Committee Meeting Information

October 3 and 4, 2007

Chief's Tech Center Auditorium

Wyoming Indian High School

Ethete, Wyoming

 

 

Committee Members Present

Senator Cale Case, Co-Chairman

Representative Del McOmie, Co-Chairman

Senator Wayne Johnson

Senator Bill Vasey

Representative Rodney "Pete" Anderson

Representative Patrick Goggles

 

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

Maxine Weaver, Staff Attorney

Alex Kean, Associate Research Analyst

 

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

 

Executive Summary

The Committee toured water projects and structures on the Wind River Reservation and heard discussion on various topics concerning the Wind River Reservation, including water, natural gas, telecommunications, health and family services.

 

Call To Order (October 2, 2007)

The Select Water Committee and the Select Committee on Tribal Relations went on a water tour beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the Wind River Reservation.  The tour included the Arapaho treatment facility, the Coolidge canal structure, the Fort Washakie well and water treatment facilities and Bull Lake.  Appendix 2 provides a schedule of the tour.  Appendix 4 includes materials provided for the tour.

 

Call To Order (October 3, 2007)

This meeting was held in conjunction with the Select Water Committee for the State‑Tribal Summit.  Co-Chairman Anderson called the State-Tribal Summit to order at 8:30 a.m.  The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 3 to review the State-Tribal Summit Agenda.

 

Approval of Minutes

Representative Anderson moved that the minutes from the August 20 and 21, 2007 Committee meeting be approved with no changes.  Senator Johnson seconded the motion and the motion passed.

 

Co-Chairman McOmie welcomed everyone to this first State-Tribal Summit.  The opening blessing was provided by Burton Hutchinson Northern Arapaho Tribal Elder.  Co-Chairman McOmie had everyone in attendance introduce themselves.

 

Co-Chairman Anderson, Senator Vasey, Kip Crofts with the Governor's Office and Orville St. Clair, Eastern Shoshone Business Councilman gave opening statements and provided an overview and expectations for the Summit. 

 

Water Panel

Co-Chairman Case moderated a panel consisting of Mike Purcell, Director of the Wyoming Water Development Office; Pat Tyrrell, State Engineer; John Lawson, Wyoming Area Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation; Mr. St. Clair; , Bill Russell, Tribal Water Engineer; Sandra C'Bearing, Arapaho Co-Chairman of Wind River Water Resources Control Board and Edward Lonefight, Superintendent with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  The panel presented historical background, discussed problems with water on the reservation, provided information on the progress of water projects, looked at issues relating to downstream water, including Montana and addressed challenges facing water on the Wind River Reservation [Appendices 5 through 9]. 

 

Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas

Senator Johnson moderated a panel consisting of Floyd Phillips, Joint Business Councilman; Kathleen A. "Cindy" Lewis, Chair of the Wyoming Public Service Commission; Len Mize, Director of SourceGas of Wyoming; Mr. Edward Lonefight; Brian Jeffries, Executive Director of the Wyoming Pipeline Authority and Bryce Freeman, Administrator of the Office of Consumer Advocate.  The panel discussed easements, tribal utilities and improving gas connections on the Reservation [Appendices 10 through 18]. 

 

Following a wrap up of the Wednesday's events by Senator Rae Lynn Job and Gary Collins, Arapaho Tribal Liaison, a traditional dinner followed by cultural dancing was held at the Wyoming Indian High School. 

 

Meeting Recess

The Committee recessed until Thursday morning.

 

Call To Order (October 4, 2007)

Co-Chairman Case called the meeting back to order at 8:30 a.m.  Star Weed, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Elder provided the opening blessing.  Arlen Shoyo Sr., Vice-Chairman Shoshone Business Council and Senator Vasey recapped Wednesday's events and gave a brief overview of Thursday's programs.

 

Telecommunication Infrastructure

Representative Quarberg and Councilman St. Clair moderated the panel on telecommunication infrastructure.  The panel consisted of Steve Oxley, Deputy Chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission; Mr. Freeman; Mr. Lonefight, Jeff Hubbard, Public Policy Director with Qwest of Wyoming; Michael Kenney, General Manager, Dubois Telephone Exchange and Gene Meier, Superintendent of Ft. Washakie High School.  The panel discussed telecommunications services on the Wind River Reservation, including internet connections, education and distance learning [Appendices 19 and 20].

