Protect and Prepare


Protect and Prepare

Kulamàlsihëmo hàch?  I hope this article finds you well and in good spirits.  Because my last article covered constitutional questions, I want to take this opportunity to provide a few highlights of projects I am personally involved as a Tribal Council member.  In preparing this article, I felt that two strong themes were evident, protection and preparation.  These are two values I exercise in daily life and it stands to reason I would do this for our people.

One of the most important projects we were able to achieve last year was to obtain Section 106 guidance from the Caddo Chairwoman Tamara Francis-Fourkiller.  As a result we passed a resolution to increase our consultation prices.  Section 106 is a federal program assuring cell tower companies consult with us before building or adding to an existing tower on or near our historic lands.  Increasing the consultation fee significantly advanced our Delaware Tribal Historic Preservation’s revenue stream.  Previously, I was a consultant with the Delaware Nation in Anadarko where I witnessed why this program was critical to tribal development and we hope to make these same beneficial strides to our language, culture, and history as the Delaware Nation.  The Delaware Tribal Historic Preservation Office is preparing a resolution to assure the millions of dollars in annual revenues from these fees will return to the program as intended and we can strengthen our language, culture, and historic services.  After all, the foundation of our people is our language and culture.

Along these same lines, in February and March 2015, we altered the path of a pipeline project that would have adversely affected our ancestral lands.  I was able to achieve this due to my previous experiences working in historic preservation.  To avert what would have been a disaster, I worked with the Delaware Nation and our Tribal Historic Preservation Office.  This benefited our Tribe by preventing any destruction to our sacred site.

Recently the Tribal Council has shifted roles.  I was appointed to Chair the Grant Steering Committee.  Many of our members and leaders view this committee as one of the most important to tribal development.  In that regard, you will be able to view the minutes and actions of this committee on our web site and facebook.   We meet weekly with a clear objective and agenda.  Grant writing has been a contested issue in our government, particularly “who” is writing and how much they should be compensated.  Until a full time writer/planner is budgeted through an Indirect Cost process, the Grant Steering Committee will provide the guidance and processes of this position.  I bring close to thirty years of grant writing and development experience to the table.  However, ample consideration should be given to address tribal needs before we can count on successful awards.  Just as one example of preparation includes surveying our members for the strongest areas of need.  Grant proposals are a science and are often need based.  For instance, many of our members would likely say a strong area of need are jobs.  Yet, we cannot just say this without evidence.  Therefore, please be ready to complete any surveys we send out.  We could hire a very strong writer but lose a grant if our organization is not prepared and ready to meet the “needs” based on evidence.

Lastly, I want to relay how important each and every one of you are to our Tribe.  Whether you live ten minutes, ten hours, or ten states away from our tribal headquarters, you have a voice.  We want to know what we can do to better serve you. 

Xu làpi knewël (I will see you again soon)

Wanishi,

Nicky Kay Michael, PhD

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