MVSKOKE RESERVATION – The Muscogee (Creek) National Land, Natural Resources, and Cultural Preservation Committee held a meeting in the Mound Building on Sept. 8.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 26-056 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a programmatic agreement among the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Participating Tribes, and the Georgia Department of Transportation regarding the Section 106 Process for the Transportation Program in Georgia. Representative Dode Barnett sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted into law by the full council, the programmatic agreement will ensure that all parties involved comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This ensures that the Tribe is properly consulted on projects proposed for construction at culturally or historically significant sites. There was no discussion on this bill.
TR 26-057 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a memorandum of agreement among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Savannah Land Holdings, LLC concerning the treatment of historic properties at the Genesis Point N/K/A Waterways Residential and Recreational Development, Bryan County, Georgia. Representative Robyn Whitecloud sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted into law by the full council, the Gaule site will receive treatment after receiving damage. According to the legislation, the damage included disturbances to ancestral burials and looting of artifacts. There was no discussion on this bill.
TR 26-058 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation for the internment of cultural objects and ancestral remains. Rep. Whitecloud sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the Tribe and the U.S. Forest Service will collaborate to inter ancestral remains. According to the legislation, they will be treated with respect in accordance with Mvskoke tradition. There was no discussion on this bill.
TR 26-059 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute multiple 105(I) lease agreements with the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs for the benefit of Realty, the Office of Self-Governance, Tribal Courts, and the Department of Public Safety. Rep. Barnett sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, the lease proposal will allow the U.S. Department of the Interior to use three office suites at the Riverwalk Terrace in Jenks and the Realty Henson building in Okmulgee.
TR 26-060 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a separate memorandum of agreement with the County of McIntosh, State of Oklahoma, for the maintenance of roadways and associated rights-of-way constructed or improved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Transportation Program. Representative Galen Cloud sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted into law by the full council, Tribal Transportation Program Route 181B will receive improvements. This includes all public roadways and associated rights-of-way in the route. There was no discussion on this bill.
TR 26-061 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation supporting and approving the deployment of broadband equity, access, and deployment program services by CVEC Fiber, LLC at specific locations within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. Rep. Whitecloud sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted into law by the full council, it will deploy Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program-funded broadband projects on Tribal lands. There was no discussion on this bill.
TR 26-062 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to submit a lease proposal for a lease agreement between the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the United States for the Indian Health Service Office of Environmental Health (OEH) Field Office. Rep. Cloud sponsored the bill. It passed 4-0.
If adopted by the full council, it will renew the IHS lease for another 5-10 years. There was no discussion on this bill.
NCA 26-107 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing an appropriation to the Real Property Escrow Revolving Fund. It was sponsored by Representative Anna Marshall. It was initially postponed during the July 14 LNC committee meeting. It was postponed indefinitely 4-0.
Rep. Marshall moved to postpone the bill indefinitely. There was no discussion on this bill. If the law is adopted by the full council, $200,000 will be appropriated to the Real Property Escrow Revolving Fund.
NCA 26-123 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA Title 5, Chapter 2 entitled “Financial Assistance”. Rep. Barnett sponsored the legislation. It was postponed as a substitute until the October LNC committee meeting 4-0.
Discussion during the committee meeting helped clarify what the new amendments will do. The language “Muscogee (Creek) Churches” was changed to “Historical Mvskoke Churches.” Proper documentation to show establishment prior to 1966 will also be required. The Church Passenger Van Assistance Grant section will be removed from the legislation. The amendment was postponed in order to allow more time for input from the executive branch, Ceremonial Grounds, and the Historical Mvskoke Churches.
For more information, visit www.mcnnc.com.
