MVSKOKE RESERVATION- On Oct. 13, the Land, Natural Resources, and Cultural Preservation Committee held an in-person meeting. Passed legislation will go on to the next full council meeting, unless otherwise noted.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
Grants & Emergency Assistance
Arbeka Indian Baptist Church will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Emergency Assistance Grant in the amount of $14,500, previously postponed from the Sept. 8 LNC meeting.
Nuyaka Baptist Church will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Camp Grant in the amount of $20,000, previously postponed from the Sept. 8 LNC meeting.
Middle Creek #1 Baptist Church will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church & Ceremonial Ground Emergency Grant in the amount of $11,550, previously postponed from the Sept. 8 LNC meeting.
Middle Creek #2 Baptist Church’s request for a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Emergency Grant in the amount of $38,350 has been postponed until Nov. due to unclear use of funds.
Nuyaka Indian Baptist Church’s request for a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Emergency Grant in the amount of $26,900 has been postponed until Nov. due to unclear use of funds.
Concharty Church’s request for a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Emergency Grant in the amount of $3,200 has been postponed until Nov. Due to unclear use of funds.
Sand Creek Ceremonial Ground’s request for a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Emergency Grant in the amount of $15,434.56 has been postponed indefinitely.
Middle Creek #2 Baptist Church’s request for a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Grant in the amount of $70,253 has been postponed until Nov. due to unclear use of funds.
Big Cussetah United Methodist Church will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Grant in the amount of $75,000. The funds will be used for repairs and remodels in the church.
Nuyaka Indian Baptist Church’s request for a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Grant in the amount of $72,875 has been postponed until Nov.
West Eufaula Indian Baptist Church will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Traditional Church Summer Camp and Mission Trip Grant in the amount of $1,600. The funds will be used for two nights of service at the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska.
Peach Ground Ceremonial Ground will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Camp Grant in the amount of $9,915.
Peach Ground Ceremonial Ground will receive a Muscogee (Creek) Nation Church and Ceremonial Ground Camp Grant in the amount of $19,975.
TR 26-068 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the reconstruction of the road and parking lots at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah housing complex for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Housing passed 4-0. Representative Galen Cloud sponsored the bill.
If adopted by the full council, the road and parking lots at the Okemah Housing Complex in Okfuskee County in need of reconstruction will be authorized. According to the legislation, the Nation shall prepare the Plans, Specifications, and the Engineer’s Estimate Package, and shall advertise for and receive bids for construction, and award a contract for construction of the project. Upon the completion of the project, the MCN Department of Housing will assume full responsibility for the maintenance, upkeep, and repair of said roadways.
TR 26-069 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a mineral interest purchase contract for the acquisition of certain mineral interests in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma passed 4-0. Representative Cody Phillips sponsored the bill.
If adopted by the full council, the Principal Chief will be authorized to execute a Mineral Interest Contract on approximately 193 acres of land, the surface estate of which is currently owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The acquisition of the mineral estate will further consolidate and protect its ownership interests within the Reservation.
Representative Sandra Golden asked for clarification on the use of the mineral once acquired. Ms. Macintosh clarified that the purchase would make a whole land purchase out of a previous piece, and that the mineral would be placed into trusts.
TR 26-070 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending TR 13-095 a tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a contract for the purchase of property located in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma passed 4-0. Representative Dode Barnett sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, if adopted by the full council, the land associated with this acquisition will be utilized and designated to the Natural Resource Conservation District for a future headquarters location, the expansion of services for farmers and ranchers, and the useful life of the department.
Julie Norem, district conservationist, clarified that the property is currently in disrepair and in need of revitalization. She also clarified that the property would be used for experimental growing, a Dorper sheep livestock unit, and greenhouses.
TR 26-071 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving the designation of property known as The Dustin Ranch to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation natural resource conservation district for future development passed 4-0. Representative. Anna Marshall sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, the Dustin Ranch presents an opportunity for research, education, and demonstration to advance sustainable beef production, livestock health, conservation grazing, and agricultural workforce development, supporting the future growth of the Nation’s Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD).
Julie Norem, district conservationist, clarified that the property would be used for research facilities for livestock artificial insemination, a veterinary diagnostic lab, and student housing.
TR 26-072 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation approving the update of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation long-range transportation plan with the addition of the routes listed as attachment “A”–MCN NTTFI 2027 passed 4-0. Representative Robyn Whitecloud sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, new routes of the MCN Long Range Transportation Plan have been identified within the Nation’s reservation that, if accepted by the full council, will be added to the Nation’s National Tribal Transportation Facility.
TR 26-073 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a separate memorandum of understanding with five Oklahoma cities for the maintenance of roadways and associated rights-of-way constructed or improved by the MCN Tribal Transportation Program passed 4-0. Rep. Whitecloud sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, if accepted by the full council, the cities of Tullahassee, Okmulgee, Morris, Henryetta, and Holdenville agree to maintain an inventory of proposed public roadways and associated rights-of-way constructed as Tribal Transportation Program Routes.
TR 26-074 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a separate memorandum of understanding with six Oklahoma counties for the maintenance of roadways and associated rights-of-way constructed or improved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Transportation Program passed 4-0. Rep. Barnett sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, the Nation’s Tribal Transportation Program has an inventory of proposed public roadways and associated rights-of-way located in Wagoner, Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Muskogee, and Hughes Counties and, if accepted by the full council, each County agrees to maintain such routes and rights-of-way should the Nation construct Tribal Transportation Program Routes.
TR 26-075 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation supporting the addition of new routes, as identified in attachment “A”-MCN NTTFI 2027, to the Nation’s existing national transportation facility inventory and requesting the Bureau of Indian Affairs add these new routes to the Nation’s National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory passed 4-0. Rep. Barnett sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, new routes have been identified within the Nation’s reservation and are eligible for inclusion in the Nation’s National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory.
NCA26-123 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA Title 5, Chapter 2 entitled “Financial Assistance,” passed 4-0. Rep. Barnett sponsored the bill.
According to the amendment, the amount of funds available for emergency assistance for Ceremonial Grounds and Churches has been increased from $10,000 to $20,000.
Representative Charles McHenry asked for clarification regarding the repeated mention of insurance premiums and the grant’s coverage of those premiums. Rep. Barnett responded that the grant would help cover part of the insurance premiums.
NCA26-137 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds in the amount of $58,370 awarded from the United States Department of Agriculture for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, passed 4-0. Rep. Whitecloud sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, the grant funds will be used by the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources to enhance monitoring efforts for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild cervids and to assess its impact on the ecological landscape of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation.
NCA 26-138 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation appropriating funds in the amount of $63,425 for the purchase of certain mineral interests located in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, passed 4-0 and was sent to BFJ. Rep. Phillips sponsored the bill.
According to the bill, the purpose of the law is to appropriate funds necessary to cover the purchase price and incidental costs related to the purchase of certain mineral interests of corresponding surface estate currently owned by the Nation.
In other business, Representative Anna Marshall moved to add NCA 26-139 to the meeting’s agenda. This motion passed 4-0.
NCA 26-139 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation appropriating funds to the Mound Building Oversight Committee for the maintenance and upkeep of the Mound Building, passed 4-0. Representative Darrell Proctor sponsored the bill.
Rep. Proctor clarified that the funds would be used to upgrade the security system and to provide maintenance and upkeep of the Mound Building
To view the full agenda, visit mcnnc.com.
