OKMULKE, Oklv. – The Muscogee (Creek) National Land, Natural Resources and Cultural Preservation Committee held a meeting in the Mound Building on June 11.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 24-063 A tribal resolution of the MCN authorizing the Principal Chief to apply for federal funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Transportation Bridge Program to fund ten replacement bridges within the MCN. Representative Galen Cloud sponsored this legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the next regular session.
According to the bill, recent inspections indicate there are ten deficient and hazardous bridges within the reservation that need to be replaced.
TR 24-064 A tribal resolution of the MCN authorizing the Principal Chief to apply for federal funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Transportation Bridge Program to fund two bridge constructions within the MCN. Rep. Cloud sponsored this legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the next regular session.
If adopted by full council, two bridges within the reservation will be reconstructed due to their deficiencies.
TR 24-066 A tribal resolution of the MCN authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Five Tribe Wildlife Management Reciprocity agreement with the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Rep. Cloud sponsored this legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the next regular session.
According to the bill, the Five Tribes have expanded more access to hunting and fishing privileges within the Nations’ reservations in April 2023. If adopted, this bill will continue to grant more privileges and permissions to Mvskoke citizens to hunt, fish and trap.
NCA 24-074 A law of the MCN authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the benefit of the MCN Office of Environmental Services. Representative Charles McHenry sponsored this legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the next regular session.
If adopted by full council, the MCN Office of Environmental Services will use the $906,621 grant to add one full time employee and to expand its Solid Waste Post-Consumer Materials Management Program.
NCA 24-075 A law of the MCN approving the FY 2025 Indian Housing Plan. Representative Mark Randolph sponsored this legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the next regular session.
The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act Indian Housing Block Grant funds first needs to be approved for the Indian Housing Plan in order to be submitted. According to the bill, this approval is for FY 2025, and needs to be submitted at least 75 days before the end of the Nation’s FY.
For more information visit, www.mcnnc.com.
