Author: muscadmin
Ocmulgee National Monument working toward expansion
Ocmulgee National Monument working toward expansion
by: Amanda Rutland/MCNPR
MACON, Ga. — The National Parks Service Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Ga. has been working for several years to expand the park boundaries. Currently, the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park Boundary Revision Act (H.R. 538) has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate Committee and waits voting by the Senate.
Ocmulgee National Monument Superintendent Jim David said the bill would expand the park from 702 acres to almost 3,000 acres and it would protect important archeological areas along the Ocmulgee River in Georgia.
“The plateau here where the mounds are located this is where the leaders of the society lived, but the worker bees, the folks growing the corn, making the pottery, making the baskets, etc. They all lived down around the river in the flat land and that is what we are trying to preserve and protect,” David said.
The property is currently privately owned and as private property the landowners could develop it without intervention.
“It is their property they can do whatever they want with it regardless of how much damage it does to a cultural site and since that is a very big part of the story we want to preserve that, and that is homeland of the Muscogee Nation and having that protected forever will mean that property will not be destroyed or torn up, etc.,” David said.
David said the bill is not controversial because all the landowners are willing to sell.
“The landowners who we will be buying the land from, I have talked with all of them. They are all willing sellers, so we are not going to use imminent domain or condemnation,” David said.
Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) said in a press release that the Ocmulgee Mounds are a cultural and archeological treasure.
“The site of these historic mounds has been inhabited continuously for over 17,000 years, and the ceremonial mounds and earth-lodges that exist today were built over 1,000 years ago. House passage of this legislation is a win for historic preservation and a win for Middle Georgia. I thank all those that have helped push this bill across the finish line here in the House, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to follow suit by enacting this legislation into law as swiftly as possible,” Bishop said.
The passage of the bill would not only expand the park, but also change the name of the park to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.
“We added the word mounds because we have a big identity problem here in town,” David said. “For generations now everyone calls this place the Indian Mounds. They have no idea of the real name.”
The local government, economic development groups and visitor center as well as the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes support the expansion.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation shares culture in the Muscogee Homeland
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 20, 2017CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
PR Manager
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 758-6599
NTsoodle@muscogeenation.comMuscogee (Creek) Nation shares culture in the Muscogee Homeland
MACON, Ga. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation participated in the Ocmulgee National Monument’s Annual Indian Celebration to educate attendees about Muscogee (Creek) culture Sept. 16-17 in Macon, Ga.
The MCN Honor Guards posting of the colors opened the festival. Followed by remarks from Principal Chief James R. Floyd.
“It is such an honor to come to a place where we formerly lived to see it so respectfully presented in the way that they do here at the Ocmulgee National Monument, and so although it is my first time being here it feels like home,” Floyd said.
This was the first time a MCN principal chief has attended the festival.
Ocmulgee National Monument Superintendent Jim David said this was the largest participation by MCN.
“This year’s celebration we were really excited that we have had such tremendous participation by the Muscogee Nation. Of course I was very, very, pleased that Chief Floyd joined us this year,” David said.
Miss Muscogee Nation Amberly Proctor, Jr. Miss Aisha Phillips and National Council Rep. Darrell Proctor were in attendance. MCN led a stompdance exhibition and the Red Stick Gallery sold items from Muscogee (Creek) artists.
Superintendent David said the purpose of the festival is to educate local people about living Native culture.
“The reason we hold this every year is to try to get across to the local people that Native culture is still very much alive, very vibrant,” David said.
Superintendent David said it has been a goal of the park to get more participation by the Nation.
“That has been our goal for all of these years, is trying to get more and more Muscogee participation and once again this being Muscogee homeland that’s why we always start out every year with the honor guard and the princesses and we feel that the Muscogee (Creek) is the host tribe of the event. This is their homeland.”
Election Registration Reopen
For more information, please visit the Election Board Page or call (918) 732-7631.
