Lani Hansen/Senior Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma — A Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council Health, Education and Welfare Committee meeting was held Dec. 8 by teleconference.
All passed legislation will go before the full Council during the regular session Dec. 18.
HEW addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 21-161 Authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a certain agreement between the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health and Tierpoint, LLC on behalf of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health. Representative James Jennings sponsored the resolution, which passed 4-0.
MCNDH desires to enter into an agreement with Tierpoint, LLC to allow MCNDH access to a certain software for disaster recover services for networks and systems.
Tierpoint imposes an indemnification obligation upon the Nation, limits some claims and remedies, requires application of the laws of the State of Texas.
TR 21-162 Confirming of Lucinda Myers to serve on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Election Board. Rep. Anna Marshall sponsored the resolution, which passed 4-0.
MCN Election Board Position 3 is vacant. Principal Chief has nominated Muscogee (Creek) citizen Lucinda Myers to serve on the MCN Election Board Position 3.
NCA 21-139 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the District Attorneys Council for the benefit of the Family Violence Prevention Program. Rep. Marshall sponsored the resolution, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded will be used to expand current program services to better meet the needs of victims/survivors of violent crime within the MCN reservation boundaries.
NCA 21-140 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence against Women for the benefit of the Family Violence Prevention Program. Rep. Marshall sponsored the resolution, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded will be used to provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services and related assistance for adult, youth and child victims of sexual assault, non-offending family and household members of victims and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault.
NCA 21-141 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence against Women for the benefit of the Family Violence Prevention Program. Rep. Marshall sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded will be used to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking and stalking to decrease the incidence of violent crime against women.
NCA 21-142 Authorizing the expenditure of the U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal assistance solicitation purpose area 6: Children’s Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities grant funds for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children & Family Service Administration. Rep. Marshall sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded to the Children and Family Services Administration will utilize it to improve child abuse or neglect investigations, decrease caseloads, increase public community outreach and update policies and tribal code.
NCA 21-143 Authorizing the expenditure of the American Indian College Fund, Native Pathways to College, 2021-2022 Higher Pathways grant for the benefit of the Youth Services. Rep. Jennings sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded will be used to provide educational support and mentoring to Native American students at the Eufaula Dormitory, as well as other students within the MCN reservation.
NCA 21-144 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from a project ECHO grant for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health. Rep. Jennings sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
The Project Echo Grant in the amount of $6,000 is a nursing home funding for the facilities in Oklahoma City.
NCA 21-146 Authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Children and Family Services Administration. Rep. Mary Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded to the MCN Children & Family Services Administration will be utilized to promoting Safe and Stable families program.
NCA 21-147 Amending NCA 21-097 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds received from the United States Department of the Treasury for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen vaccine incentive). Rep. William Lowe sponsored the legislation and Rep. Charles McHenry co-sponsored, which passed 4-0.
The age requirement to receive the ARPA vaccine incentive for MCN changes from twelve years to five years of age or older.
NCA 21-148 Authorizing the expenditure of funds for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Youth Services Program for the 2021 U.S. Department of Justice coordinated Tribal Assistance Purpose Area 9 grant. Rep. Lucian Tiger III sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds awarded to the MCN Youth Services will be used to develop a new Tribal Youth Program to decrease juvenile court involvement for Native American youth within the MCN Reservation by 25 percent.
NCA 21-149 Authorizing the expenditure of the U.S. Department of Justice 2021 OJJDP FY 2021 Delinquency Prevention Grants Program funds for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Juvenile Justice program. Rep. Tiger sponsored the resolution, which passed 4-0.
The grant funds will be used to develop a strategic plan to establish best practices for implementing services internally and hire a juvenile justice advocate to provide assistance in responding to youthful offender calls.
For video of committee meetings visit: www.mcnnc.com.
