February 2009 Tribal Council Meeting Minutes

        Principal Chief Brenda Dardar-Robichaux called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.

                                                                                

        John Silver led the group in prayer.

 

Charlene Soares led the group in the pledge.

        Hope Larios, a member of the Election Committee, swore in April Guidry, of District 8, and Albert Solet, of District 1.       

 

Members present: Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, Albert Solet, Lora Ann Chaisson, Janie Luster, John Silver, April Guidry, and Laura Billiot.

 

Members absent: Gwen Billiot, Thomas Dardar, Jr., Michael Dardar, and Curtis Hendon, Sergeant-at-Arms.

        Todd Galle, representing District 7, sent in his letter of resignation. The District 7 seat is now vacant.

 

        A motion was made by Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson to approve the March minutes, seconded by Ms. April Guidry, motion carries. February minutes were revised and available at the meeting.

 

A Finance Committee meeting was held April 9^th. The minutes of the Finance Committee meeting were provided in the Tribal Council’s packets. The Finance Committee recommended the use of leadership support funds from Blue Moon to relocate the Old Store Relief Center. A motion was made by Ms. April Guidry to dedicate the funds with an agreement between the owners and the United Houma Nation, seconded by Ms. Laura Billiot, Mr. John Silver abstained, motion carries. The Finance Committee reviewed and adopted the March 2009 Financial Reports for all accounts at the Finance Committee meeting. A motion was made by Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson to accept all the financial reports for all the accounts, seconded by Ms. April Guidry, motion carries. The next financial meeting is scheduled for May 7^th at the Houma office at 4:30 PM.

Ms. Lanor Curole reported on the Vocational Rehabilitation program. The VocRehab program works with disabled tribal citizens to provide employment opportunities. Since the last Tribal Council meeting, the VocRehab program has held two outreach activities. On March 17^th, there was a St. Patrick’s Day outreach in Marrero, and an Easter Egg Hunt was held in Montegut on April 4^th with Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson, Tribal District Council Member for that area. The VocRehab program is working to have outreach events scheduled in the Lafitte, Golden Meadow, and Chalmette areas. On September 19^th, VocRehab will host a Disability Awareness Powwow at the KC Home in Grand Caillou. Ms. Lanor Curole reported that VocRehab met with Mr. Michel Claudet to share the plans of the Powwow. The VocRehab program has received a new upgrade for the client database. The new improvements to the database will help provide more efficient reporting.

 

Ms. Hope Larios was present to give the Election committee report. Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson recommended that a mail out be sent to all the citizens in the District 7 community notifying them of the vacant seat on the Tribal Council. Ms. Lanor Curole reported that there are three interested candidates for District 7. A motion was made by Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson to recommend that the Election Committee send a mail out to District 7 and plan for a special election, seconded by Ms. April Guidry, motion carries.

 

The United Houma Nation has applied for two FCC licenses for a community-based radio station, one in Chauvin and one in Golden Meadow. The UHN was awarded the Golden Meadow site construction permit and the Chauvin permit is still pending. A draft of the ANA grant the Tribe applied for is provided in the Tribal Council’s packets. Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux and Mr. John Silver attended the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, 34^th Annual Community Radio Conference on April 1^st – 4^th in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Lanor Curole reported even if the tribe receives funds from ANA, more funds will be needed. Anyone interested in serving on the Advisory Board for the Radio Station is welcome.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux reported on Indian Education. The applications to apply for Indian Education grants are due at the end of April. There will be a Lafourche Parish Public Hearing and Parent Committee meeting on April 20^th. Ms. Janie Luster reported that the number of American Indian students has dropped in Terrebonne Parish. Students without tribal roll numbers need to go through the process of enrollment to be counted.

 

The Enrollment Committee is in need of volunteers. There are approximately1400 citizens in the after-deadline file. The Enrollment Committee is placing phone calls to citizens, but many of the numbers have been disconnected. Letters requesting the required information for the enrollment process need to be sent to all citizens that cannot be reached by phone. The Enrollment Committee is also working on enrolling children. Follow-up letters need to be sent to inform citizens of their enrollment process status. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the Golden Meadow Tribal Center, 985-475-6640.

