Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission Monthly Meeting - August 18, 2026
Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission Meeting - August 18, 2026
The Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission held its monthly meeting on August 18, 2026, at 11:30 AM. The meeting featured a new roll-call format emphasizing organizational representation, a land acknowledgement, committee reports, and updates on the intertribal community center, Dreamkeeper Awards, and Native American Day celebration preparations. The commission also heard from the Director of Tribal Policy and Partnerships and approved the June meeting minutes.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from the June 16, 2026, commission meeting were approved unanimously. Motion by Commissioner Deer, second by Commissioner Payton, no opposition.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Roll Call Process Change: Vice Chair Carter introduced a new roll call format that calls organizations (e.g., Kiowa Tribe, Cherokee Nation) rather than just individual names, to accurately reflect representation. This change was implemented to improve record-keeping when alternates are present.
- Land Acknowledgement: Commissioner Bulletts led the land acknowledgement, recognizing the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee Creek Nation, and Osage Nation reservations on which Tulsa sits.
- Chair's Report: Commissioner Robertson reported on the July 21st TYPROs (Tulsa Young Professionals) meet-and-greet attended by multiple Title V commissions, and the July 24th all-title-five commissions retreat with Mayor Nichols. The mayor emphasized commission longevity, the importance of sustaining programs (e.g., Dreamkeeper Awards, Native American Day, Student of Excellence), and shared Dr. King's quote: "Greatness is determined by service."
- Intertribal Native American Community Center Update: Commissioner Bible, yielding to Vice Chair Carter, reported that the project has filed articles of incorporation, held its first board meeting, and is working on bylaws and EIN filings. A community listening session was held, and the group is seeking input and younger members. The location is still being explored within Tulsa.
- Director of Tribal Policy and Partnerships Report: Ms. Vance Swoke provided a lengthy update covering: participation in a tribal community health assessment led by the Muscogee Nation Health Department; involvement with the domestic violence task force (now supported by GKFF); attendance at the Dreamkeepers Park Cultural Advisory Meeting; the settlement agreement process (awaiting state legislative committee approval); cross-departmental training on tribal consultation; and significant work on the police chief search, including meeting with tribal chiefs and allowing them to observe initial interviews. She also noted that new staff member Ava has started researching consultation processes.
- Committee Reports:
- Native American Day Committee: Received donations – $10,000 from Osage Nation Casino, $10,000 from Cherokee Nation, $2,500 from Tiger Oil. Channel 6 has committed to a morning show segment on October 6th. T-shirt design is near finalization; parade registration and vendor sign-ups are underway. Three student ambassadors have attended meetings, and princess videos are being promoted on social media. Commissioner Williams confirmed singers for the open drum.
- Dreamkeeper Awards Committee: 8 nominations received out of 11 categories; still seeking nominations for Sports (Jim Thorpe Sports Excellence Award), Spirituality (Red Eagle Sacred Circle), and Career (Ralph Drew Career and Professional Award). Voting will occur at the next meeting.
- Education Committee: Tulsa Public Schools begins the 2026-27 school year on August 19th. Over 200 new teachers attended orientation; Indian Education reached out to them. Back-to-school bash served over 400 families. Another program distributed 1,300 school supplies out of 1,600 enrolled students. The American Indian Writers Award winner, Brandon Hobson, is featured in a school book vending machine.
- Cultural Committee: Commissioner Williams raised concerns about an impromptu meeting called after the previous commission meeting without advance notice, resulting in low attendance. She requested that future meetings be announced at least a week in advance. She also attended the Sovereign Wellness event and the annual powwow of her tribe.
- Parks Committee: Ms. Swoke reported on the Dreamkeepers Park design process: three concepts were presented, feedback was collected, and a refined single concept is pending. The architect is a Native-owned firm. Commissioner Robertson noted that the advisory committee is being listened to.
- Bylaws Committee: Vice Chair Carter reported that the committee is in early drafting stages, focusing on the commission's growth and future. The committee meets on the second Monday of each month. Commissioner Van Kuren is a member. Input from all commissioners is welcome.
- New Business: Commissioner Roberts, who also serves on the Human Rights Commission, reported that it is working to remove the requirement to file complaints in person at the city clerk's office, moving to an electronic process. The commission also added a fifth committee: Accessibility and Inclusion.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: The June 16, 2026, meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
- Upcoming Vote: The Dreamkeeper Awards for the class of 2026 will be voted on at the next meeting (September 2026).
- Increased Meeting Frequency: The commission will meet twice a month (and eventually weekly) leading up to the Native American Day celebration on October 12, 2026.
- Bylaws Committee: Next meeting scheduled for the second Monday of September; commissioners are encouraged to join virtually.
- Request for Nominations: Commissioners were reminded to submit Dreamkeeper nominations for the three remaining categories by email to Commissioner Queeton.
- Announcements: Commissioner Deer highlighted upcoming NCAI Unity Days (September 14-17), a new hospital groundbreaking in Claremore, film and nursing program partnerships with RSU, and other tribal updates. Commissioner Roberts announced the American Indian Chamber of Commerce summit (Aug 31-Sep 2) and the Muscogee Creek Nation vendor fair (Sep 3). Commissioner Hart noted that Cain's Ballroom will host Indigenous Day on October 12th.
Meeting Transcript
Against one tough competitor, glass. That's right. Only glass bottles and jars are recyclable. Don't even think about sinking a drinking glass or mirror. Always good to empty your glass bottles and jars before recycling. These two get it, emptying both bottles from far out. And they remove the lids. Score big by recycling your glass bottles and jars. Learn more at Tulsa Recycles.com. Just go to TM. We are live. I know. All right, great to have everyone here. On this August 18th, after uh month off in July, uh for our August 18th, uh commission meeting, got a good group of guests with us as well. Uh our uh Vice Chair Carter's gonna tell you a little bit about before they take role. It's just gonna be a little bit different because it's gonna help out with our uh maybe our bookkeeping, record keeping if uh if someone is absent and then someone else from that organization is representing that organization, and so you can tell that real quick before we turn it over to Lexi for roll call. Great. Uh thank you, Mr. Chair. So in our ordinance, we have individual appointees, organizational appointees, and there's a new ordinance. We have ex officio tribal positions in our minutes. Sometimes it will show that someone is absent, but then the alternate is present, and it doesn't really represent who we are as a commission. We're not just twenty-four individuals, we're delegates and representatives of different tribes of different organizations and of those that avoid us. And so for the role, we're going to start calling role by organization if you're an organizational appointee. Uh, if you're an individual appointee, it will just be your individual name. But it's not that big of a change, but just be listening to the roll call because uh they call for the um whether the the organization, whether the Kiowa tribe is here, you know, Commissioner Cuton would say here. Um so pretty simple, but just want to give you a heads up that way you can think about what organization you're representing, and don't miss your spot to eat press. That will definitely help when alternates are here uh like Commissioner Baden today. Um that way we can just make sure that the air organizations represented as being here. Everyone good anyone have a question about what organization they're part of here. Somebody tally appointed or what if we represent multiple. Yeah. And I'll help you out if I know you're here and I say the organization, and you don't say anything, be like, hey. Aren't you? Don't you want to say that you're here? Okay. Thank you, Vice Chair Carter for setting us up for success. All right. American Indian Chamber of Commerce. American Indian Resource Center. Here. Excellent. Broken Arrow Intertribal Veterans. Cherokee Nation. Here. Yes. Greater Tulsa Cherokees. Indian Health Care Resource Center. Here, Kiowa Tribe. Here.
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