|
PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE
| Date |
07/08/2024 |
| Attendance |
| Danielson |
E |
| Joseph |
X |
| Roberts |
X |
| Weinberg |
* |
| Simpson |
X |
| Duran |
X |
|
| Time |
09:03:33 AM to 02:22:55 PM |
| Place |
SCR 357 |
| This Meeting was called to order by |
Duran |
| This Report was prepared by |
Jerard Brown |
|
| Hearing Items |
Action Taken |
| hOpening Remarks and Committee Introductions |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hStaff Introductions and Bill Requests Overview |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hCultural Competency Training |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hPresentation by the Southern Ute Tribe |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hPresentation by the Denver American Indian Commission (DAIC) |
Committee Discussion Only |
| hPresentation by the Truth, Restoration, and Education Commission (TREC) of Colorado |
Committee Discussion Only |
|
|
Opening Remarks and Committee Introductions - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:04:01 AM |
Majority Leader Duran,
Chair, provided opening remarks, an overview of day's agenda (Attachment
A), and discussed the intent of the committee. Committee members discussed
their goals for the committee and why they are a part of it.
|
Staff Introductions and Bill Requests Overview - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:12:29 AM |
Jeanette Chapman,
representing Legislative Council Staff, and Chelsea Princell, representing
the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided an overview of the committee’s
charge and the interim committee bill request process. They explained that
the committee has permission to draft six bill requests and can move forward
with three bills. They also provided an overview of the committee's timeline
for drafting and submitting bills. A copy of the committee's charge memo
may be found in Attachment B.
|
Cultural Competency Training - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
09:16:55 AM |
Crystal Rizzo, representing
the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, joined the committee to provide cultural
competency training for the committee members.
The committee discussed their individual understandings of what culture
is and what they know about the Ute Tribe's culture.
Ms. Rizzo provided a brief lesson regarding the Ute Tribe's history and
the cultural values of the tribe. Committee members asked Ms. Rizzo questions
about the Ute Tribe's process for preserving their language and culture.
|
Presentation by the Southern Ute Tribe - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
11:00:39 AM |
Chairman Melvin J.
Baker, David Smith, and Tom Shipps, all representing the Southern Ute Indian
Tribe, joined the committee to discuss the issues facing the Southern Ute
Indian Tribe. Chairman Baker presented recent Colorado legislation that
has impacted the tribe. The panel also discussed the tribe's legislative
priorities including changes to gambling laws, amendments to the Indian
Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and land and water preservation.
The presenters explained how the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has intergovernmental
agreements with counties, local, state, and federal governments regarding
land, water, and road access; oil and gas regulations; social services;
and other areas. As a result, they would like a general exclusion from
all future legislation that does not expressly mention tribes or reservations
regarding land and water use.
The presenters also discussed how they have had challenges with some counties
enforcing tribal warrants and commitment orders due to a perceived gap
in state law regarding this matter. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe representatives
stated they would like to see legislation requiring the recognition of
tribal warrants and commitment orders, meaning that they have the same
effect as orders of any court of record in Colorado.
The Southern Ute Tribe representatives recognized that Senate Bill 23-211
incorporated some aspects of ICWA into state law, but they would like for
all tribes to be notified when their children are involved in the child
welfare system.
Lastly, the presenters discussed sports betting. The presenters explained
that the Southern Ute Tribe has a gaming compact with the state that authorizes
the tribe to participate in gambling up to a certain level without paying
taxes. They further discusssed how when the state authorized sports betting
in Colorado, the Southern Ute Tribe understood this to extend to them as
well. The state clarified that the Southern Ute Tribe was not authorized
to participate in sports betting and in order to participate they would
need to provide a ten percent tax on sports betting transactions. The presenters
expressed that they believe that this conflicts with the compact between
the Southern Ute Tribe and the state.
|
Presentation by the Denver American Indian Commission (DAIC) - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
01:01:46 PM |
Shannon Alcott-Trujillo
and Alison Butler, representing the Denver American Indian Commission introduced
themselves and presented to the committee. A copy of the presentation may
be found in Attachment C.
Ms. Alcott-Trujillo discussed how the commission advocates for the local
American Indian community and addresses systemic inequalities by engaging
the community in forums; highlighting the community's issues and challenges;
providing resources, information, and support to community members; policy
tracking; building alliances; and by informing the community and the wider
public about relevant issues, rights, and opportunities. Ms. Butler provided
an overview of the history of the commission.
|
Presentation by the Truth, Restoration, and Education Commission (TREC) of Colorado - Committee Discussion Only
|
|
|
01:22:28 PM |
Richard B. Williams,
representing People of the Sacred Land (PSL) and Dr. Terri Bissonette,
representing the American Indian Academy of Denver, introduced themselves
and presented on the Truth, Restoration, Education Commission (TREC) of
Colorado. A copy of the presentation may be found in Attachment D.
Mr. Williams discussed the history of Native Americans in Colorado and
his family's connection to it. Dr. Bissonette covered the findings of the
TREC.
The presenters discussed that the TREC, in collaboration with the PSL examined
the history of Colorado in order to uncover the causes of widespread land
displacement and the genocide of Native peoples in the state. They stated
that the TRECâs primary focus is on restoring the status of Tribal Nations
in modern-day Colorado, and establishing an environment where Native communities
in the state can grow and succeed.
The presenters discussed that the TREC report provides an examination of
the damage to Native peoples due to forced relocation, illegal seizure
of land, violations of human rights, acts of violence, warfare, deceptive
practices, and other illicit actions perpetrated by the state of Colorado,
its citizens, and the U.S. government and federal agents over the past
170 years. They stated that the TREC report outlines the processes by which
the extermination transpired and pinpoints the entities accountable for
implementing harmful policies, agreements, and laws that had detrimental
effects on American Indian populations.
The key recommendations discussed by Dr. Bissonette addressed land seizures,
sovereignty issues, and reperations. She discussed Colorado State University
returning land to Tribal Nations; the Department of Natural Resources honoring
the treaties of Tribal Nations by restoring the Tribesâ hunting and fishing
rights within the boundaries of the state; and compensation by the state
to Northern Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho Tribes for tribal lands. She
also discussed enacting legislation mandating a fee of .01% on all upcoming
real estate transactions in the state to benefit Tribal Nations, and constructing
an American Indian Cultural History Center.
|
| 02:22:55 PM |
The committee adjourned. |
