Native American Commission Meeting - September 7, 2023
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Native American Commission Meeting - September 7, 2023
The Native American Commission met on September 7, 2023, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public comment, a presentation on establishing a permanent Savannah Greywind Day in Fargo, planning for Indigenous People's Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day, subcommittee reports, and a staff update from the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the agenda and the July 6, 2023, meeting minutes by voice vote with a motion from Ashley and a second.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Reverend Karen Van Fauson, representing the Justice for Shane group, thanked the commission for reiterating support for an independent investigation and for calling on the Fargo Police Department to meet with the commission. She requested the commission's continued support and advice on approaching the city commission and asked for details on when the police chief would be invited and how the public could interact.
- Ruth Buffalo (enrolled citizen of Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara) and Maya Buffalo (student at M State) presented a proposal to establish a permanent Savannah Greywind Day in Fargo on August 9th (Savannah's birthday). Ruth explained that Savannah's mother had contacted her after Turtle Mountain passed a similar recognition. Maya noted that the U.S. Department of Justice reports more than 4 in 5 Native American and Alaskan Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime, and Indigenous women are murdered at a rate 10 times the national average. She stressed that Savannah's life and tragic death call for awareness and that the day should celebrate her life rather than her death. The request seeks a permanent recognition at the same level as Indigenous People's Day, without needing annual proclamations.
Discussion Items
Savannah Greywind Day Proposal
- Commissioners expressed strong support for the proposal. Chair Whitney Johnson (Oglala Sioux) affirmed the importance of honoring the request from Savannah's family. Commissioner Ashley Little Wolf (Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe) and Commissioner Dale Sayers (Blackfeet Nation) volunteered to help spearhead the effort alongside city planning staff and the family. Assistant Planner Catelyn noted there is no clear-cut path, so a navigating team would be formed to work with the mayor's office. Later in the meeting, Commissioner Amanda Strauss (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) also asked to be involved.
Indigenous People's Day – October 9, 2023
- Chair Johnson announced a breakfast kickoff at Indigenous Association, encouraging community members to attend a "Meet the NAC" opportunity. The GLaDIS Gray Award nomination forms are available online or in hard copy; nominations are due by Friday, September 22, 2023. Additional programming is being compiled, including a lunch and learn at the YumCon Center (details to come).
Truth and Reconciliation Day – September 30, 2023
- Chair Johnson reported that the commission will again submit for a citywide proclamation. Last year, Fargo City Hall's exterior lights were lit in orange (Orange Shirt Day). An educational video is available on the NAC webpage.
Subcommittee Reports
- Health and Wellness (Chair Whitney Johnson): Met with State's Attorney Kim Hegzik and her office in May. The meeting went well; Hegzik has since reached out for resource connections, showing improved collaboration.
- Education and Cultural Awareness (Chair Ashley Little Wolf): No updates yet, but hope to meet with Fargo West Fargo Public Schools Indian Ed now that the school year is back.
- Housing Subcommittee: Currently no members. Ashley Little Wolf expressed interest in joining or chairing, given her professional background. Chair Johnson agreed that this could be handled informally; Ashley will remain chair of Education and Cultural Awareness but also join Housing.
Staff Reports
- Dr. Terry Hogan, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Announced a development and training plan for the cabinet, including IDI assessments and a focus on reducing biases. The first session occurred on the meeting day. No board questions.
Announcements
- Chair Whitney Johnson: The commission has one vacancy; applications are open through September 18, 2023 (information on city website).
- Upcoming events: Fargo Moorhead Indian Back-to-School Dash (tonight, 5:30-8 PM at Fargo Public School District office) and Native American Education Program Back-to-School Night (September 22, 6-8 PM).
Key Outcomes
- Savannah Greywind Day Team: Commissioners Ashley Little Wolf, Dale Sayers, and Amanda Strauss volunteered to form a navigating team with Ruth Buffalo, Maya Buffalo, city planning staff, and the family to advance the permanent day designation.
- Housing Subcommittee: Ashley Little Wolf will join (no formal vote needed).
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for November 2, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, you can go ahead. Yeah. Thank you for joining us today. This is Whitney over the phone. I call the September 7th, 2023 meeting of the Native American Commission order. We'll begin with an introduction of current commission members, starting with I think we'll go ahead and start with those of us that are on the phone. Um and I can go and then maybe uh Molly and I believe Dale is also on the phone. Um I name is Whitney Johnson, and I am the current chairwoman of the Native American Commission, member of the Oguala Su tribe. Hi, my name is Dale Sayers. Uh, I'm also a commission member and member of the Black Beat Nation and descendant of Colonel Mountain. Okay, thank you. And I think we'll go ahead and go with members there in person since I'm not able to see or order people, or maybe we'll just start at the whoever is the furthest left on the day. Boujo, Ashley Little Wolf, Boys Fort Band of Ojibwe. Amanda Strauss, Sisitin Wapatino Yate. Is that everybody now? Yep. Okay. The next item on the agenda is going to be to approve the agenda in the minutes from our July sixth, twenty twenty-three minutes. Can I get a motion to approve both the agenda and minute? This is Ashley. I motion. Is there a second? I second. All those in favor say aye. Hi. Motion carried. Next item on our agenda is going to be public comment. Uh speakers must state their name and we'll be limited to two minutes. And I would like this to for us to stay as close as we can to this today. Um, and we might been for those who kind of for public comment to be mindful of this, as we have a pretty busy agenda today with a few presentations. So comments should not contain profanity or personal attack. Yeah, if do we have anybody who signed up for public comment? We have one person, Reverend Karen Van Fauson. Hello. I'm a minister here in Fargo Moorehead. And I'm here today as part of the Justice for Shane group on behalf of Ryan Netterville and the rest of us doing this work together in the larger community. We would really like to thank you for reiterating your support of an independent investigation and going even farther than we were asking last at your last meeting and calling on the Fargo Police Department to come to a Native American Commission meeting and respond to some lingering deep questions. So that it can be of good use to us when we are approaching the city commission directly. And would love your your support and help in doing that advice and presence. And if you would be willing to join us or advise us on how to do that as best as we can, we would be very grateful. And we also would love some more information about when the Fargo police will be invited to a commission meeting and how the public might interact with that. Thank you again. Thank you, Karen. We are in the process of having a letter sent to the city commission, so it has not been sent just yet. But it will be very soon. But uh that should be happening very soon. Um I don't foresee there being any issues with um guys being provided a copy. And uh I don't have an update on the date or that uh you know upcoming time for the chief. That's also something that is in process as well. I'm seeing what the next step is for for that.
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