General Notice: Dec. & January First Nations First Saturdays CANCELLED

Due to medical appointments stemming from an ongoing health issue, the December (Dec. 6, 2008) and January (Jan. 3, 2008) First Nations First Saturdays are both cancelled.

Public Comments

28:  Number of hours per year the commissioners have to meet with one another (includes 4 regularly scheduled TCIA meetings at an average of 5 hours each, plus the addition of 4 two-hour teleconference meetings approved at Sept. 13 meeting).

8,732: Number of hours per year members of the community have to submit public comments to the Commission before the Commission votes on agenda items (does not include the 28 hours alloted to scheduled commission meetings or the mandatory public comment period included at each commisson meeting).

Are you using your time wisely?

Yes, Virginia, We’re Developing a 5-Year Plan

Maybe the poster who wrote …

“The Commission is in a Sunset extension at this time. I am getting the impression that the Commission feels that they will not be Sunset even though they are in “Official” wind down mode now to take care and wrap up Commission business - this being the main purpose and reason they were given an extension in the first place…“

… likes to roll over and play dead on command. I don’t. And I don’t think the five other current commissioners do, either. So yes, Virginia, we’re in the beginning stages of developing a five-year strategic plan to help us focus and work toward meeting the directives we’re given via the legislation that created us.

Below are links to informational sites about the strategic planning process. Your input of ideas, goals, etc., is welcome at any point in the planning. Just send them to vohle@comcast.net or to your commissioner, or mail to:

Valerie Ohle, Chair
TN Commission of Indian Affairs
PO Box 20592
Knoxville, TN 37940

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_planning
• http://www.allianceonline.org/FAQ/strategic_planning (excellent info)
• http://www.businessweek.com/1996/35/b34901.htm
• http://www.managementhelp.org/plan_dec/str_plan/str_plan.htm
• http://www.nonprofitexpert.com/strategic_planning.htm
• http://www.wmich.edu/nonprofit/Guide/guide7.htm

That should get you started!

Message to “JB”

a) The grant was less than $5,000. In fact, it was less that $4,000.  (that’s three zeros - not four).

b) WKI is not now, nor has it ever been a “girl scout group” of any kind. It has always been its own organization separate from other organizations. It had one program that was offered to the local GSUSA council as a program activity. That program has since been retired.

c) I have no intention of marketing it as the “only reliable native organization” in the state.

d) I don’t market it as a native organization and, in fact, I used it as an example to point out the very bad design of organizational recognition that was lobbied for around 2006 that would have allowed almost any organization to be recognized as a “native” organization with a few simple modifications to bylaws and mission statements.

e) In its eleven years of existence, it has assisted two reservation-based organizations in obtaining grants, indirectly provided programs of support for two recognized nations, and directly provided assistance to a third recognized tribe-owned entity through the generation of over $63,000 in grants, donations and volunteer hours for a third recognized nation. And has never once claimed to be a “native” organization.

f) I’ll take your bet.

Any other delusions of yours you need clarified, you just let me know.

Responses to Community Concerns, Questions & Comments

Who’s an Indian? (http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199489;article=29729;title=Issues%20Affecting%20American%20Indians%20in%20Tennessee)

Until someone comes up with the funding to do the qualitative study needed to - in this case - INvalidate the Census 2000 counts including all updates, as the Chair of the Commission I have an obligation to serve the nearly 45,000 people who identified themselves via Census 2000. I don’t have to like them. They don’t have to like me. They certainly don’t have to like one another. But I do have an appointed duty and obligation to serve them. If you don’t agree with that, then help us find the funding to complete the study. Maybe you’ll get lucky and the number will be reduced.

FYI, there is no clear federal definition or authority when it comes to declaring racial categories, including American Indian, so please do not use that argument.

Further, if you intend to argue that unenrolled Indians, descendants of Indians, remnant populations seeking recognition, pseudo-tribes, or whatever your label for them is, are misappropriating the limited amount of federal funds available to federally recognized nations and citizens, then you are forewarned to come bearing documented evidence of such misappropriations here in Tennessee in your hand. This commission is relevant to Indian Affairs in Tennessee. Arkansas, Missouri, etc., and the activities of their residents are outside the boundaries of our authority. Our concern is the issues here in Tennessee.

“I know that the Commission is mandated to post the information on all known message boards.” (http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=241180;article=55;title=Tennessee%20Indian%20People%27s%20Issues)

No, we’re not mandated to post to all known “message boards.” Not in the TCA. Not in our standing rules. The Commission is governed by the Sunshine laws of the state which require public notification. Publishing that notification is done through TDEC to ensure compliance.

In the past the commission has posted notices to message boards and lists as a courtesy and in an attempt to reach as many people as possible. It is not mandated anywhere that we continue those courtesy posts.  Perhaps you’re thinking about the bylaws and/or rules for some other organization. 

Message boards are privately owned recreational or informational mediums. As commissioners we are under no obligation to publish to them or participate on them, and why - given the current attitudes toward the commission prevalent on all three known publicly-accessible message boards, would or should we?