Primary Election:Sept. 16
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Restoration of Historic Creek Council House Museum Passes Halfway Point
By Lucas Taylor/MCNPR
Downtown Business Owner looks forward to the increase of visitors once renovation is complete
OKMULGEE, Okla., – As Liz Staudt looks out her business’ front window she likes what she sees. Staudt is taking notice of the renovation work to the Historic Creek Council House Museum, and anxiously waiting for its completion. The owner of Staudt Jeweler remembers the time not long ago when the Creek Council House was the focal point of tourism in downtown Okmulgee.
“I think it’s urgently important that this renovation be completed as soon as possible,” said Staudt. “The museum is a draw. Travelers see the billboard about the museum on Hwy 75 and come to downtown Okmulgee to visit the museum. Even tour buses made this a stopping point.”
Construction crews are currently working on painting the interior, repairing the floors, stairs, and walls and replacing the sidewalks. Construction crews have completed restoring the ceilings, repairing the roof and the cupola, stabilizing the foundation on the northwest corner, installing a drain system in the lawn, and regrading the lawn to avoid pooling at the foundation.
According to Veronica Pipestem, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Cultural Center and Archives Interim Director/Collections Manager, the progress of the renovation is passed its halfway point. The construction is on schedule and will be completed in December. The reinterpretation of the inside should be completed by mid to late 2018.
The role of MCN Cultural Center and Archives and the renovation process developed mainly during the design phase of the project where key Cultural Center & Archives staff coordinated research regarding the history of the building. The goal was to give the architects an idea of how to use the space and what it should look like according to the historical record.
Accuracy of the Museum is a key component when it comes to visitors downtown. “A majority of the visitors that come to my business and ask about the museum are not Native American,” explained Staudt. “They are intrigued about the Creek Culture and want to see firsthand the history and artifacts of the Creek People.”
Once the rehabilitation to the outside of the Council House is completed, work will begin to transform its inside so that it looks like it did in 1906. The Council House will be used as an educational resource that will, for the first time since the beginning, cohesively present the history, context, and present-day operations of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal government.
The history of the Muscogee Nation during the Council House era (1865-1906) will be presented alongside contemporary government functions to remind visitors that the Council House represents a people who thrived here in the latter part of the 19th century, but who also continue to exist and thrive in the 21st century. Exhibits will be interwoven with past and present elements to paint a portrait of the ways in which the Council House-era of governance is still preserved and that elements of that era remain a vital part of contemporary Muscogee government functions. Visitors will be invited to interact with the objects and interactive elements in the exhibits.
For more information contact the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Cultural Center and Archives at (918)-549-2434.
Youth to financial education through interactive game
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2017CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
PR Manager
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 758-6599
NTsoodle@muscogeenation.comYouth to financial education through interactive game
Eufaula, Okla. — Eufaula Middle School Students will be receiving a lesson like they’ve never seen before. Volunteers from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Mvskoke Loan Fund, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, and First Family Federal Credit Union will teach students an innovative way how to handle their finances.
It’s called the “Spending Frenzy” a youth financial literacy event, which teaches middle school aged youth how to handle money and make life decisions in an interactive game environment. Thirty-five students have been pre-selected to participate with 25 volunteers facilitating the game. Each participant will be given 50-thousand dollars to spend at different stations such as housing, car dealers and much more. At the end of the event, each student will tally up their finances to see how they fared.
Learning to budget money is an issue for many people, especially young people said Christopher Coburn, CEO of the Mvskoke Loan Fund. “Instilling good habits and financial literacy into youth may save them from financial mistakes and will position them for making good choices in the future,” said Coburn.
The Spending Frenzy will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 12:30 to 3:30 pm at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Eufaula Boarding School gymnasium 716 Swadley Drive, Eufaula, Okla.
If you’d like more information about the program, please contact the Mvskoke Loan Fund at 918-549-2608 or 918-549-2603.
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Proclamation for Ocmulgee National Monument Day
Principal Chief James R. Floyd signed a proclamation declaring September 16, 2017 as “Ocmulgee National Monument Day”.
