rights Film Festival that took place in November. He distributed the program of the event to the Board and provided an overview of the event.
Mr. Coffman shared information about an upcoming Art Festival to be held at the Plains Art Museum starting on January 8, 2019. He noted an Artists Reception will be held on January 23.
He also noted a collaboration event with the NDSU Memorial Art Gallery, to be held in January, as an additional opportunity to see more films from the Film Festival along with human rights speakers.
Item 9. 2019 Strategic Planning
Chair White Bear noted that there will be an upcoming meeting.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie stated that a Doodle poll will be going to Board members to check availability.
Planning Coordinator Tia Braseth shared that a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a meeting facilitator will be going out soon.
Item 10. NYE Strategic Planning
Chair White Bear shared that the NYE Powwow was postponed due to weather.
The Board discussed possible dates, times, drum groups, and venue availability to reschedule the event.
Member Fox moved to change the date of the Powwow to January 12. Second by Member Fear. On the call of the roll Members Johnson, Fox, King, Knutson, Fear, Strand, and White Bear voted aye. Absent and not voting: Member Snyder. The motion was declared carried.
Discussion continued regarding improving event detail communication among the Board. Chair White Bear noted that the Powwow committee will need to meet to get event details in place.
Item 11. Public Comment
No public comment was given.
Item 12. Announcements
Member Fear noted that January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and January 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Chair White Bear noted an opportunity to recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Month at the Powwow.
Item 13. Staff Report
No staff reports were given.
Item 14. Next Meeting: February 7, 2019
Item 15. Adjourn
The time of adjournment was 1:00 p.m.