Native American Commission - October 7, 2021 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, October 7, 2021.
The Native American Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Lenore King, Whitney Fear, Sonya Donahue (via conference call), Emily Sargent (via conference call), Chalsey Snyder, Ashley Littlewolf
Absent: Rebecca Knutson, John Strand, Sharon White Bear
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair King welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Willard Yellow Bird Jr. provided a prayer and the Buffalo River Singers performed a prayer song.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda & Minutes
Member Snyder moved the Order of Agenda and the minutes of the September 2, 2021 Native American Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Fear. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Public Comment
No public comment was provided.
Item 4: Honoring of Anna Johnson
Item 5. Induction of New Member Ashley Littlewolf
Willard Yellow Bird, Jr. gave a blessing, prayer, and smudging for former Native American Commission Member Anna Johnson, and new Native American Commissioner Ashley Littlewolf. The Buffalo River Singers performed a prayer song.
Chair King thanked Ms. Johnson for her services and welcomed Member Littlewolf.
Item 6. Truth & Reconciliation Day Update
Member Fear provided an update on the Truth & Reconciliation Day proclamation issued by the City of Fargo for September 30, gave an overview of the day’s events, and shared hope for the future to annually recognize.
Item 7. Indigenous Association Report
Brandi King provided an update on upcoming events, including Indigenous Peoples Day on October 11. She noted a schedule of events is on the Indigenous Association website.
Ms. King additionally shared that a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons discussion will be held October 19 at City Hall, and an Indigenous Association Board meeting on October 25 at the Indigenous Association.
Item 8. Subcommittee Report
Member Snyder shared the education subcommittee has been in contact with the school districts and invited Member Littlewolf to join the education subcommittee.
Item 9. Announcements
Member Fear announced Joe Williams as the recipient of the 2021 Gladys Ray award.
Item 10. Staff Report
Lt. Bill Ahlfeldt introduced Sgt. Cristie Jacobsen as the new liaison to the Native American Commission from the Fargo Police Department.
Member Snyder shared that Planning Coordinator Tia Braseth is coordinating the Truth & Reconciliation Shoe Drive for Children and Teens through the end of the month.
Item 11. Adjourn
The time of adjournment was 12:44 p.m.