Dissolution of Standing Committees
& Creation of Regional Coalitions

Since its inception, it has been the desire of the Commission to fully carry out its duties and purposes. Unfortunately, the Commission has been hampered by a limited work force of seven commissioners, non-existent funding, and lack of physical resources. These barriers combined with the financial strain placed on both commissioners and community members to attend meetings and carry out state-wide projects have all contributed to the inability of the existing standing committees to function successfully and the ability of the Commission to expedite its duties.

This community is entering a new era. We have identified probable unmet needs. We have made headway in identifying human and other resources in our community. Sadly, we are also facing an unknown future that may or may not include our Commission. It is imperative that we work quickly to implement plans that will allow us to help ourselves in any given scenario.

I request the following resolution be considered and passed by the Commission on Indian Affairs.

1. Whereas the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs is bound by the State of Tennessee Open Meetings Act; and

2. Whereas the Commission receives no allocation of State budget funds or other resources; and

3. Whereas and with the exception of the Rules Committee, Tennessee American Indian Research Initiative and Legislative Review Committee, the standing committees of the Commission have had difficulty meeting regularly or at all, and have therefore been ineffective in producing desired results; and

4. Whereas the goal of the Commission is to carry out its purposes and duties in an efficient, productive, cost-effective and manner for both the present and the future well-being of the community;

   Therefore be it resolved

   1. that the Commission, upon passage of this resolution, shall dissolve all standing or other committees created before December 2006 and shall create in their place six Regional Coalitions as follows:
      1. The Regional Coalitions will be assembled two per Grand Division.
      2. One coalition in each Grand Division will focus on economic development and government relations.
      3. One coalition in each Grand Division will focus on health, education and wellness and community relations.
      4. Appointments to each coalition will consist of American Indian community residents of the relevant Grand Division including metro areas to include two federally recognized members, two state recognized members, and two unenrolled members.
      5. Appointments will be made by the Commission from recommendations of the community of the Grand Division, recommendations from American Indian or American Indian-related organizations in the Grand Division, and applications from interested community members, and will be sought based on current and past community activity, interest and relevant experience.
      6. Commissioners shall be appointed as ex-officio members of those Regional Coalitions relevant to their seats, shall have voting rights, and shall serve as liaisons between the coalitions and the Commission.
      7. Each coalition will work to identify and create partnerships with appropriate community organizations and professionals within the relevant Grand Division giving first preference to those individuals and organizations that are American Indian.
      8. For the purpose of ensuring continued collection of data relevant to the condition of American Indians/Alaska Natives living in Tennessee, each coalition will work cooperatively with the Tennessee American Indian Research Initiative on all projects to determine data to be collected, measurable outcomes, establish benchmarks and other relevant objectives, and to deliver the data to the Initiative.
      9. The coalitions will work cooperatively with the Tennessee American Indian Research Initiative to plan for and include website and internet-based storage for resource materials, information, and data relevant to each coalition.
      10. Each coalition will meet not less than once every two months.
      11. Compliance with Open Meetings Act shall be maintained within and limited to the geographic area of the relevant Grand Division.

   2. With the exception of applications filed in the name of or in partnership with the Tennessee Commission on Indian Affairs or in those instances where funding is limited to one state-wide award, coalitions will be authorized to research and seek appropriate funding individually, in partnership with one another, or through community partnerships, but shall be required to report such applications from point of submission to point of completion to the Tennessee American Indian Research Initiative for data collection purposes and to the Commission for the purpose of public transparency and accountability including but not limited to copies of all applications, awards, and funder-required reports.

   Valerie Ohle, February 9, 2008