OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Tulsa, Oklahoma/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission Meeting - April 21, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodyTulsa, Oklahoma
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 58:17

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:12

I put my janitor.

0:18

Good evening.

0:19

And welcome to our April Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission meeting.

0:26

We greatly appreciate all of you being here.

0:28

At this time.

0:34

Yes.

0:34

David Bible.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Linda Leif Bolin.

0:37

Daniel Carter.

0:39

Cheryl Cohen Hour.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Joe Deer.

0:43

Warren Harjo.

0:44

Here.

0:45

Stacey Lasky.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Wyneta Laurie.

0:48

Winnie Gus Purdue.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Pat Powell.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Warren Keeton.

0:53

Here.

0:54

Joyce Roberts.

0:55

Here.

0:55

Matt Roberts.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Teresa Reynolds.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Kim Thee.

1:00

Mark Van Kieran.

1:03

Erica Welk Carter.

1:05

Dorcas Williams.

1:08

Cherie Williams here.

1:12

And our land acknowledgments.

1:15

We begin by acknowledging the tribal governments on whose reservations we stand.

1:19

Oklahoma is home to 38 federally recognized Indian tribes and local schools serve students belonging to more than 60 tribes.

1:27

The City of Tulsa sits within the reservation lands of the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, and Osage Nation.

1:34

Each of these great nations have vibrant cultures, unique histories, and distinct languages.

1:40

We acknowledge and honor these nations, their citizens, their enduring commitment to our community and their land.

1:47

We begin with gratitude, appreciation, and respect.

1:52

Great, thank you.

1:54

We appreciate it.

1:56

All right.

1:57

Last month we did not meet meet a quorum.

2:01

And so basically we just had notes.

2:04

So in the email that you received from Lexi, we had our February 17th minutes, but then our March gathering.

2:17

Since we didn't have a quorum, we had a gathering, and so we had some notes.

2:22

And so at this time, if you could review the February meeting minutes, and then we can the we can approve those and and uh and move forward.

2:39

I will make a motion to approve the February 17, 2026 meeting minutes.

2:45

Second.

2:47

All right, we have a second from Commissioner Laskey.

2:51

Okay, moving in to the chair and the and the five.

2:55

Oh we are okay.

2:57

We have a second.

3:00

Uh we're a month behind, but uh all in favor of approving the uh February meeting minutes.

3:06

Say aye.

3:08

All opposed.

3:10

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████████████████████████████39%
Procedural███████████████15%
Youth Programs██████████10%
Personnel Matters██████████10%
Arts And Culture█████████9%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Legislative Policy████4%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Historic Preservation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission Meeting - April 21, 2026

The Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission held its regular monthly meeting on April 21, 2026, beginning with a land acknowledgment recognizing the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, and Osage Nation. Commissioners approved minutes, heard reports on Native American Day planning, Dreamkeepers Park design, education initiatives, and celebrated the passage of amended bylaws through the Tulsa City Council.

Consent Calendar

  • The commission unanimously approved the February 17, 2026 meeting minutes by voice vote.

