Written By: Morgan Taylor 

(MUSCOGEE NATION) The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council Regular Session meeting was held in-person June 26 at the Mound Building.

View story on Mvskoke Media here.

The National Council addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:

NCR 21-006 Resolution censuring MCN National Council Representative Travis Scott. Sponsored by Rep. Patrick Freeman Jr. Co-Sponsored by Reps. James Jennings, Adam Jones III, Joyce Deere, and Anna Marshall.

The legislation said Okfuskee District Representative Travis Scott, owner of Scott’s Native Products (d/b/a Parks Brothers Ace Hardware in Okemah) violated 37 MCNCA 4-101, 31 MCNCA 1-104.C.9., for engaging in business transactions with the Nation and its business enterprises while serving as an elected official. The National Council officially publicly censure Rep. Scott for his actions.  Adopted, 13-1. Rep. Robert Hufft voted against the legislation.

TR 21-080 Resolution amending TR 19-076 (Resolution suspending all special appropriations and donations) as amended by TR 20-150. Sponsored by Rep. James Jennings.

Amendment allows Duck Creek Indian Community to accept funds to offset income loss for the past five years from the smoke shop. Council will make a one-time special appropriation for DCIC if NCA 21-055 is enacted. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-085 Resolution approving the absentee workers for the 2021 MCN Primary and General Election. Sponsored by James Jennings.

Eight absentee workers along with two alternates were approved to be utilized in the upcoming elections.

TR 21-086 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a certain agreement between the MCN Dept. of Health and Zoom Video Communications, INC. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Crawford.

Resolution allows MCNDH to access certain software to utilize in full the implementation of the Epic Electronic Health Record System. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-087 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a certain agreement between the MCN Department of Health and XPS Ship, LLC. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Crawford.

Resolution allows MCNDH access to certain shipping services to mail medical testing kits to rural areas that are not service by other shipping companies. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21- 088 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a certain agreement between the MCN Dept. of Health and Google, LLC. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Crawford.

Resolution allows MCNDH to access certain software to utilize in full the implementation of the Epic Electronic Health Record System. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-089 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a certain agreement between the MCN Dept. of Health and C o x Business. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Crawford.

Resolution allows the MCNDH to access certain software to utilize in full the implementation of the Epic Electronic Health Record System. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-090 Resolution confirming the nomination of Kaila Harjo to serve as the Secretary of Education, Employment and Training. Sponsored by Rep. Joyce Deere.

Kaila Harjo will serve as Secretary of Education, Employment and Training with a term beginning upon confirmation and ending concurrent with the term of the current Principal Chief. Adopted 10-4-0. Rep. Joseph Hicks, Rep. Adam Jones III, Rep. Lucian Tiger, Rep. James Jennings voted against.

TR 21-093 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Memorandum of Agreement between the MCN and Indian Health Service for the construction, improvement, and installation and rehabilitation of domestic water supply and wastewater disposal facilities for 40 native American homes in Creek, Hughes, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties. Sponsored by Rep. Thomasene Yahola Osborn.

IHS will provide/fund construction, contingency, and technical support to construct all water supply and waste disposal facilities and contribute $350,000.00 while
MCN contributes $125,000.00 Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-094 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Memorandum of Understanding regarding archaeological site 1CAL90 and Ram Oxford Hospitality, LLC Hotel Development Oxford, Calhoun County, AL. Sponsored by Rep. Charles McHenry.

Resolution recognizes, protects, and preserves the interests of the MCN in any development within the Archaeological site 1CAL90 and Ram Oxford Hospitality, LLC Hotel Development Oxford, Calhoun County, AL. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-096 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a contract accepting a donation of land located in Hughes Co, OK Sponsored by Rep. Thomasene Yahola Osborn

Located in Wetumka, OK adjacent from the Nations Southern Regional Office and allows for needed improvement to the parking lot. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-099 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Business Operation Lease regarding the Duck Creek Indian Community Smoke Shop. Sponsored by Rep. William Lowe.

Duck Creek Indian Community has passed a Community Resolution to enter into an Operating Agreement with Ronnie Boswell to operate the smoke shop. Boswell will pay $1.00 for every carton of cigarettes purchased not to be less than $2,000.00 a month. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-100 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a business Operation Lease Regarding the Muscogee Indian Community Smoke Shop. Sponsored by Rep. Joyce Deere. Co-sponsored by Mary Crawford.

Muscogee Indian Community has passed a Community Resolution to enter into an Operating Agreement with Ronnie Boswell to operate the smoke shop. Boswell will pay $1.25 for every carton of cigarettes purchased not to be less than $2,000.00 a month. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-101 Resolution authorizing both an Adaptive Management Plan for Wetland Mitigation Credits and a Mitigation Credit Sales Agreement with Honey Springs Mitigation Bank for the River Spirit Casino Improvement Project Sponsored by Rep. Patrick Freeman Jr.

For successful improvements to the Nation’s land, an Adaptive Management Plan was needed and was developed to mitigate use of the wetlands on the banks of the Nation’s lands. Adopted 14-0.