Further, a poster on this same board went on to say the job of the commission is service to “Tennessee Indians.” Yes … and every other Indian in Tennessee as well. Segregation equals division! As chair of this commission, I am going to work to lead the commission away from segregation. Not straight into the thick of it.

Referencing New Business, Item G. Organizational Accreditation …

• “Does this include performing groups? Drums? Dancers? Storytellers? I can think of someone who lives in Tennessee in every one of those categories I’m asking about.” (http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=199489;article=29737;title=Issues%20Affecting%20American%20Indians%20in%20Tennessee

• “You all may want to pay attention to a certain proposal that the Commission may be trying to pass that will affect some of your organizations out there. I read one of those proposals myself. Very interesting on the Commissions part.” (http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=241180;article=141;title=Tennessee%20Indian%20People%27s%20Issues)

• The entire “W.T.F.!?!” discussion (http://www.network54.com/Forum/539634/message/1213798932/WTF+%21+-+%21)

A) It’s a proposal. It doesn’t “include” anyone or any organization yet. I don’t know of any drums or individuals who are dancers or storytellers that have registered as for- or non-profit entities with the state. The proposal clearly states entities who are registered with the Secretary of the State.

In my opinion, what you’re asking about would fall more into the definition of an Artists’ Directory similar to the one compiled by the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs. That’s a proposal waiting to happen, I’m sure.

B) The purpose of discussing it at a Commission meeting is to do just that - discuss it. What you read in proposals presented before the meeting takes place is not necessarily the way it will end up - on this proposal or any other.

If you want to provide some valid input to make it more palatable to the community, yourself, your organization, or a reasonable justification as to why we should abandon the idea, then provide those modifications, suggested revisions, reasons, whatever.

What will NO LONGER be entertained or considered is unsubstantiated, unfounded rumours, allegations or accusations about or based on “who” is involved disguised as justifications. PERIOD.

D) Wasn’t it just a little over a year ago that people were jumping up and down for organizational recognition? Coming up with a database of registered organizations that meet some fairly simple rules for inclusion is coming very near to that goal. 

The failure of this state to recognize Indians is not the fault of the State, nor of the commission. Both the state and the commission have been the victims of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” for far too long. It’s time for all of you to decide how badly you want these things and where you are willing to agree to compromise. And I do mean all … as in unenrolled, state-enrolled/recognized, and federally recognized living in this state.

No where in the proposal does it require proof of tribal status or affiliation for the organization or its officers, board, members, etc. It merely asks that the organizations actually be interacting with other like-minded organizations, and be registered with the state. Registering with the state shows a higher level of commitment to making the organization last.

No where in the proposal does it suggest any form of sanctions or any more information than is required by and available through the state. This database is no different than the database maintained by the Secretary of State, Department of Commerce, or Better Business Bureau, except that it is specific to organizations coming from and/or involved with the American Indian/Alaska Native community in Tennessee.

No where in the proposal does it require organizations to participate or state that organizations will be added without their knowledge or consent. It is my understanding in reviewing the proposal that organization will be able to voluntarily elect to participate in the registry. If your organization has a legitimate and valid reason to fear a public listing other than paranoia-based assumptions or speculations then, should this pass, simply don’t register your organization.

Does this mean I support the proposal? It means I support the theory behind the proposal. The final wording and passage remain to be seen, and I’d like to hear from more than two or three anonymous/hide-behind-made-up-names people who continually condemn the commission for trying to do anything and then accuse the commission of doing nothing at all.

Regarding the Longest Walk (from Network54.com/Forum/539634  http://tinyurl.com/4t7yhz)

The commission had no official involvement in the events beyond the day-to-day duties of the Chair. The calls from the US AG’s officers came to the Chair of the commission and were handled according to normal government procedure. Departments and agencies within the state contact other departments and agencies within the state. Federal departments and agencies contact the appropriate departments and agencies within the affected state(s). This is one of the primary reasons the commission is a critical and needed part of our community. The commission is your guaranteed liaison to various governments and government entities, and the point of first contact they will try to make relevant to you.

Neither federal nor state departments and agencies scour the Internet or country looking for grassroots individuals or organizations as point of first contact. Only other grassroots organizations and campaign hopefuls do that, and here in Tennessee even that is limited at best.

I have the names and contact information of the two officers that called me and with whom I worked to fulfill the requests, and I made our TDEC legal counsel aware of it as well. I am authorized by law to fulfill the day to day duties of the chair. The requests from the US AG’s office did not require approval or authority of the full commission.

On the other hand, obligating a portion or all of the Commission’s treasury to the walk should, in my opinion, be a decision of the commission as a whole. The notice that the South Route had, once again, changed its course and was coming through Tennessee after all came to members of the community in mid-April, after the last commission meeting had already taken place. Based on the timing of the notice, official involvement would have required a special called meeting to decide to make a donation from the treasury.

In addition, the commission’s treasurer does not simply sit down and write out a check. Our funds are deposited through and held by TDEC. When we need to pay for something, we submit a request along with any supporting documentation to TDEC’s accounting department and TDEC does the check writing, accounting and auditing.

In closing … 

That was the majority of questions, concerns, statements and comments I found that others on the commission had not already answered for this quarter. See you Saturday. Safe travel to you.