March 2024 Open Meeting Summary
Tribal Open Meeting Summary 3/1/2024 held at the tribal office and via Zoom
CM’s Marion, Chris, Robert, Emily, Susan, Glenn, and Dalton were present. Elders Becky and Larry were present. Vice Chief Cheryl, 2C Alan, and 2C John were present.
Members Phil W, Jerry S, Carolyn D, Randy W, Jennifer R, Tracey J, Stephen W, Steve T, David B, and Starla were present.
Financial Report (as of 2/27/2024 at 3:02 pm)
General Fund: $41,851.32
Building Fund: $1866.61
Cemetery Fund: $407.00
Online Votes
2/26 Approve February Meeting Summary
Marion-yes, Chris-yes, Robert-yes, Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Dalton-yes
CoC Dalton: 2C John was nominated to the Council of Elders; Tribal Council needs to approve
Marion-yes, Chris-yes, Robert-yes, Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Dalton-yes
2C John: going to turn down the position until he speaks with Chief Hatcher
Votes retracted
New Business
Committee Reports
Buildings & Grounds
Sen. Greg Hembree put in a request for $140k for our bathhouse
Grants
SCAC grant deadline extended to 4/16/2024
Attended a coaching call on 2/28 to go over old and new items for this grant
Apprenticeship coaching call is next week
Pauwau
Looking for pictures of our older members
Start selling ads/ memorial pages for the program book
Working on demonstrators to finalize the flier earlier
PW2023 P&L Report is on the website
CCU Archiving Project
Contemporary SC Tribes Reading List maintained by Joshua Shumak:
Files
Marion motioned; Chris seconded to make Jennifer Randall a full member
Marion-yes, Chris-yes, Robert-yes, Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Dalton-yes
New honorary apps: Steve T, Stephen W, Kathy N
Susan: someone would like to buy the hotdog stand and cook for us during events
We’ve never used it
Marion: we got it, tried to keep it covered, and never used it
Glenn: the tires probably need to be replaced
Glenn: out of respect, get the opinion of the person who gave it to us
Chris: why sell it? If he’s cooking for us, it would balance
Emily: want a contract in writing whether we give it to them or sell it
Reminder: Fire Ceremony Dates 2024: 3/16, 6/22, 9/21, 12/14
Survey
Marion: VC Cheryl & I went to the courthouse; the survey on this property was done in the 1970s
Some of the property goes all the way to Hwy 501
Surveyors: Will Ferry in Conway
Chris: Rhett Johnson in Aynor
Glenn: motion to get survey prices; Marion seconded
Marion-yes, Chris-yes, Robert-yes, Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Dalton-yes
VC Cheryl: should we get 3?
Susan: yes
2C John: who’s getting prices?
Glenn: Susan and I can
The Longhouse Project
VC Cheryl: Ronnie Floyd did cordage with students and they will be out here on 4/16 for the exhibit opening
Catawba Chief asked if there was anything they could do to help
Policy Letters: Susan will send copies by email and the Council can update them
2C John: tribal chief lineage requirement
One article of our constitution says all members can hold office
One article says under Chief that it has to be a lineal descendent
Dalton: it doesn't say that
2C John: give me an example
Dalton: under the country’s constitution, Arnold Schwarzenegger
2C John: we talk about 7 generations unborn; their children can’t be Chief
In my opinion, full rights, you have the same rights as all members
You can’t be a true Waccamaw
If there are no lineal descendants to be Chief, you have no Chief
Which isn’t covered by the constitution
It wasn’t in the 2000 constitution
Y’all think lineal descendants don’t have the heart of the tribe
Marion: don’t we have a core foundation from the Dimery settlement? Wouldn’t it eliminate those not tracing back to the Dimery settlement?
2C John: there is a percentage of lineal descendants so it is Waccamaw from Dimery
Phil W: And why was that done to start with? It had to go back to recognition
Dalton: it was done through a referendum in 2010
Phil W: when we were told by the federal government what would happen to our tribe and without recognition, we added it
2C John: can you show me where in the federal requirements that it has to be lineal
I’ve looked and it’s not there
I think there are things in the requirements that we won’t meet, so why not solidify it?
Dalton: reread the referendum from 2010
2C John: why was it added?
Dalton: stated in the referendum: recognized as descendants of the Dimery settlement
VC Cheryl: Santa Clara vs Pueblo cadr shows how restrictive some tribes are
2C John: so we do make exceptions?
VC Cheryl: yes, but this change would be far-reaching
2C John: not in the state-recognized constitution
Susan: we only sent 100 letters to core members
You also have to look at what the CMA required for state-recognized tribes, not just our constitution
2C John: then we need to have a referendum to change the constitution
Elder Larry: why would you jeopardize everything just to make a point?
2C John: what if there’s no lineal descendants?
Dalton: then the tribe is gone; people who aren’t lineal descendants would form a group
VC Cheryl: we need to build membership and engage in the community to reach them
2C John: was there a Chicora tribe?
Susan: yes, Chicora, Chicora-Waccamaw, Waccamaw
2C John: so they couldn’t be Chief
Susan: not unless they’re lineal
2C Alan: Lowcountry PW next weekend
Dalton: John, are you still 2C?
2C John: as far as I know
Dalton: well Chief nominated you to be an Elder
2C John: have we pursued another bank account that accrues interest?
Dalton: I will look into it this week
VC Cheryl: Dr. Dillian & I are looking to apply for a catalyst grant
I will work with my employer to apply for another grant
Capacity Building: not structure
For a better CRM system
For a better way of getting money from donors
Having someone work in the office full-time
Organizing policy letters
Leadership development
Youth program
I ask everyone to think about it and send suggestions
Did a presentation on rematriation
With foundations that help tribes
Richard Turner says 400 houses are being built on the Dimery land by the Holliday family
He lost the lease to farm land because a family used it for housing
2C John: if you were to file a suit saying the land was Waccamaw, wouldn’t that stop the building?
VC Cheryl: it would hold it up while the case was pending
Susan: Chief and I went to a legislative event
Hembree put $140k in the budget to help with the bathhouse project
2C John: any decision on the floor in the kitchen?
Elder Larry: Susan pointed out that you won’t be able to get into the cabinets turning the bar you originally wanted to
Susan motioned to close the meeting; Marion seconded.
Marion-yes, Chris-yes, Robert-yes, Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Dalton-yes
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Michelle Hatcher on 3/21/2023 at 5:17 pm.
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