Taking Stock

We need to be preparing ourselves for the future regardless of the outcome of the upcoming public hearing and joint committee decisions. We know we face at least some opposition in bringing enhancement programs to Tennessee (Sen. Bunch’s erroneous comment at the July 31 meeting that “enhancement programs would probably be unconstitutional”).

We know the lack of support for our side of arguments was due largely to lack of understanding and education about Indians on the part of the majority of those who voted against us. (They don’t really oppose us, they just lack enough knowledge about us to make a decision in our favor.) We’re going to have learn to take care of ourselves and educate outsiders.

We’ve already begun the process of determining where we stand on key indicators (TN American Indian Research Initiative’s quantitative study and its planned qualitative study). Those studies will show us where our community is hurting the most and the least.

We need to go beyond what we lack, though.  I have argued more than once that we need to become self-reliant, i.e., not wait for the things that recognition brings but learn to stand on our own feet as an empowered community regardless of government labels. In order to do that, we need to find out what assets we have in our own larger community. The majority of those assets are human resources.

I’ve created two surveys that will help us begin to count our stock of human assets.  The surveys measure community development resources and cultural resources respectively, and offer an opportunity to volunteer time to others. The community development survey also offers an opportunity to show areas where people would like to improve certain skills.

Where are the surveys?

The surveys are available in two forms: online or pdf formatted files that can be printed out and completed offline. 

Online forms are available at tnaim.org under “Hosted Surveys.” You do not need to be a registered site member to access active surveys.

Printable versions are available here on my blog: 

• community-development-volunteer-form.pdf
• cultural-resource-form.pdf

Who should use them and how?

• Individuals who care about the community, what happens within it, and how it’s represented to the mainstream society (use online or download-able forms; download-able forms must be mailed in)
• Leaders and members of Tennessee-based American Indian-related organizations (use download-able forms, print out and distribute at your meetings, collect, and mail in together or distribute and ask your members to complete and mail in individually)
• Event planners/organizers (use download-able forms, print out and make available at your event along with a container where people can deposit their completed forms, mail in together)

The Mending Begins

I have been receiving phone calls and letters from potential constituents since the morning after I announced my candidacy. I have received even more since the convention just 6 days ago. Each of the following proposals would address one or more of the issues put before me. None of these are written in stone. They are just “ideas” and all need public input.

Equal Service - Citizens’ Committee of Historic & Other Federally Recognized Nations

For nearly all its two lives, the commission has done very little to benefit those residents of Tennessee who are also citizens of federally recognized nations. While there is opportunity and even built in preference for participation in the commission on the parts of the this portion of the community, the participation is voluntary and residents who are citizens of these nations don’t always participate equally with the two other segments (state-recognized and unrecognized).  In order to make sure this voice is never overlooked again, I’m recommending the formation of a new committee.

Recognition - Tribal Ties for Tennesseans

We can’t undo what has been done, but we can still look for a way to address the needs of those who so passionately lobbied for and wanted some kind of legal recognition. Without state criteria, there is only one other avenue for “legal” recognition: enrollment in a federally recognized nation or in a tribe recognized by another state.  My idea is to create a grassroots group that would work toward helping Tennessee residents go through the process of determining eligibility in existing recognized nations, tribes and bands, and in making application for enrollment when appropriate.

Increasing Indian Voter Participation - Multiple Polling Points & Early/Absentee Voting

I have always been concerned about and cherished the democratic process that populates the Commission and other entities. This past year has raised some new concerns - increasing voter participation and voter accessibility to elections being two major areas.  Lack of funding by the State or anyone else outside the active Indian political community has contributed significantly to the low levels of voter participation.  Additionally, it is the constant addition of “new voices” that makes sure the political segment of the community doesn’t get stuck in a rut or remain unaware of issues.

According to the latest census update (2006), the original 39,000+ Tennessee citizens self-identifying as Indian is over 44,000. If even 10% of that group were to vote in a caucus election, the current system of one or two polling sites per caucus would be hard pressed to handle it and unlikely to encourage it.

