MVSKOKE RESERVATION- On Oct. 10, the Land, Natural Resources, and Cultural Preservation Committee held a meeting. Legislation passed will go on to the regular session meeting unless otherwise noted.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 23-102 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a publishing agreement between the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Springer Nature for publication of author’s contributions in a collected work provisionally titled “Covid-19 in Indian Country” passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Representative Galen Cloud.
This resolution involves publishing research conducted by the MCN Cultural Preservation Department. The publishing agreement entails a limited waiver of the MCN’s sovereign immunity from suit by Springer Nature Publishing. Springer is an international publishing house based in Switzerland that focuses on research and science.
TR 23-103 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a separate memorandum of understanding with nine Oklahoma cities for the maintenance of roadways and associated rights-of-way constructed or improved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Representative Joseph Hicks.
The MCN TTP has funds available to make improvements on roadways that have been designated as TTP routes. These are located in the cities of Okemah, Clearview, Tulsa, Bixby, Weeletka, Okmulgee, Haskell, Taft, and Coweta. The memorandum of understanding acknowledges that the cities will be responsible for maintenance of the roadways that will be constructed or improved.
TR 23-104 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 with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Representative Charles McHenry.
Similar to the previous tribal resolution giving the principal chief authority to enter memorandum of understanding with city entities over the MNC TTP, this resolution authorizes the principal chief to enter into memorandums of understanding with the following counties: Tulsa, Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, McIntosh, and Seminole.
TR 23-105 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a separate memorandum of understanding with three Oklahoma schools for the maintenance of parking lots and associated rights-of-way constructed or improved by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation TTP passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
This authorizes the principal chief to enter into memorandums of understanding with Mason, Okemah, and Haskell schools with the agreement that the schools will be responsible for any improvements made to parking lots by the MCN TTP.
TR 23-106 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 National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory (NTTFI) 2024 passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. McHenry.
TR 23-107 A tribal resolution of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation supporting the addition of new routes, as identified in attachment “A” – MCN NTTFI 2024, to the Nation’s existing NTTFI and requesting the Bureau of Indian Affairs add these new routes to the Nation’s NTTFI passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Joseph Hicks.
NCA 23-121 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded in the amount of $400,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the benefit of the Office of Environmental Services passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Cloud.
The MCN Office of Environmental Services received a grant in the amount $400,000 from the EPA for the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP). The grant will be used to hire an environmental specialist to develop a priority climate action plan. It will also allow for training, standard development, and the creation and dissemination of materials to raise public awareness of the program in addition to other duties.
NCA 23-122 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation authorizing the expenditure of grant funds awarded in the amount of $997,662 from the United States Department of the Interior for the benefit of the Office of Environmental Services passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Joseph Hicks.
MCN Office of Environmental Services was awarded a Tribal Orphaned Wells Program Development Grant. The grant makes possible the hiring of two full-time staff members for the program, and the establishment of methodologies to measure and track methane and other gasses associated with orphaned wells. The grant will also allow for decommissioning/removing of pipelines, facilities, and infrastructure to remediate soil and restore the habitat.
NCA 23-123 A law of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation amending MCNCA Title 38, Chapter 3 entitled “Tribal Driveways Program” passed with a vote of 4-0. It was sponsored by Rep. Galen Cloud.
The amendment adjusts the upper limit on driveways projects to $6,000.
To view the full meeting, visit: mcnnc.com.
