April 2024 Open Meeting Summary
Tribal Open Meeting Summary 4/5/2024 held at the tribal office and via Zoom
CM’s Susan, Emily, Glenn, Marion, Robert, and CoC Dalton were present. 2C Alan had CM Chris’ proxy. Elders Becky S and Larry J were present. Acting Chief Cheryl and 2C Alan were present.
Members Dr. Dillian, Betty L, Nancy J, Clayton G, Dona M, Stephen W, Aaron F, Rebecca F, Randy W, Steven T, Carol L, Lisa L, Kevin D were present. Guest Monty B was present.
Financial Report (as of 4/4/2024 at 1:46 pm)
General Fund: $40,381.85
Building Fund: $1866.61
Cemetery Fund: $407.00
Old Business
Online Votes
3/20: Waccamaw Longhouse Memorial Sign
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Dalton-yes
3/21 Approve March Meeting Summary
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Alan (Chris)- yes, Dalton-yes
3/22 Catawba Request for Willows
Emily-yes, Susan-abstain, Glenn-no, Marion-yes, 2C Alan (Chris), Dalton-yes
3/26 Allow Blakelyn Leger from CCU to use our FB profile picture or header for the interpretive trail
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Alan (Chris)- yes, Dalton-yes
Survey Quotes
Glenn: $5000 quote from Palmetto Surveyors (Conway)
$2000 quote from J&W Surveyors (Aynor)
Marion: make sure they have plats
AC Cheryl: who are the companies?
Glenn: one in Conway, one in Aynor
CoC Dalton: email us the details
Glenn: the one in Conway needs to know 6 weeks ahead; once we give him the money
The $5000 quote is at least 2 weeks out
The one in Conway gave me a third person to call; no response yet
Glenn: I suggest waiting on a third quote
Policy letters
Susan sent them by email to Tribal Council
Council should review them and be prepared to make changes where needed
Dr. Dillian: we’re moving ahead to the exhibit
We’re bringing materials on Monday; students will help
4/16 @ 3 pm
Canadian Film Day is 4/17 @ 6 pm: Trick or Treaty
Free tickets
Held at CCU
AC Cheryl: the signs look good
Dr. Dillian: the students appreciated people talking to them
Glenn C: John T would like to put the core/ noncore requirement for Chief on the ballot
Glenn C motioned to put it on the ballot
CoC Dalton: you want a motion to have a referendum?
Glenn C: yes
CoC Dalton: do we have a second?
No second; motion fails
New Business
Monty Hawk Branham (Catawba Artisan)
It’s long overdue to form this bond; we’re stronger with a united voice
I’ve run a sweat lodge for over 25 years
I want to bring back several ceremonies to reconnect
I want to extend and assist with the endeavors of WIP
Keith Little Bear Brown runs a behavioral health program
We’re trying to plant willows
We use them to build the sweat lodge
Chief Harris reached out to see if WIP would let him have some
I was asked to come down and help with your current projects
Especially with ceremonies
Our ancestors sacrificed languages, traditions, and customs to avoid persecution and prosecution
We’d like to provide healing for our ancestors and ourselves and generations to come
Keith mentioned fire ceremonies
I haven’t been to one of yours and would be honored to come
I’m not coming to change people; we all have our own path
I would like an understudy for procedures; it is a commitment
CoC Dalton: thanks for coming
Reminder: PW meeting on Thursday
You can meet with Marion or Robert about the fire
Monty B: I started this journey more than 30 years ago
I’m a master potter, play flute, drum, lead ceremonies
A part of community programs and government, presentations, and representation
AC Cheryl: You coordinated 4/6 @ 11
Maybe fire too if Marion will do it
Monty B: I’ll talk to anyone about programs
Any ceremonies brought back with active people provide a deeper connection to the ancestors
I’ll share my stories
Indigenous are special because of their connection to Mother Earth
We’ve gotten away from those things and need to rebuild the connection
We need the state and federal governments to recognize all of us
Receipts
Fuel
Glenn C: The card isn’t working
Look at the dates and signatures
Susan: some are prepaid
Marion: when the receipt comes out, it says prepaid
AC Cheryl: can they set it up to send the bill to us?
Michelle: they only like to deal with Donnie
Susan: we shouldn’t be getting bills 3 months late
CoC Dalton: hold the receipts until next month and have Donnie explain it
Set the two questionable ones to the side and ask him about it
Total: $50.40
CoC Dalton motioned to pay; Robert seconded
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Alan (Chris)- yes, Dalton-yes
Check 1074 B&G Fund
Committee Reports
Building & Grounds: Glenn
Nothing new
2C Alan: where are we on the ditches?
Susan: we need an update on it
Glenn: I can only do so much with my knee
Susan: I’m just worried about it being there during PW time
Should we hire someone?
Glenn: that depends on you guys
AC Cheryl: labor & supplies?
Glenn: both
AC Cheryl: there were 3 leaks to repair
Susan: on fiber optics: is it terminated or unterminated?
Glenn: terminated, just need a box
AC Cheryl: what is the distance for piping?
Glenn: 300, I think
Marion: we had 500 ft donated
Susan: if we had a plan, more people could come out
Dr. Dillian: we could get our ROTC students who need service hours to help
Glenn: I think it’s 300 ft pipe, 500 ft cable
Susan: give us a plan of attack
Glenn: make it a work day and have people out here
AC Cheryl: Is it drawn up?