Memo From Election Board about Campaign Literature
To: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Citizens
From: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Election Office
Date: September 8, 2017
Subject: Campaign Literature
The closer we near Election Day, the more candidate literature are prominent. Please take notice that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the Election Board does not produce campaign literature that endorses any candidate seeking an elected office of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Please see the following code:
Per Muscogee (Creek) Nation Code Title 19, Chapter 12
- 12–101.
Anonymous campaign literature
No person or organization shall, write, print, post or distribute or causes to be written, printed, posted or distributed, any circular, poster or advertisement which is designed to injure or oppose the nomination or election of a candidate, to influence the voters in an election on any constitutional or statutory amendment, or any other issue in a Tribal election, unless there appears upon such circular, poster or advertisement in a conspicuous place, either the name and address of the person who is the author thereof or the name and address of the president, chairman, and secretary, or two (2) officers of the organization, which sponsored the publication of each written document. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to any matter or thing published in any such newspaper, magazine or journal recognized and circulating as such, which matter is published by such newspaper, magazine or journal on its own behalf, upon its own responsibility and for which it shall not charge or receive any compensation whatsoever. Nor shall it apply to any publication issued by any legally constituted election officials in the performance of their duties. Any person or organization willfully acting in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
[NCA 99–20, § 11–100, approved April 30, 1999.]
If you have any questions or concerns please call the Election Office at 918-732-7631.
Mvto,
Nelson Harjo
Election Board Manager
Absentee Ballot Tutorial
STEPS FOR FILLING OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT
HELLO, MY NAME IS NELSON HARJO, JR. I AM THE MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION ELECTION OFFICE MANAGER.
BY NOW YOU WILL HAVE RECEIVED ONE OF THESE IN THE MAIL, THE ABSENTEE BALLOT.
IN THIS SHORT TUTORIAL, I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO PROPERLY FILL IT OUT, TAKE A LOOK.
You will receive your absentee ballot package in the mail. It will contain a ballot, small yellow instruction sheet, secrecy envelope, and a return envelope.You will follow the instructions on the yellow instruction sheet to fill out your ballot. We have an at-large voting method so you may vote for one candidate in each of the 8 districts of Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
You will follow the instructions on the yellow instruction sheet to fill out your ballot. We have an at-large voting method so you may vote for one candidate in each of the 8 districts of Muscogee (Creek) Nation. You will need to mark a line that will connect each end of the arrow that corresponds with the candidate of your choosing. (We do ask that you use a black ink pen to fill out your ballot). DO NOT USE A PENCIL OR GEL PEN. MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING A BLACK INK PEN.
Once you have filled out your ballot you will follow the instructions on the yellow instruction sheet. It will ask you to fold your ballot the same way it was folded when you opened the ballot package. Once you have refolded your ballot you will place the ballot into the secrecy envelope and seal the envelope. The secrecy envelope is smaller than the return envelope. If the perforation around the seals are torn or the seal itself does not stick please use transparent tape to tape down the envelope. To ease any concerns you may have, no one will have access to or handle your ballot until the morning of election day on September 16th and if you need to use tape to further seal the return envelope, your ballot will not be spoiled.
Place the secrecy envelope inside the return envelope. On the backside of the return envelope you will see a signature line with instructions for you to write your signature to certify that this is your ballot. (We recommend that you sign your signature in the same manner you filled out your absentee ballot request form)
The barcodes that are located on the front of the return envelope (Business Reply Mail side) are the barcodes that the Postal Service will use to deliver your ballot to the Okmulgee Post Office. The barcodes on the opposite side of the return envelope (printed name and address of the voter side) are used to number each individual ballot. These barcodes do not affect the way your ballot is delivered.
After you sign the signature line you will seal the return envelope. You will then place the return envelope into your mailbox or any outgoing Post Office mailbox.
I HOPE THIS TUTORIAL HELPS AND MAKES FOR A SIMPLER PROCESS AS YOU CAST YOU VOTE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL THE ELECTION BOARD AT 918-732-7631
MVTO!