 

Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson gave the Inter-Tribal Council report. Ms. Lora Ann reported that the ITC Elder’s Fest took place March 19^th at the Coushatta reservation. There were 199 elders in attendance, with approximately 100 from United Houma Nation. Ms. Lora Ann reported that the Project Venture program hosted a camp in Grand Isle March 13^th-15^th for charter fishing. The summer youth program criteria has changed, the tribal citizens must be a senior not going to college that wants to go straight into the workforce and slots are limited.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux reported on the youth activities of the United Houma Nation. The Youth Media Team is still conducting interviews throughout tribal communities. Once the radio station is functional, these interviews will be broadcast. Some of the work has been posted on the United Houma Nation website, www.unitedhoumanation.org. Anyone interested in being interviewed should contact the YMT by email, youth@unitedhoumation.org, or at the Relief Office, 985-537-8867. Funds were received from Global Fund for Children to host a leadership camp May 15^th-17^th for children 6^th-12^th grade. The location for the camp is to be announced. The camp is the same weekend as the Tunica-Biloxi Powwow, Ms. Brenda will contact Ms. Brenda Lintinger, Tunica Biloxi tribal council representative, about housing facilities.

 

Mr. Seth Siegel gave the Emergency Preparedness Committee report. An Emergency Preparedness meeting was held on March 26^th. The committee discussed having Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with other tribes for housing and transportation for emergency evacuation. Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson reported that Choctaw will sign the MOU with the United Houma Nation. Choctaw has seven communities that could house tribal citizens during evacuation. The next Emergency Preparedness meeting will be in sometime in May. The Tribe is meeting with all the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) and parish leaders for all the tribal communities.

 

Mr. John Silver reported on the Dulac Community Center. Mr. Silver stated that the DCC is still working with United Methodist Church. The DCC is taking applications for anyone needing assistance in the Dulac area. The United Methodist Church has opened another office in Houma to serve other bayou communities.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux reported on the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (NOJHF) which will take place on April 24^th-26^th and April 30^th- May 3^rd. Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux and Ms. Lanor Curole will be attending a Food Vendor’s meeting on April 14^th. Tribal Citizens will be volunteering to cook and do prep work before Jazz Fest at the Larose Civic Center on April 17^th. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Workshop will take place on April 27^th at Ellender Memorial High School. On April 22^nd, the Tribe will be setting up the booth at Jazz Fest. Anyone interested in volunteering for the NOJHF or attending the workshop, please submit your name as soon as possible.

 

Mrs. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux reported on the Grant Committee. The Relief Office has received funds to provide $1,000 grants to help towards repair or purchase of a new sewer treatment plant that has been damaged or lost due to the hurricanes. Eight applicants have been approved for this grant already. Anyone wanting a grant application can call Ms. Samantha Shaffstall at the Relief Office in Raceland, 985-537-8867.

 

Mr. Michael Dardar provided a report of the United Houma Nation men’s group retreat in all Tribal Council packets. The men’s group retreat took place in Raceland on March 28^th. The report provided information about the activities that took place and upcoming events planned.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux reported on the Paddle Bayou Lafourche 2009 that took place on March 28^th at 5:00 PM. People from all over the United States and other countries took part in this annual environmental awareness event. Accommodations, food, and a UHN tribal presentation of drumming and dancing were held.

 

Ms. Lanor Curole and Mr. Seth Siegel had a meeting with the Office of Public Health on March 20^th. They met with Al Russell, District Supervisor for Lafourche and Paul Landry, Regional Director of Public Health who are interested in working on projects with the Tribe. They discussed the development of a workgroup. Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, Mr. Seth Siegel, Ms. Bernadette Carriere, and Mr. John Silver had a follow-up meeting.   

 

On March 24^th, Ms. Charlene Soares attended the Wage and Hour Seminar in Houma. Ms. Charlene reported that all the information she gathered will be shared with the Finance Committee.

 

On March 26^th Ms. Lanor Curole, Mrs. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux, Ms. Louise Billiot and Mr. John Silver met with Michel Claudet at the Parish President’s Office. At the meeting, they discussed the levees being repaired and the parishes’ involvement in the upcoming UHN Disability Awareness Powwow. 