TR 21-102 Resolution authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Quick Confirmation Agreement with Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre for the MCN At-Large Gathering. Sponsored by Rep. Mary Crawford.

MCN At-Large Gathering will take place July 2021 at Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre. Adopted 14-0

NCA 21-055 Authorizing a special appropriation for the Duck Creek Indian Community. Sponsored by Rep. James Jennings.

Appropriates funds in the sum of $180,000.00 to offset the income loss from the past five years of the Smoke Shop in order to assist the Duck Creek Indian Community. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-058 Authorizing the expenditure of the Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program funds for the benefit of the MCN Children and Family Service Administration. Sponsored by Rep. Anna Marshall.

Funds in the amount of $110,397.00 will be used to provide community-based support, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-059 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from a CARES Act Emergency Medical Services Grant for the MCN Dept. of Health. Sponsored by Rep. Anna Marshall

Grants funds in the amount of $25,901.20 to be expended in accordance with the grant award and shall carry over until expended. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-060 Authorizing a Budget Modification in excess of ten percent for the Food Distribution Program. Sponsored by Rep. Anna Marshall.

The program wishes to make this modification to help cover the unexpected cost increase of the Cooler/Freezer expansion project at the Okmulgee location. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-061 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded form an AARP Grant to the MCN Dept. of Health. Sponsored by Rep. Joyce Deere.

Grants funds in the amount of $5000.00 to be expended in accordance with the grant award and shall carry over until expended. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-062 Authorizing the expenditure of 2021 NACD Technical Assistance Grant Funds awarded from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) for the benefit MCN Conservation District. Sponsored by Rep. Charles McHenry.
Grant funds in the amount of $75,000.00 were awarded based on 25% match of $18,750.00 from currently appropriated budgets.

Funds will be used to identify and support citizens who currently have agricultural interest. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-063 Authorizing the expenditure of Computer-Aided Scheduling/Dispatch and Wireless Technologies Implementation Project Grant funds awarded from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation Federal Transit Administration for the benefit of the MCN Tribal Transportation Program. Sponsored by Rep. Charles McHenry.

Grant funds in the amount of $214,730.00 were based on an award match of $23,859.00 to be used to assist the Tribal Transportation Program with the opportunity to manage more efficiently manage customer and agency resources, electronically schedule and optimize customer trips, manage “day of” trips scheduled, pro-actively view vehicle and customer pick-up status and invoice and report on services provided in real-time. Adopted 14-0

NCA 21-064 Appropriating funds to be used to accept donated real property and transactional costs related to accepting donated real property located in Hughes County, Oklahoma. Sponsored by Rep. Thomasene Yahola Osborn.

The sum of $1.00 will be transacted as consideration for the donation of the land and $15,000 will be appropriated for the following incidental costs associated with the acceptance of the donated land. Adopted 13-1-0 Rep. Patrick Freeman Jr. voted against.

NCA 21-065 Authorizing the expenditure of the Native CDFI Small Business Support Grant Program funds from Oweesta Corporation for the benefit of the Mvskoke Loan Fund. Sponsored by Rep. Adam Jones III.

Grant funds in the amount of $7,500.00 will be used to provide support operational capacity building efforts for Mvskoke Loan Fund’s loan clientele and small business community. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-069 Authorizing a supplemental appropriation for the MCN office of the Attorney General. Sponsored by Rep. Adam Jones III.

Supplemental appropriation of in the amount of $529,999.00 allows the office of the Attorney General to cover additional expenses for hiring several new prosecutors and office staff and for additional office supplies and equipment required to support the staff. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-070 Authorizing supplemental appropriation to the MCN Lighthorse Police Dept. for fiscal year 2021. Sponsored by Speaker Randall Hicks.

The supplemental increase in the amount of $947,540.00 will increase the contractual line item due to the cost of jail fees. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-071 Law amending MCNCA Title 35, Chapter 7. Entitled “Disaster Act” and authorizing a supplemental appropriation to the Disaster Assistance FY 2021 Budget. Sponsored by Rep. Adam Jones III.

Chapter 7: Retroactive Eligibility. The provisions in this law shall be retroactive to Oct. 1, 2020. Adopted 14-0.

NCA 21-077 Authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the United Stated Dept. of the Treasury to establish the COVID-19 Impact Relief Individual Assistance Program Sponsored by Rep. Lucian Tiger, co-sponsored by Rep. Mary Crawford, Rep. Joyce Deere, Rep. Patrick Freeman Jr., Rep. Joseph Hicks, Rep. Robert Hufft, Rep. James Jennings, Rep. Adam Jones III, Rep. William Lowe, Rep. Anna Marshall, Rep. Charles McHenry, Rep. Darrell Proctor, Speaker Randall Hicks.

Funds of in the amount of $424,351, 068.50 will be used for direct individual assistance. Each citizen enrolled as of Sept. 30 2021 instead of June 26, 2021 will be eligible to receive financial assistance in the amount of $2,000.00. Executive branch will launch program within 120 days. Subject to change. Adopted as amended 14-0.

View full meeting and agenda at www.mcnnc.com.