For example, according to census data 42% of that number live in the East Tennessee Grand Division. That division consists of 18 rural counties and 16 metro counties (7 in one metro, 9 in the other). That means there is an average of 543 voters per county. Using that average, if only 10% of those voters were to turnout on election night, East would need a space big enough to accommodate almost 1,000 voters. I realize we’re not there yet, but looks think in terms of a glass half full and plan toward it now. 

Even with the split polling points this past election, turnout was low. Some of the comments I heard were distance to points which appeared geographically central on a map but involved mountain and back-road driving, and failing to provide a polling point for the southern counties in this area (East is the only grand division geographically segregated by a metro caucus area). I believe we need to identify new polling points that can accomodate a reasonable number of voters, develop election staff at those points, and encourage people to come out and vote. The “Multiple Polling Points” test plan was submitted to TNNAC First Vice-Chair Vicky Garland to be shared with the TNNAC board. 

I also believe we need to accommodate those people who, for whatever reason, find it difficult or inconvenient to come to a caucus election. We have no provisions in our current system for the elderly or disabled, homebound, those who can’t afford to miss work, or who have prior commitments. I realize it would be difficult and that there needs to be a great deal of work done to prevent voting fraud, but it’s time to consider alternative ways for people to participate in this process. I’m suggesting early voting and absentee ballots be worked out before the 2009 election, even if it requires establishing a voter registration process.

Kudos - Community Calendar

A quick note of thanks to Donna Smith who thoughtfully provides a community calendar on American Indian events taking place in Tennessee and/or of interest to American Indians living in Tennessee. Donna’s calendar is providing the feed for the “Upcoming TN Events” listing in the sidebar. You can access the calendar directly at this link.

Thanks, Donna!

A Cut Above

One would think the average intelligent adult would not require a list of rules for what is considered appropriate and professional behavior becoming a commissioner. One might go a step further and think, “Okay … one rule pretty much common across all spiritual followings - if you don’t like being ___________, don’t __________ others.” One would think.

Unfortunately, conflicts that manifest into or because of behavioral issues have been a systemic problem throughout the state-wide community for a very long time. Even more unfortunately, those conflicts and behavioral issues are what the non-Indian powers that be use to justify elimination of the very agencies we need to serve our greater good.

Understanding the Problem (Children):

When you take a group as minimally populated as a 7-seat commission, any conflicts become instantly noticable and a risk for compromising the integrity of the entire commission. Potential for conflict occurs when individuals practice:

1. Abuse of power/office
2. Micro-management or control issues
3. Assumption of authority/seniority based on age or length of service
4. Partisan favoritism or disfavoritism
5. Self-perceived need for revenge, vengeance, or vindication
6. Self-aggrandizement
7. Decisions based on personal, political or professional gain

It seems like the moment even one of these types of conflict take place, the whole system goes into melt-down, progress on issues comes to a screeching halt, the “he said/she said” wars are on, and lines get drawn in the wet concrete.

Time to Cut Away the Ballast & Rise Above the Fray

When a chairperson of an organization can open a meeting by addressing the rest of the organization and saying explicitly, “You will act like grown ups and professionals, place nice with one another, keep your hands to yourself and knock off the bickering, catcalling, and tattling, and you’re all 6 grounded for only completing one of your 10 chores,” and the chair’s message goes totally unheeded on the part of at least 4 of the 6 recipients, it’s time to take firmer action. It’s time to write the rules down, make them write them again 500 times, and make them sign the piece of paper stating they read, wrote 500 times, and understand the rules.

The same problems occurred on another relevant organization. I was one of the principle designers of a document that resolved the problem in the other organization. With that in mind, I am submitting a “Statement of Principles & Agreement, Standard of Conduct, and Code of Ethics Pledge” for consideration.

Looking back to move forward (TCIA Agendas & Minutes)

Whoooowee, talk about a hot topic! These days it seems to be a toss up as to which is the most controversial - the agenda or the minutes. One mutual problem with both is that there is no protocol for either. It would seem a change is in order.

Agenda

An agenda is basically the to do list of a group. It sets up the order in which things are done and is the list that must be accomplished during the meeting. Under limited or autonomous control, it can become a tool for eliminating, avoiding or progressing action on issues from a narrow or personal perspective. With no control, it can become inundated with more business than the group can feasibly handle or hear, causing critical or time-sensitive issues to take a back seat.