 

Health Panel

Representative Goggles moderated the Health Panel consisting of Elizabeth Antone, Arapaho Tribal Health Director; Harmony Spoonhunter, Shoshone Tribal Health Director; Mr. Lonefight; Dr. Brent D. Sherard, Director and State Health Officer with the Wyoming Department of Health; Betty Sones, Wyoming Minority Health Program Manager; Michelle Antone, Indian Health Services; Cathy Keene, Chief Executive Officer with the Wind River Health System and Dr. Bruce Calder with Indian Health Services.  The panel provided an update on the status of West Nile on the Reservation and the efforts to get a head start on prevention preparations for next year.  The panel discussed historical background and the status of overall health care services and delivery on the Reservation, including health disparity, tribal health organizations and challenges of health services on the Reservation.  [Appendices 21 through 24]. 

 

Family Services Panel

Co-Chairman McOmie moderated the Family Workforce panel.  The panel consisted of Tony Lewis, Director of Wyoming Department of Family Services; Tom Kennah, State Department of Family Services consultant and liaison for Indian Social Services; John Wadda, Director of the Eastern Shoshone 477 Program; Mr. Collins and Jerimiah Rieman, Policy Analyst with the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.  The panel discussed programs on the Wind River Reservation, including family services, child protection services, juvenile services and the need for a detention center and economic assistance [Appendix 25].

 

Senator Anderson, Representative Goggles, Mr. Crofts and Councilman Ron Oldman provided closing remarks and support for continuing dialog between the state and the tribes.  Star Weed gave the closing blessing.

 

Meeting Adjournment

With no further business, Representative Goggles moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Senator Johnson.  The motion passed and the State-Tribal Summit was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Senator Cale Case, Co-Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix		Appendix Topic		Appendix Description		Appendix Provider
1		Committee Sign-In Sheet		Lists meeting attendees		Legislative Service Office
2		Water Tour		Provides a list of sites for the water tour		Legislative Service Office
3		Water Tour		Notebook for Water Tour		Legislative Service Office
4		State-Tribal Summit		Provides an outline of the topics the Committee planned to address at meeting		Legislative Service Office
5		Water Panel		PowerPoint - Projects and Studies Conducted on the Wind River Indian Reservation by the Wyoming Water Development Commission		Wyoming Water Development Office
6		Water Panel		PowerPoint – Presentation to the Select Committee on Tribal Relations		Wyoming State Engineer's Office
7		Water Panel		PowerPoint – Wind River Water Presentation		Joint Business Council – Water Task Force
8		Water Panel		CD – Our Water Our Future		Joint Business Council
9		Water Panel		Map – Surface Ownership on the Wind River Reservation, WY		Joint Business Council
10		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		Checklist to help you in applying for utility permits, easements, etc., involving Indian Trust Lands		Bureau of Indian Affairs
11		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		Slide – 25 CFR 169 Rights-of-Way over Indian Lands		Bureau of Indian Affairs
12		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		Rights-of-Way Involving Indian Trust Lands – Procedures to help you apply for utility permits and easements.		Bureau of Indian Affairs
13		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		Customer Guide		SourceGas
14		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		Natural Gas Safety		SourceGas
15		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		Report Number Two Wind River Indian Reservation Customer Connection Plan		SourceGas
16		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		December 1, 2006 Report		Public Service Commission
17		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		December 4, 2006 Order		Public Service Commission
18		Public Services and Utilities – Natural Gas		June 1, 2007 Report		Public Service Commission
19		Telecommunications		Map showing 5 sites		Bureau of Indian Affairs
20		Telecommunications		Photos of 4 locations		Bureau of Indian Affairs
21		Health Panel		Report on Wyoming Department of Health Services Provided o the Wind River Indian Reservation (WRIR)		Wyoming Department of Health
22		Health Panel		Health Disparity State Plan		Wyoming Department of Health
23		Health Panel		PowerPoint Presentation		Wyoming Department of Health
24		Health Panel		Eastern Shoshone Tribal Health		Eastern Shoshone Tribe
25		Family Services Panel		Programs That Work		Eastern Shoshone Tribe