OKMULKE, Oklv. – The Muscogee (Creek) National Council held the monthly Business, Finance and Justice Committee session at the Mound Building on Sept. 19.
Passed legislation is subject to full council approval during the regular session.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 24-101 A Tribal Resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirming the nomination of James Jennings to serve as a Special Justice of the Supreme Court of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was postponed until November by the committee. The resolution was sponsored by Representative Sandra Golden of the Okfuskee District and was previously postponed on Aug. 15. It was postponed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this resolution will confirm James Jennings as a member of the Muscogee Nation’s Supreme Court.
TR 24-114 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation establishing tribal membership in the National Congress of American Indians. Rep. Golden sponsored the legislation, which unanimously passed 4-0.
A total of $30,000 in membership dues will be provided by the tribe. Based on current enrollment, the Nation will receive 180 votes within the legislature.
NCA 24-096 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to amend Article IV and Article VI of the Constitution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to re-establish district voting and to add two at-large districts was passed by the committee as an amended substitute. The law was sponsored by Representative Darrel Proctor of the McIntosh District and co-sponsored by Representative Anna Marshall of the Tukvpvtce District and was previously postponed on Aug. 15. It passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will allow the re-establishment of district voting and add two additional districts.
NCA 24-100 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving and authorizing the Principal Chief to execute and file the articles of organization with the Office of the Secretary of the Nation to form “Muscogee Capital Fund, LLC” and “Muscogee Equity Fund, LLC” under the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Limited Liability Company Act; and approving the operating agreement for “Muscogee Capital Fund, LLC”; and approving a service agreement between “Muscogee Capital Fund, LLC” and Development Capital Network to manage “Muscogee Capital Fund, LLC”; and approving the operating agreement for “Muscogee Equity Fund, LLC”; and approving a service agreement between “Muscogee Equity Fund, LLC” and Cimarron Capital Associates II, LLC (CCAII) to manage “Muscogee Equity Fund, LLC” was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Representative Nelson Harjo Sr of the Okmulgee District. It passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will establish the Muscogee Capital Fund and Muscogee Equity Fund for use by the tribe.
NCA 24-101 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation establishing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Commerce Small Business Support Revolving Fund in MCNCA Title 37 § 2-236 passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Rep. Harjo, and was sent to the committee from the Emergency Session on Aug. 28. It was passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will allow the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to fund and support small businesses after funds from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) are defederalized.
NCA 24-115 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from Workforce Matters Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities, to the amount of $2,000, for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Contracting and Employment Support Office passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Rep. Harjo, and was sent to the committee from the Emergency Session on Aug. 28. It was passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will provide funding for the MCN’s Contracting and Employment Support Office in the form of grants.
NCA 24-116 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, to the amount of $35,000, for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Rep. Harjo. It was passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will provide funding for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Lighthorse Police Department in the form of grants.
NCA 24-117 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA Title 14 § 1-203 entitled “Minimum qualifications” was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Representative Dode Barnett of the Creek District. It was passed with a vote of 3-1, and was opposed by Rep. Golden.
If adopted, this law will allow the Nation to potentially hire more competent attorneys to serve as Prosecutors and Assistant Prosecutors of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation by adding more pathways toward hiring people outside of Oklahoma.
NCA 24-118 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funding (LATCF) received from the United States Department of Treasury as the Nation’s contribution to the Tulsa Region Chamber, Tulsa’s Future: Acceleration program, to the amount of $300,000, was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Representative Dode Barnett of the Creek District. It was passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will allow the Nation to contribute money toward the City of Tulsa’s economic development, potentially ensuring better relations with the city.
NCA 24-119 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending NCA 21-084 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation repealing MCNCA Title 16, Chapter 4 and creating new law of a new Title 50, entitled “Lighthorse Police” and authorizing an appropriation for the Lighthorse Police Commission), as amended by NCA 21-135, was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Rep. Golden. It passed with a vote of 4-0.
If adopted, this law will change the way the Lighthorse Police Department’s budget is handled.
NCA 24-122 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving a continuing budget ordinance and providing for appropriations and authorization for expenditures for FY 2025. Speaker Randall Hicks sponsored the legislation, it was co-sponsored by Representative Hufft. It passed with a vote of 4-0.
The legislation details special revenue funds including the Challenge Bowl, the Euchee Heritage Festival, the Ceremonial Grounds, the Pink Party, and the Murrow Indian Children’s Home. Tribal funding includes higher education, debt service, Lighthorse Police, Information Technology, the Department of Health, and travel.
Referred Legislation:
NCA 24-107 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Department of Education, to the amount of $25,000, for the benefit of the Vocational Rehabilitations Program and appropriating funds was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Representative Mary Crawford of the Muskogee District.
NCA 24-113 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing a donation to the Indigenous Peoples Association (IPA) to financially assist with the 2024 Okmulgee Indigenous People’s Day was passed by the committee. The law was sponsored by Representative Robyn Whitecloud of the Okmulgee District.
To view the full agenda, visit: mcnnc.com.
