HomeMy WebLinkAboutNobiss, Sikowis (Christine) (Upon appt. - 6/30/24) Appt. 4/12/21Executive Director of non-profit
Gender*
*This question is mandatory in order for the aty to corrply with the State's gender balance requirement, which treats gender as binary. "Gender Identity" rray
be provided in the Demographics sectionof the application below.
r Male
fJ Female
Experience and/or activities which you feel qualifyyou for this position:*
Sikowis (Christine Nobiss) is Plains Cree/Saulteaux of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan,
Canada and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. At 19 she began her life's work of uplifting Indigenous
voices when she got her first job at the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council in Fredericton, Canada. In
2015, she founded Great Plains Action Society as a way to increase Indigenous solidarity in Iowa City. It turned
into a full-fledged organization during the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which led her to start Little
Creek Camp in February 2017. From August 2017 to September 2020, she worked for Seeding Sovereignty
where she organized at a national level.
As her heart is with her people and the land Sikowis is back with Great Plains Action Society where she can
work at a grassroots level and a fully Indigenous -led organization.
Sikowis is also a speaker, writer, and artist. She believes that environmental and social justice work are
inextricably linked and change will only happen when we dismantle corrupt colonial -capitalist systems and
rebuild them with a decolonized worldview. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2008 with a Masters
Degree in Religious Studies (with a focus on Native American Religion and Culture) and a Graduate Minor in
American Indian Native Studies. She fights for a better future for her two young children.
What is your present knowledge of each advisory board you are interested in?*
I've been following the development and fall out of this board and have noticed there has never been
Indigenous leadership on it, which makes me want to apply
Please contact the City Attorney at 356-5030 to discuss questions or concerns regarding a potential conflict
of interest. The following describe some but not all potential conflicts.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
The Housing and Community Development Commission makes recommendations to the City Council
regarding the distribution of federal CBDG/HOME funds. The general rule is that no persons who exercise or
have exercised any functions or responsibilities with respect to federally funded activities, or who are in a
position to participate in the decision -making process or gain inside information with regard to such activities,
may obtain a financial interest or benefit from a federally —assisted activity, or have a financial interest in any
contract, subcontract, or agreement with respect to a federally -assisted activity, or with respect to the
proceeds of the federally -assisted activity, either for themselves or those with whom they have business or
immediate familyties, during their tenure orfor one yearthereafter.
Section 362.5 of the Code of Iowa generally prohibits, with certain important exceptions, a member of a City
Board or Commission from having an interest in a City contract.
City Council Resolution # 15-300 established a policy that the following persons shall not be eligible for
appointment to Boards and Commissions:
A Council Member's spouse, domestic partner or partner by cohabitation, children, step -children, children
for whom the Council Member assumes parental responsibility, mother, father, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, step-parent, brother, sister, step -siblings and half -siblings, brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin, foster parent, foster
child, persons who are parents of the same child, and persons with whom the employee is in an intimate
relationship
Res. #15-300 states that each application for reappointment to a City Board or Commission will be
considered without regard to incumbency. If reappointed, an individual would be limited to one reappointment
to a full term in order to increase the opportunities for new applicants to serve.
Council policy is not to permit an individual to serve on two Boards or Commissions at the same
time. You will be asked to resign from one if appointed to another.
Do you currently have a conflict of Interest?*
No
Do you currently serve on another Iowa City board or commission?*
No
Demographic Information
The City Council values all types of diversity on its Boards and Commissions. Your responses on this page
provide valuable information to the Council in achieving that goal.
In order to ensure that the Board and Commission is representative of the community and the groups(s) which
it serves, please provide your information for the following:
Age
44
Country of Origin
Canada
Sexual Orientation
I'm Plains Cree/Saulteaux and I relate accordingly. And
within that I have some sexual practices that settlers might
think are queer but aren't queer to me!
Religion
Native American
Do you have a disability?
No
Ethnicity
Plains Cree/Saulteaux
Race
Plains Cree/Saulteaux and Roma Hungarian
Gender identity
Female
*NOTE:
The Human Rights Commission strives to ensure the Commission is representative of the community.
Therefore, appointment shall take into consideration persons of various racial, religious, cultural, social and
economic groups in the city. (Ordinance)
The Housing and Community Development Commission strives to satisfy its purpose and intent, when
possible to have at least one person with expertise in construction, at least one person with expertise in
finance, and one person who receives rental assistance. (Resolution)
Signature of Applicant*