Proclamation for Suicide Prevention Week
Principal Chief James R. Floyd signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 10th – 16th, 2017 ” Suicide Prevention Week.
Ancestors at rest: Repatriation at Ocmulgee
by: Amanda Rutland/MCNPR
MACON, Ga. — It was a cool morning with clouds floating heavy overhead. The hum of a backhoe penetrated the quiet as it broke the earth to prepare for the task at hand.
Members of the National Parks Service, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and other tribal nations gathered Aug. 30 to repatriate 113 individuals back to Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Ga. As the ceremony started MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation employee Emman Spain said the proceedings would be simple and respectful.
“There is no ceremony that is supposed to happen because it has happened and we have to do things like this,” Spain said. “Because we don’t know these ceremonies and talking to a lot of our elders and a lot of our cultural advisors, they told us, ‘you know it may be disrespectful to start trying to make things up’.”
Spain asked that no photos or video be taken in order to protect the site. He invited anyone who wanted to help or participate to do so.
HCP Manager RaeLynn Butler explained that this repatriation was not a regular type of funeral.
“These remains have been in limbo for a long time. They were dug up in the ‘30s and this is one of the largest archeological sites in the southeast,” Butler said. “Some of those remains went to the Smithsonian and some went to the National Parks Service and over the last 15 years, have been working to get those back into the possession of the tribes.”
Butler explained this was a joint repatriation and it could not be said that this was only for one tribe.
“These are our relatives and at one time we were all one tribe in this area,” Butler said. “We feel that our relatives need to be respected and back into the ground where they came from.”
NPS and tribal employees began carefully unloading gray containers, the size of filing boxes, from a vehicle and placing them in a neat line next to the burial area.
The seemed like the box couriers were ants making lines back and forth to the nest, efficient and with purpose. It was extremely quiet as they worked, like Nature was holding her breath.
One person lifted the lid off a gray box and removed a small bundle wrapped in a white soft cloth. She handed it gingerly to someone else who placed it inside the burial area.
“There is no coffin, there is no caskets, but they have been wrapped in all natural fiber cloth so they can go back to the soil,” Butler said.
Soon there were white bundles laid out in rows, which was a stark contrast to the red dirt surrounding them. The parcels varied in size, but each one was an individual, an ancestor.
After the 113 bundles were placed, the lead individuals took shovels and began to cover them with the red earth. After a layer of soil was established, shovels were offered to anyone that wanted to help.
Shovels migrated through different hands they took turns. It was a serious occasion, but also an uplifting one to know that these Mvskoke people can once again be at peace.
“It is for them to continue their journey,” Spain said.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation to host Superintendent’s Summit/ Education Town Hall
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2017CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
PR Manager
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 758-6599
NTsoodle@muscogeenation.comMuscogee (Creek) Nation to host Superintendent’s Summit/ Education Town Hall
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Education will host a Superintendent’s Summit/Education Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Mvskoke Dome on the Claude Cox Omniplex in Okmulgee, Okla.
The summit will bring together superintendents, Indian education coordinators, federal program directors and other interested stakeholders to discuss the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its implementation and influence on public education in Oklahoma.
Signed into law in December 2015, ESSA replaces the previous federal education policy known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as the law governing K-12 education in the United States. ESSA focuses on the distinct goal of fully preparing all students for success in college and careers. The summit will also provide an opportunity for tribal leaders, state and federal agencies and LEAs to work together on behalf of Native students and practice open government through transparency, effective communication and interaction to strengthen the quality of our instructional programs.
The summit is a follow-up event to the ESSA Tribal Nations and Public School Collaborative Engagement Workshop held on April 5, 2017 at the River Spirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa, Okla. Over 350 educators and leaders attended the ESSA Workshop from 120 Oklahoma public school districts, 22 tribal nations and included officials from the U.S. Department of Education, Oklahoma State Department of Education, National Indian Education Association, Bureau of Indian Education, National Johnson O’Malley Association and the National Council of Impacted Schools (Impact Aid).