Discussion Items

  • Chair Report: The chair noted a collaboration meeting with the African Affairs Commission scheduled for May 14, 2026, and foreshadowed the ordinance amendments.
  • Director of Tribal Policy and Partnerships Report (Amanda): Amanda reported on meetings with Partner Bio Research Group, Aspen Institute, Stepping Up committee, Global Oklahoma Showcase, Tulsa Renewable Business Alliance, and college tours. Updates included: Midland Trail renaming (awaiting Muscogee Nation agenda), South Tulsa Dam (considering options, seeking additional funding), exploration of a Native American cultural center, and a request for input on establishing a city-recognized holiday (e.g., Treaty Day or Sovereignty Day) separate from Native American Day.
  • Native American Day Committee: Commissioner Cohen-Hour announced the 2026 theme "Sacred Roots Shared Future" and featured artist Jessica Harjo. The committee selected the mayor as parade marshal (pending invitation). Next meeting: April 30, 2026.
  • Dreamkeepers Park Committee: Commissioner Powell reported that design firm TSW has met with the Cherokee, Muscogee Creek, and Osage Nations. A National Park Service visit in March encouraged pursuing national historic designation for Dreamkeepers Park, potentially leading to a larger national park area. Conceptual design expected by June 1, 2026. Cultural committee meeting set for May 1, 2026.
  • Education Committee: Commissioner Williams announced the Senior Recognition ceremony on May 7, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Booker T. Washington High School. She also reported that Tulsa Public Schools voters approved all four bond propositions. Commissioner Leif Bolin reported Jenks Public Schools honored 24 Students of the Year and will recognize 91 seniors on April 24, 2026. Owasso Public Schools will honor seniors on April 27, 2026.
  • Parks Committee: Commissioner Powell noted weekly design meetings, stormwater analysis, and assessment of park features including the flag monument. The park department confirmed no construction at Dreamkeepers Park until after Native American Day.
  • Bylaws Committee: Vice Chair Carter reported that the Tulsa City Council unanimously passed amendments to the commission's ordinance, effective upon mayoral signature on April 22, 2026. Changes include: permanent seats for the three tribes with reservations in Tulsa (Cherokee, Muscogee Creek, Osage), reducing required meetings from 12 to 10 per year, and clarifying eligibility for commissioners (requiring citizenship of a federally recognized tribe or demonstrated American Indian ancestry via CDIB; city council added flexibility for freedmen where tribes recognize them). The commission will now draft detailed bylaws for awards, committees, and procedures.
  • Public Relations Committee: Encouraged commissioners to send event flyers to the commission email for broader distribution.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: February 2026 meeting minutes.
  • Native American Day: Theme, artist, and parade marshal selected.
  • Ordinance Amendments: Passed city council, to be signed into law April 22, 2026.
  • Senior Recognition: Scheduled for May 7, 2026.
  • Dreamkeepers Park: Moving toward conceptual design by June 1, 2026; national historic designation pursued.

Announcements

  • Department of Resilience and Equity: Prescription drug take-back (April 25, 2026), Fair Housing event (April 28, 2026), Financial and Neighborhood Resource Fair (May 7, 2026), Opioid Abatement Summit (May 16, 2026).
  • American Indian Chamber of Commerce monthly meetings and Tulsa Regional Chamber's State of the Tribal Nations (May 14, 2026).
  • University of Tulsa Native Law Students event (April 25, 2026) and Tulsa Powwow in summer.

The meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

I put my janitor. Good evening. And welcome to our April Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission meeting. We greatly appreciate all of you being here. At this time. Yes. David Bible. Here. Linda Leif Bolin. Daniel Carter. Cheryl Cohen Hour. Here. Joe Deer. Warren Harjo. Here. Stacey Lasky. Here. Wyneta Laurie. Winnie Gus Purdue. Here. Pat Powell. Here. Warren Keeton. Here. Joyce Roberts. Here. Matt Roberts. Here. Teresa Reynolds. Here. Kim Thee. Mark Van Kieran. Erica Welk Carter. Dorcas Williams. Cherie Williams here. And our land acknowledgments. We begin by acknowledging the tribal governments on whose reservations we stand. Oklahoma is home to 38 federally recognized Indian tribes and local schools serve students belonging to more than 60 tribes. The City of Tulsa sits within the reservation lands of the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, and Osage Nation. Each of these great nations have vibrant cultures, unique histories, and distinct languages. We acknowledge and honor these nations, their citizens, their enduring commitment to our community and their land. We begin with gratitude, appreciation, and respect. Great, thank you. We appreciate it. All right. Last month we did not meet meet a quorum. And so basically we just had notes. So in the email that you received from Lexi, we had our February 17th minutes, but then our March gathering. Since we didn't have a quorum, we had a gathering, and so we had some notes. And so at this time, if you could review the February meeting minutes, and then we can the we can approve those and and uh and move forward.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com