Band Assembly Weekly Update, March 8-12

Published

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After a Pre-Band Assembly meeting on Tuesday, March 9, to discuss the agenda items, Band Assembly occurred through conference call and Zoom on Wednesday, March 10, 2021.

Joseph Nayquonabe Sr., Mille Lacs Band Elder, and Vince Merrill, Mille Lacs Band Member, presented on drum and language history, the need for more people to learn and be involved, and problems in our community relating to drum and language.

Band Assembly approved the following:

— Band Assembly Bill 19-03-28-21: A Bill of Supplemental Appropriation and Budget Revision/Transfers for Health & Human Services, Community Development, and Legislative for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2021.

— Resolution 19-03-50-21: A Resolution to Approve Waivers of Sovereign Immunity for the Limited Purpose of the Band to Obtain Settlement Funds as an Indian Tribe Beneficiary from the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust.

— A contract for Citon Computer Corporation to provide project management configuration, onsite installation and implementation of Help Desk Services. Contract end date is July 30, 2021.

Band Assembly tabled the following:

— A contract for Amanda Nickaboine-Meyer to serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Committee.

— A contract for Indigenous Enterprise, LLC (Anton Treuer) to serve as Managing Editor for the MLB younger reader book project as well as serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Committee.

— A contract for Michael Sullivan to serve as Text Editor for the MLB book development project as well as to serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Committee.

— A contract for Chato Gonzales to provide consultation for language revitalization to serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Committee. This contract also includes four sessions of transcribing duties for the MLB book development project. Contract end date is February 28, 2022.

— A contract for Keller Paap to provide consultation for Language revitalization to serve on the Aanjibimaadizing Ojibwemowin Strategic Planning Committee. The contract also includes four sessions of transcribing duties for the MLB book development project. Contract end date is February 28, 2022. Contract was tabled.

On Thursday, March 11, Legislative held a work session for the Band Assembly members, Legal Counsel, Revisor of Statutes, Staff Attorney, Legislative Staff, and Commissioner of Finance.

On the agenda were Title 3 and Rules of the Band Assembly. Hanna Valento presented on a red-line version of Title 3 with discussion, questions, comments on various parts of the presentation. Joe Jensen presented on a draft red line version on Rules of the Band Assembly with discussion, questions, comments on various parts of the presentation.