Native American Commission - May 5, 2022 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, May 5, 2022.
The Native American Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Whitney Fear, Emily Sargent, Rebecca Knutson, Sharon White Bear, John Strand, Ashley Littlewolf, Dale Sayers, Amanda Strauss
Absent:
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Fear welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Willard Yellow Bird, Jr. opened the meeting with prayer.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda & Minutes
Member White Bear moved the minutes of the December 2, 2021 and March 3, 2022 Native American Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Littlewolf. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member White Bear moved the Order of Agenda be approved. Second by Member Strand. All members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Sargent present.
Item 3: Public Comment
Jacqueline Dotzenrod spoke of a citizen task force on diversity and inclusion she is assembling. She stated that she would like a member of the Native American community to be part of the task force.
Discussion was held regarding the task force and connecting Ms. Dotzenrod with appropriate City Staff.
Item 4: Honoring Sonya Donahue
Commissioner Strand read a City of Fargo proclamation in honor of the late Native American Commissioner Sonya Donahue that declared March 31st, 2022 to be Sonya Donahue Appreciation Day to honor her memory.
Ms. Donahue’s family was presented with a star quilt and plaque to honor her service to the City of Fargo and the Fargo Native American Commission.
Willard Yellow Bird, Jr. said a prayer and the Buffalo River Singers performed a memorial song.
Item 5. Honoring of Outgoing Members
Chair Fear thanked outgoing Members Lenore King and Chalsey Snyder for their service to the Native American Commission. A star quilt was presented to former Chair Ms. King.
Item 6. Induction of New Members
Chair Fear welcomed new members Amanda Strauss and Dale Sayers to the Native American Commission.
Willard Yellow Bird, Jr. gave a blessing, prayer, and smudging for former Member Lenore King and new Members Dale Sayers and Amanda Strauss. The Buffalo River Singers performed a prayer song.
Item 7. Indigenous Association Report
No updates were provided.
Item 8. Subcommittee Reports
No subcommittee reports were presented.
Item 9. Staff Report
Fargo Police Lt. Bill Ahlfeldt announced the Fargo Police Department Community Picnic will be June 29th, 5:00-8:00 p.m. next to the Scheels Arena. He welcomed the Native American Commissioners and the public to attend.
Item 10. Announcements
Chair Fear announced that Ashely Littlewolf had been awarded the United Way’s Humble Hero Award.
Chair Fear also noted there is a vacancy on the Native American Commission.
Chair Fear shared that today is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and thanked the Fargo Moorhead MMIP, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, taskforce for hosting a prayer walk.
Chair Fear announced that the Circle of Nations School is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 year, and can be obtained at circleofnations.org.
Item 11. Adjourn
The time of adjournment was 12:38 p.m.