Native American Commission - May 1, 2025 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Native American Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Meadowlark Room at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2025.
The Native American Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Ashley Littlewolf, Daniel Frye, Dale Sayers, Lisa Ducheneaux, Emily Sargent
Absent: Suzanne Senske, Amanda Strauss
Also present: Fargo School Board Liaison Nikkie Gullickson, Fargo City Commission Liaison John Strand
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Littlewolf welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda & Minutes
Member Frye moved the Order of Agenda and the minutes of the January 2, 2025 Native American Commission meeting be approved. Second by Member Sayers. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3: Public Comment
No public comment was presented.
Item 4: Retreat Recap
Chair Littlewolf provided an overview of the March 26, 2025 Native American Commission Retreat. She noted the central theme being the urgent need for greater attention and support around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), and shared a three-pronged strategy to guide efforts through awareness, data, and prevention. She additionally explained a proposed meeting framework for 2025 in which various City departments would be invited to attend bi-monthly meetings for collaborative roundtable discussions.
Item 5. Discussion with Communications Department
This item was tabled for a future meeting in order to accommodate the schedule of Communications Department.
Item 6. Governance and Operations
Chair Littlewolf said that according to the bylaws, existing subcommittees are meant to meet quarterly, however she recommends temporarily suspending this requirement in light of the board’s new meeting framework for 2025 and the ongoing challenge to maintain active subcommittees.
Member Sargent motioned to approve to temporarily suspend the requirement for quarterly subcommittee meeting obligations as outlined in the bylaws. Second by Member Frye. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Director of Planning and Development Nicole Crutchfield provided an update on the City’s budget cycle and impacts to the City’s boards and commissions. She informed the Native American Commission that she has an informational meeting on June 9 to discuss options on how to move forward.
Item 7. Staff Reports
No reports were given.
Item 8. Announcements
No announcements were shared.
Item 9. Adjourn
The time of adjournment was 1:24 p.m.