OKMULKE, Oklv. – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council held a Health, Education and Welfare committee meeting Feb. 13.
The Council addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 24-006 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the election board to execute an attorney contract between the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Election Board and Savage O’Donnell Affeldt & Weintraub Law Firm. Representative Thomasene Yahola Osborn sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
This contract will assist the election board in formatting and reviewing election policies and procedures.
TR 24-007 A tribal resolution of the MCN confirming the nominations of Grover Wind as the Office of The Veterans Affairs Services Administrator of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Representative Mary Crawford sponsored this legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
Wind’s term will begin upon confirmation and will end with the concurrent term of the principal chief.
TR 24-008 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirming the nomination of Shawn Terry to serve as the Secretary of Health of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Rep. Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
Terry’s term will begin upon confirmation and will end with the concurrent term of the principal chief.
TR 24-009 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirming the nomination of Kaila Harjo to serve as the Secretary of the Education, Employment, and Training of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Rep. Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
Harjo’s term will begin upon confirmation and will end with the concurrent term of the principal chief.
TR 24-010 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirming the nomination of Carmin Tecumseh-Williams to serve as Secretary of Community and Human Services of MCN. Representative Dode Barnett sponsored the legislation, which passed 3-1. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
Tecumseh-Williams’ term will begin upon confirmation and will end with the concurrent term of the principal chief.
TR 24-016 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to submit a 2024 American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Grant to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education. Rep. Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
According to the bill the MCN is providing vocational rehabilitation services that will include culturally-appropriate services to American Indians with disabilities that live within the reservation. The bill will provide a leveraged resource match of $200,000 if the grant is awarded to the tribe.
NCA 24-009 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pass-Through Entity Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma Tribal Epidemiology Center, Tribal Overdose Prevention Program Grant. Representative Anna Marshall sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
If the legislation is adopted into law, the MCN Department of Health will receive grant funds in the amount of $60,000. This will develop and implement public health services that address drug overdose crises. It will provide harm-reduction services and implement peer support in tribal communities.
NCA 24-010 A law of the MCN authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pass-Through Entity National Indian Health Board, Hear Her Campaign Grant. Rep. Marshall sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
The Hear Her Campaign brings awareness for pregnancy-related complications. It is supported through a partnership and funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human services and the Office of Minority Health.
NCA 24-011 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation 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 MCN citizen vaccine incentive). Rep Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
NCA 21-097 expended ARPA funds during the Covid-19 pandemic when there was a need to provide incentives for citizens to get Covid-19 vaccinations. A total of $11,933,530.09 was spent from the initial $40,000,000 budget. The remaining $28,066,469.91 will be reallocated towards the National Council approval for further use.
NCA 24-012 A law of the MCN Amending NCA 21-150 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds from the United States Department of the Treasury to provide a second disbursement of COVID-19 impact relief individual assistance.) Rep. Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
The remaining $43,829,232.40 in ARPA funds from the COVID-19 Impact Relief Individual Assistance Program will be reallocated towards the National Council approval for further use.
NCA 24-013 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending NCA 21-077 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds from the United States Department of the Treasury Assistance Program) as amended by NCA 21-098. Rep. Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
The unencumbered $37,031,526.09 in ARPA funds from the COVID-19 Impact Relief Individual Assistance Program will be reallocated towards the National Council approval for further use.
NCA 24-014 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending NCA 21-093 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds from the United States Department of the Treasury for the MCN Vaccine Incentive for tribal employees) as amended by NCA 21-096. Rep. Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
The unencumbered $22,355.51 in ARPA funds for the MCN Vaccine Incentive for tribal employees will be reallocated towards the National Council approval for further use.
NCA 24-015 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Amending NCA 23-042 (A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of fiscal relief funding for the benefit of the MCN Community and Human Services Department). Rep Crawford sponsored the legislation, which passed 4-0. This will be presented to the full council at the regular session.
The MCN Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Program requested a revision for their original proposed budget. According to the bill this fund will go toward two administrative support positions and programmatic costs in two years. The funds will include both administrative support and direct assistance in the amount of $2,500,000.
For further information, visit: mcnnc.com.