Native American Commission Meeting - February 7, 2024
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Native American Commission Meeting
The Native American Commission held a special meeting on February 7, 2024, to honor outgoing founding member Sharon White Bear, appoint a new Vice Chair, reaffirm its support for an independent police investigation, and receive updates on community health and cultural programs.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Reverend Karen Van Bossen (Justice for Shane): Expressed gratitude for the Commission’s prior support and requested renewed backing for an independent investigation into the police killing of Shane Netterville. She stated the estimated cost of an independent investigation is between $25,000 and $50,000 and invited the Commission to a one-year memorial event.
- Ruth Buffalo (Not Invisible Act Commission, Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara Nation): Provided an update on the Commission’s work addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis. She announced the final field hearing in Billings, Montana, and encouraged community members to submit written testimony by August 10th.
Discussion Items
- Reaffirmation of Support for Independent Investigation: Following public comment, Commissioners Whitney Fear, Sharon White Bear, and John Strand discussed the need to formally reiterate the Commission’s previous motion supporting an independent investigation into the death of Shane Netterville. A motion was made to reinforce the support and send a formal letter to the Mayor and Police Chief. An amendment was added to request that the Fargo Police Department appear before the Commission for direct dialogue. Both the amendment and the main motion carried.
- Honoring Commissioner Sharon White Bear: The Commission held a special ceremony for outgoing founding member Sharon White Bear, who served for 17 years. Willard Yellowbird conducted a smudging ceremony. Speakers highlighted her mentorship and the historic significance of the Commission as the first city-level Native American commission in the United States.
- Appointment of Vice Chair: Emily Sargent resigned as Vice Chair (remaining a regular board member). The nominating committee recommended Ashley Little Wolf, who was unanimously elected to serve as Vice Chair through December 2024.
- Nutrition and Breastfeeding Support Program: Tara Orr (WIC Dietitian/Lactation Consultant) and Candy Smith (RN, IBCLC, Indigenous Association) presented on a partnership providing nutrition education and breastfeeding support. They highlighted a severe shortage of lactation consultants in North Dakota, with only 32 in the entire state, and discussed barriers to access for rural and tribal communities.
- Indigenous Association Report: Interim Executive Director Brandon Beatty provided a comprehensive update on the Association’s growth and programs, including youth camps with Fargo Public Schools, cultural workshops, regalia-making classes, open craft nights, and the annual Native American Picnic scheduled for August 19th at MB Johnson Park in Moorhead.
Key Outcomes
- Motion Carried: The Commission voted to formally reaffirm its support for an independent investigation into the police shooting of Shane Netterville, send a letter to the Mayor and Police Chief, and request a meeting with the Fargo Police Department.
- Vice Chair Appointed: Ashley Little Wolf was unanimously approved as Vice Chair.
- Commissioner Recognized: Outgoing founding member Sharon White Bear was formally honored for her 17 years of service and foundational role.
- Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned. Per the meeting transcript, the next regular meeting was scheduled for September 7, 2023, a date which precedes the currently recorded meeting date of February 7, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you for joining us today. I call the July 6, 2023 meeting of the Native American Commission to order. Let's begin with the introduction of current Commission members, starting with Suzanne. Good morning. I'm Suzanne Senski. Bonjour, Emily Sargent, I'm from White Earth Nation and Vice Chairwoman. Whitney Fear, current chairwoman of the NACU. Boujo, Ashley Little Wolf, Boys Fort Band of Ojibwe. Chairon White Bear from MHA Nation of Rikura. Dale Sayers, Black Feek Nation, Turtle Mount Descent. John Strand City Commission Liaison. Okay. And just to let everyone know, Commissioner Stran and Seth, it will be voting members at today's meeting, but at the September meeting, then we'll officially convert to non-voting liaison members as we approved last month. Today is a special meeting where we will be honoring new and outgoing members. Thank you to Willard Yellowbird and Buffalo River Seniors for joining us. Willard, would you please open us with a prayer? Where are you all? I'd like to thank you for asking me and for coming to say this opening prayer for all the people for the Native Commissions. Uh commissioners and uh the ones that are leaving and the ones that are new and the audience here, and uh I I even got my grandson to come help me today. I got hurt this summer, so this this winter, so I'm barely starting to walk and things like that. And uh so but I've been going through therapy for two and a half months, and I got about a month left, I think. Then I can start dancing again. So, no, just kidding. Today, we are praying in our own way. We are taught that we are the caretakers of Mother Earth, and we must stand together as one soul, one spirit and one body. Today I offer this prayer to all of us and to those who could not be here in body, but are here in spirit as we pray together, we become one voice in the spirit. We come from the four directions of Mother Earth through our turtle today, Turtle Island today. We ask our ancestors to find us and stand with us in prayer and to fear our and to feel our tears and witness our prayers to our Native Commission and to all our people. Creator, we thank you for the lessons that you have taught us in patience, generosity, compassion, and for the love for one another. You taught us to feel your warmth, healing, and love in the spirits of the universe. Creator, have pity on us and stand beside us. Once again, it was said, as we pray as one soul, one spirit and one voice, you stand with us. Creator, we may come from different paths, but we all end on your sacred road, and that's to help our people. There will be tough times ahead, Creator, but give our command commissioners the strength and the courage and the wisdom to understand and to help our people through their struggles of life. I ask that you give them the strength and blessing to use their talent on how to deal with this changing worlds in a good way. Let their growth here today embrace our social vision, our mission to understand the health and healing journey of our people who are living in this changing world. Today we have concerns for our people, and we ask ourselves how could we bring health and harmony to our people to have hope, to be kind, gentle, patient, and humble. Creator, what we have learned of ourselves, that we must become aware of the spiritual relationship to you. The greater need is to have the ability to help, but still the greater need is the response, the responsibility to help our people. Holy Father, we bow down to you. You're alone our holy. You own everything in this whole world. You're our chief overall. We thank you for listening to our prayer today and standing beside us once again. I'm asking you this day to give us a blessing and watch over all our family, relatives, and friends, our veterans today and all days, and to keep them safe in this changing world. Today I ask your blessings. To give the strength to our commissioners. So when they leave here, they will demonstrate their leadership and character to all our people. And to show their spiritual strength at its finest. Feel sorry for us.
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