This event will provide a platform to review and discuss the recent tribal consultation process in Oklahoma and offer attendees the opportunity to collaborate and share experiences and strategies to address ESSA provisions and requirements affecting public schools and tribal nations. More than 130,000 American Indian students are in the Oklahoma public schools – the highest number in the United States. It is our obligation and commitment to advance and strengthen educational opportunities for our students that will lead to social and academic success. Moreover, we understand the potential impact that tribal involvement can make in public education. Last year alone, Oklahoma’s 33 tribes with state gaming compacts contributed over $132 million to the state budget, with over $112 million going to the Education Reform Revolving Fund. MCN acknowledges the need to make tribal consultations a priority and commits to providing valuable and constructive efforts in order to build sustainable, collaborative relationships and strengthen education support systems in Oklahoma.
We hope you can join us as we learn more about ESSA and unite to discuss, collaborate and provide opportunities for tribal leaders and LEAs to work together on behalf of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation and National Parks Service bring ancestors home
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2017CONTACT Neely Tsoodle
PR Manager
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 758-6599
NTsoodle@muscogeenation.comMuscogee (Creek) Nation, National Parks Service bring ancestors home
MACON, Ga. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation took part in a repatriation ceremony on Aug. 30 to return more than one hundred ancestors to their homeland at the Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, GA. This is the largest repatriation the tribe and the National Park Service at the Ocmulgee National Monument have ever seen.
The remains of 113 people and more than 42-thousand funerary objects were returned to what historians, tribal and cultural leaders called “sacred ground” during a private ceremony at an undisclosed and secured area at the park.
NPS along with tribal cultural leaders from Muskogean tribes from Oklahoma and Florida have worked on the repatriation for more than 15 years. In 2005, the MCN requested the return of the remains and funerary objects from the Smithsonian.
Many of the remains were separated after archeologists removed them from the site around 1930 during one of the largest archeological digs in U.S. History. In 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) passed and allowed tribes to reclaim ancestral human remains and objects.
NPS Superintendent Jim David has worked at the Ocmulgee National Monument for 20 years and it has been one of his largest goals to see the remains, along with their possessions, placed back in their rightful place.
“To see something that I’ve been dreaming of that I’ve been hoping for this long? It got to me, I got very emotional,” said David. “I am not an archeologist, but to me having these human beings sitting in museum drawers, museum boxes, to me makes no sense whatsoever. These people need to be back in the earth where they came from, probably never should have been removed to begin with.”
MCN Historic and Cultural Preservation Manager RaeLynn Butler echoed David’s sentiment.
“There’s so many of our ancestors on shelves. It’s important that in a respectful way we put them back where they belong,” Butler said.
Butler said the repatriation was about reuniting ancestors with their possessions as they complete their journey.
“Loved ones are buried with some of their favorite possessions that were important to them, “ said Butler. “It’s not necessarily to bring them back to Oklahoma, but to put them back from where they were taken from. As tribes, we feel it is our job of historic preservation to make sure we are protecting our resources and our sacred ground and artifacts. We felt the tribes should be the lead on how this would happen,” said Butler.
Members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council, Second Chief Louis Hicks, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and Florida, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town and Kialegee Tribal Town representatives were all present for the ceremony.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation provides citizens impacted by Hurricane Harvey with resources information
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2017CONTACT LaTasha Monahwee
Media Relations Specialist
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 732-7630
LMonahwee@muscogeenation.comMuscogee (Creek) Nation provides citizens impacted by Hurricane Harvey with resources information
Okmulgee, Okla. —Muscogee (Creek) Nation Social Services and Citizenship would like to provide citizens impacted by Hurricane Harvey with the following information:
Enrolled tribal members are eligible to apply for the Natural Disaster Program. If eligible, assistance includes the replacement of necessity items such as clothing, personal hygiene products, groceries, and furniture, housing and/or emergency shelter. Applicants must apply concurrently for other resources including Red Cross.