 

Students from UC Berkeley, Calvin College, and Jewish Funds for Justice have visited to volunteer in the Tribal communities throughout the month of March.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux attended a Ms. Foundation Katrina Women’s Response Fund and Southern Strategy reception and dinner on March 30^th. The Ms. Foundation is continuing to support the Tribe and wants to work on another project with the UHN.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux provided a tour April 4^th for Ms. Brenda Lintinger, Tunica-Biloxi, and a delegation from the Department of Agriculture and Farming. The tour started at the Raceland Relief Office and continued to Houma, Montegut, Isle de Jean Charles, and Point-aux-Chene. Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson reported that the Department of Agriculture and Farming are interested in funding a project for the fishermen of the United Houma Nation.

 

Ms. Brenda Dardar-Robichaux reported that she will be serving on a panel discussion at the Katrina to Copenhagen: Promoting a Fair Climate Agenda conference on April 17^th. The information gathered from this discussion will be used in an International Treaty.

 

Phillip Hillaire, with National American Indian Housing Council, is seeking assistance in filling the following positions at the May 12^th event being held in New Orleans:

·         Tribal Chief/ Leader to welcome our members at the Plenary Session

·         Color Guard Coordinator to handle the lineup of color posting

·         A drum group to bring in Colors

·         Invocation presenter

·         Convention Sponsorships

Anyone interested should contact Mr. Hillaire as soon as possible.

 

Mr. Kevin Billiot, with Inter-Tribal Council, asked Ms. Lanor Curole to serve on a Census Advisory Board to prepare for the 2010 Census. Ms. Lanor Curole asked for other appointees to serve on this board. Ms. Laura Billiot nominated Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson to serve.

 

 

Albert Solet – District 1: Mr. Albert Solet reported that he would like to get more of his community citizens involved with Tribal activities and find out the needs of his community.

 

Lora Ann Chaisson – District 2: Ms. Lora Ann Chaisson reported that she attended a Parish Council meeting. Ms. Lora Ann stated that if tribal citizens have an issue, citizens should attend the meetings to voice their opinions. Ms. Lora Ann reported on the Annual Easter Egg Hunt held in her community on April 4^th. Ms. Lora Ann inquired about the building materials for and repairs to the Montegut Tribal Center. Progress is at a stand still at this time; no materials have been delivered and labor is unavailable.

 

Janie Luster – District 3: Ms. Janie Luster reported that she has some concerns in her community. A state bridge at Falgout canal needs to be replaced, but the state is not planning to replace it. Ms. Janie asked that the Tribe send in a letter asking that the bridge stay in the community. Another concern is the pump on Brady Road has been removed due to legal issues. All the wind has brought the water into the community and caused flooding. Ms. Janie said she would like to do a petition or a class-action suit. Ms. Janie asked that the Tribal Council provide a letter of support. The Tribal Council suggested that she gather her community to attend a Parish Council meeting and the tribal council representative will attend as well. Ms. Janie Luster reported that a July celebration at the old Indian school is being planned.

 

John Silver – District 4: Mr. John Silver reported that a Mardi Gras celebration was held in conjunction with VocRehab in February. Citizens were able to voice their concerns and hear recommendations. Mr. John Silver stated that he has met with Mr. Michel Claudet about the Community Block Grant that Terrebonne Parish is receiving. Mr. Silver asked Mr. Claudet to remember to include tribal citizens on committees and boards in the future. Mr. Silver stated that he is still selling United Houma Nation lapel pins for $8.00 for the scholarship and building fund.

 

April Guidry – District 8: Ms. April Guidry reported that she is anxious to get her community involved in Tribal activities.

 

Laura Billiot – District 10: Ms. Laura reported that a joint-community meeting with District 11 is being planned. Ms. Laura reported that she has been assisting in the prep work for the fund raising food both at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The following updates were provided:

 

 

 

             I.      There was no new business reported.

 

 

            The next Tribal Council Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 9^th in Houma, LA at the Council on Aging Office. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.