Glenn: no
AC Cheryl: Anthony Edwards does design work for repairs and upgrades
Glenn: there wasn’t a picture before; it’s why we have trenches now
Marion: didn’t you say to put a marker in it?
Glenn: yes, until we saw the price
Arts & Crafts
Nothing new
Grants: AC Cheryl
NEH grant was denied
Dr. Dillian: I want to get their review notes
Donnelly Grant: submitted 3/29
We have a meeting on our plans with the exhibit, mapping
It looks like it will be granted
This one is done with American Rivers (AR) and they get 19% off the top
They manage it
We can apply on our own next year
AC Cheryl: this grant gives Michelle & others interested the ability to certify as a grant writer
AC Cheryl: is the 19% just on our half or the whole grant?
Dr. Dillian: or the whole amount or certain categories?
Marion motioned to allow AR to do 19% or less on this grant; 2C Alan seconded
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Alan (Chris)- yes, Dalton-yes
Catalyst Grant: due 4/26
EPA Community Change Grant: it has 2 tracks
Track 1: climate resilience
Use a community center to provide training on the environment
Education on plants
Technical assistance
Design plans could help with pipelines
Up to $2M
Track 2: community engagement & webinars
Provide training for members
Up to $250k
We can apply for both
AC Cheryl: do we apply for track 1, track 2, or both?
<Provided slides to Tribal Council>
CoC Dalton: any questions?
It makes sense to do both
2C Alan: could we build a hurricane shelter?
AC Cheryl: it could depend on zones
We fall under EJ, but not FEMA zones
Aynor High School is probably in FEMA zone
2C Alan: would we manage it?
AC Cheryl: it would be ours
Susan: can we design it?
AC Cheryl: that’s part of the design plan
Susan: can we do a turtle, like Turtle Island?
AC Cheryl: we would have to talk with them
Someone gave us a picture/ plan of it; check the filing cabinets
AC Cheryl motioned to apply for track 1 and track 2; Robert seconded
Elder Larry: go for both
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Alan (Chris)- yes, Dalton-yes
SCAC grant due 4/16
Pauwau
Looking for pictures of our older members
Elder Becky provided 2 pictures
Start selling ads/ memorial pages for the program book
Working on demonstrators to finalize the flier earlier
Files
Nathan K (honorary)
2C Alan: His was done a few months ago
Michelle: please send me his working email address
Newsletter
Need articles
Susan: Cheryl, send me about a page-long letter
Don’t forget: letters of intent go in there too
CoC Dalton: not rerunning due to health
AC Cheryl: for June?
Susan: by May 15
AC Cheryl: is it ok if David H camps the week of the 19th?
Susan: yes; CoC, send him an email telling him he has permission all the time while he is working out here
Susan: got a call from a lady at Brookgreen Gardens
The suk we built isn’t there anymore due to kids
She’d like us to construct another one
Are we up to it?
AC Cheryl: probably not; it only benefits them
It was Waccamaw land
When are they looking to do it?
Susan: she wants us to drum and have a jewelry class too
They would host any event we want there
If it’s something we aren’t being charged for, I think we should do it including education on the suk for children
Marion: are they going to buy the materials?
Susan: I haven’t gone that far
And we still have materials at the house
Put fencing and plexiglass around the suk with an informational sign
We will need willow trees to do it
Dr. Dillian: I know the president there (Paige); I could set up times for us to meet with her
Susan: let me get back with the first lady
Susan: last time, some people couldn’t visit the cemetery despite being family
We couldn’t get into the archives there
Reminder: Fire Ceremony dates for 2024: 6/22, 9/21, 12/14
2C Alan: Reminder: Edisto PW: 4/26-27
Acting Chief
Black River Project- 70 miles acquired & being developed
It’s mapped out; a couple of sites were large
If there’s enough SC tribes that want to use it
It’s excluded from park access
It would need utilities, parking, facilities, etc…
It seems unuseful for 2 intertribal events/ year
After meetings, we could have an engagement with the public
Construct sweat lodges there
It’s far enough out that Monty can help with lodge training
I’m looking at a better use for intertribal/ intercultural events
It would be like a park
I have a meeting with the Council of Chiefs soon
What are your thoughts- just intertribal or intercultural and building out exhibits?
Susan: still need facilities
AC Cheryl: yes, they would be there
Susan: Even if it’s done 1-2 times/year, people could still camp year-round
AC Cheryl: that would be set up
Susan: just Native?
AC Cheryl: yes
Susan: each tribe could set up
AC Cheryl yes
AC Cheryl: would we have a third PW?
Susan: like the Unity PW
AC Cheryl: yes, who else would do a PW there?
Some think “Why would we do it when we have our own land?”
Susan: could have vision quests for kids
AC Cheryl: sweat lodge, fire ceremonies
Marion: other tribes need to start training firekeepers
As Monty said, we need more dedicated people
AC Cheryl: would it be useful for us and useful for intertribal/ intercultural events?
Marion: PW takes a lot of work
Glenn: last Unity PW was 2009
2C Alan: with Council of Chiefs, you’d have all of the tribes together
AC Cheryl: they are doing the heavy lifting; we consult and provide knowledge
Susan: I think it would be a good idea; I don’t want to turn it down
Let’s hear what other tribes have to say
Susan motioned to close the meeting; Emily seconded.
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Alan (Chris)- yes, Dalton-yes
The meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Michelle Hatcher on 4/25/2024 at 1:09 am.