The Citizenship office is available to provide replacement of tribal identification or verification of tribal enrollment.
For additional information please contact the Muscogee (Creek) Nation at 1-800-482-1979 and request to be connected to Social Services or Citizenship.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation to aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2017CONTACT LaTasha Monahwee
Media Relations Specialist
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 732-7630
LMonahwee@muscogeenation.comMuscogee (Creek) Nation to aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey
Okmulgee, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, Emergency Management, Social Services, Citizenship and Health System are working to aid the Texas areas affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Lighthorse Police in collaboration with Emergency Management put together a response team to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts.
The response team that consists of eight men, three boats and diving equipment with three people being operate swift water rescue rafts certified technicians.
The team will be leaving the morning of Aug. 29 to travel to the San Antonio area to stage and coordinate with the Oklahoma Emergency Management (OEM).
“They are in dire needs down there now,” said Lighthorse Police Chief Robert Hawkins. “It has gotten to the magnitude they are calling for people, just normal citizens with boats, anything they can use to get people out of the water, out of their homes, off rooftops. They are using as many resources as they can.”
In addition to the response team, the Nation’s Social Services and Citizenship are scrambling to help citizens in the flooded area, fearing lost documents due to the damage. A backup recovery system is being developed to help identify tribal citizens for quicker assess to emergency assistance.
MCN is one of two only tribal governments in the state reported to send assistance.
“Whenever we have citizens in need, we have an obligation and responsibility to lend aid,” said Principal Chief James Floyd. “We are well trained and have the resources to help, it’s our duty to react and do what we’ve been asked to do, for our citizens and for everyone in danger or those who have been affected,” Floyd explained.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is the fourth largest tribe in the Nation and more than five percent (4,169 citizens identified) are located in Texas.
MCN Health Systems is also working to aid hurricane victims by sending three commission officers.
Emergency Management Supervisor James Nichols said they are glad to help.
“We don’t want to sit back and watch we want to be able to help. If we can take our resources down and help the people that are in the effected area, which is huge, then that’s what we want to do,” said James Nichols.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation presents at national environmental convention
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2017CONTACT LaTasha Monahwee
Media Relations Specialist
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 732-7630
LMonahwee@muscogeenation.comMuscogee (Creek) Nation presents at national environmental convention
TULSA, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation (MCN) presented at the 2017 seventh annual Tribal Lands and Environment Forum: A National Conversation on Tribal Land and Water Resources (TLEF) at the Cox Center in Tulsa, Okla.
TLEF is a forum to share knowledge, improve management and protection of tribal lands and human health. It offers opportunities for discussion of budget and policy issues as well as providing training sessions.
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Executive Director Ann Marie Chischilly spoke about the size of this year’s conference.
“This conference is really exciting because we have a truckload of people coming in from all over the country. This year we have around 450 folks,” Chischilly said.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Environmental Services Director James Williams led a tour of MCN and was one of the opening keynotes at the conference as well as MCN National Council Rep. Del Beaver. Beaver was formerly the environmental services director.
“We were able to arrange a tour for them of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and also be one of their opening sessions. We were keynote speakers and so this is really good,” Williams said.
The MCN tour included stops at the Recycling Center, the Mvskoke Dome, the College of the Muscogee Nation and the Mound Building.
“A lot of them [the tours] went to places that have wastewater treatment plants, but on ours we stressed sustainability in building and energy efficiency, and so they were real interested in what we are doing at the tribe,” Williams said. “They were interested in what we are doing at the college with geothermal, with the Mound renovation, with the WIC building being a recycled building.”
Williams said his conference presentation touched on a raised garden bed project, composting, solid waste program and energy efficiency.
“It incorporated some of the buildings where we can do some energy efficiency measures to reduce energy consumption,” Williams said.
Williams said that environmental services are important because everyone is affected. “Anywhere we go the environment is going to touch us, whether we breathe the air, drink the water, have good land to build on, to live on.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