While state open/public meeting law does not require an agenda at all, the already engaged portion of the Indian community feels strongly that the opposite is true. So strongly, they built a requirement right into the bill that created the commission that commission agendas be published not less than one week prior to commission meetings.

Solution: develop a protocol that ensures nothing gets overlooked (unintentionally or otherwise) by

1. requiring that “old business” items for the next meeting be established and voted on before the end of the current meeting (minimizes the opportunity for conflict over what should or should not be addressed as the only decisions left to make will be “new business”)
2. requiring members of the public wishing to put non-emergent items before the commission either seek a commissioner to sponsor their item, or
3. requiring members of the public to submit the non-emergent item to the Chair not less than 30 days prior to the next meeting (complies with March 2005 motion)
4. requiring members of the public with emergent issues arising after the 30 days prior deadline to seek and secure a sponsoring commissioner
5. requiring commissioners to submit their non-emergent items not less than 15 days prior to a meeting
6. requiring all submitters including commissioners to provide full documentation relevant to their submission (i.e., copies of any proposals including documented justifications, copies of proposed resolutions, etc.)
7. require all submitters to make all documentation submitted to the commission for its consideration publicly available within 24 hours of submission

My suggested agenda protocol is located here. Other comments on the agenda are here.

Minutes

The minutes are the official record of organizational meetings. In the TCIA’s case, however, they are also documenting the contemporary history of Indian people in Tennessee. Further, and while the TCIA is not now nor was it intended to be the “government” of the Tennessee Indian community, it is an extension of the the state government, therefore could be used to attempt to establish and document government to government relations. That, alone, is cause for a long hard look at how minutes are to be written.

Some will argue that this is the biggest reason for not changing how the minutes are currently presented. I disagree. Strongly.

Example:

Minute taker’s perspective: Person A called to attention the fact that the something published by Person Z contained mis-statements … Person A commented that Person Z might have changed the published copy.

My perspective (as an eye witness): Person A argued loudly about and with Person Z …. Person A accused Person Z of changing the posted copy … Person Z alleged the document was actually changed by the Minute Taker between its original release and the meeting (a statement that doesn’t appear at all in the official version)…

In this example, the minute taker paints a picture of calmness, grace, and political correctness on the part of Person A, and writes in a way that reflects only the allegations against Person Z. The minute taker has just documented into the history of the organization that Person Z is a bad guy because Person A said so and no one is recorded as having rebutted the argument made by Person A against Person Z.

Now … both the minute taker and I are eye witnesses as are Person’s A and Z.

You may be an eye witness, but if you’re not related in any way to the incident … you are only getting part of a story. You wouldn’t know that Person A is also a buddy of the minute taker, and that both the minute taker and Person A share a common loathing about Person Z, or that the minute taker neatly avoided mentioning at all that Person Z alleged it was actually the minute taker that doctored the the document.

What should have been written for the sake of documenting history was not the personal perspective of the minute taker or anyone else. It should simply have said …

Discrepencies between a document published by Person Z and the copy of the document presented at the meeting for approval by the Minute Taker were pointed out. Open debate of how the document became significantly different followed.  The document was approved as submitted, however it was also decided to investigate the matter before the June 9 meeting. (followed by the official motions)

In the original document used to illustrate this article, there are other examples like instances where the minute taker, Person A and Person B are quoted nearly verbatim but Person C, D, E, and F’s comments are listed as “inaudible on the tape” or are not even mentioned. Recounting the meeting, Person C, D, E,  and F spoke in opposition to Person A, Person B and/or the Minute Taker.

While it’s acknowledge the minute taker is human and not a machine, in the case of the Commission it is the minute taker’s responsibility to write the minutes completely and accurately.  That’s the law. Further and even more importantly, the Minute Taker is creating that contemporary history of the Indian people of Tennessee - not the Minute Taker’s history - the PEOPLE’S history. The minute taker owes it to the People to do it right and to do it equitably.

Solutions: No, it’s not removing the minute taker from office. That would only be an immediate fix, not a cure and not a prevention for the future.

Design a protocol that prevents a minute taker (present or future) from biasing the minutes. I’ve started that design here, although it still needs to be refined.