The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About09/21/2023 Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation CommissionAd Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Thursday, September 21, 2023 Regular Meeting 7 PM - Emma J. Harvat Hall 410 E. Washington Street AGENDA: 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: AUGUST 24, 2023, SEPTEMBER 7, AND SEPTEMBER 14, 2023. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA COMMISSIONERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS. 5. STRATEGIC DOING WORKSHOPS FOLLOW-UP 6. CITY BUDGET 7. "WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE - A SUGGESTED ROADMAP FOR OUR FUTURE" PRESENTATION 8. FACT FINDING SESSION (WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 @ 5 P.M.) 9. FACILITATOR WORK PLAN FOR PHASE ONE 10.CORRESPONDENCE 11. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS THIS ITEM INCLUDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRIEF UPDATES FROM STAFF AND COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION ON UPDATES. 12.ADJOURNMENT To encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meeting is in -person, and those wishing to ensure their ability to participate should attend the meeting in person. If you instead wish to participate remotely, you may attempt to do so by joining the below link. httos://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN Ic11811PSRg1u0xPIL-1Ew#/registration Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all City of Iowa City -sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in these events, please contact the Office of Equity and Human Rights at 319-356- 5022 or humanriclhts(d).iowa-city.org. Agenda Item #2 Native American Land Acknowledgement Prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Commission PURPOSE Iowa City owes its existence to the many Indigenous Peoples who were the original stewards of this land and who were subjected to manipulation and violence by non-native settlers, invaders, and governments in order to make this moment possible. Acknowledgement of this truth is central to our work toward reconciliation across all barriers of difference and injustice. Starting with a Native American Land Acknowledgement, this Commission will bear witness to the legacies of violent displacement, migration, and settlement that have marginalized those who were the first inhabitants of this land. We must also address the mistreatment and exclusion that Native Americans continue to face today. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights Commission encourage the community and City of Iowa City to join us in these efforts through the use of a Native American Land Acknowledgement. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To be read at all public meetings and events: "We meet today in the community of Iowa City, which now occupies the homelands of Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk, and because history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the ancient connections of many other Indigenous Peoples here. The history of broken treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we can not erase. We implore the Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we work toward equity, restoration, and reparations." LEARN MORE Native Governance Center Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement US Department of Arts and Culture: Honor Native Land Virtual Resources and Guide Meskwaki Nation - History Special thanks to the University of Iowa Native American Council for their work and guidance, as well as members of the public, for their input. August 24, 2023 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma J. Harvat, City Hall Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Marie Krebs, Wangui Gathua. Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Lauren Merritt, Sikowis Nobiss. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers. Meeting called to order: 7:07. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement. Approval of the meeting minutes of August 17, 2023: Gathua moved, and the motion was seconded by Simmons. Motion passed 6-0. TRC Logo Selection: Commissioner Johnson shared the four logos that have been designed for the TRC. The Commission discussed each one and what they like about it. Simmons moved, and Johnson seconded for the below image to be the logo for the TRC. Motion passed S-1 (Gathua in the negative). Talking Circles: Facilitator LaMere provided an overview of the Talking Circle. A Talking Circle is a way of providing traditional healing through coming together as relatives, respecting each other's time and words that are expressed from the heart on various topics. Some Commissioners expressed concern with cultural appropriation with sacred objects and smudging. LaMere replied that the TRC would co -create the development of the Talking Circles. It was decided that the Talking Circles would be held on Thursday, September 211t and Saturday, September 301n Commission Bylaws: Facilitator Gonzalez sent bylaws that they had modified over the weekend. Staff had the City Attorney's Office (CAO) review the modified bylaws. The CAO's Office made two suggestions —delete the two references to closed sessions as they are not correct interpretations of Iowa law. Simmons moved to approve the bylaws with the changes by the CAD, Tassinary seconded. The motion failed 2-4 (Dillard, Gathua, Krebs, Johnson in the negative). Strategic Doing Workshops: On September 14", a Strategic Doing (SD) session will be held at the Iowa City Senior Center. It will be followed up on September 16th at the South District Market. Staff and Commissioners will both send out personal invitations to the community, including those in the areas of non-profit, community, medical, religious/spiritual, business, University, and School District. Marlen Mendoza and Angie Jordan will assist Facilitator Fixmer-Oraiz at the sessions. There will be a separate Spanish speakers SD held on September 23. Dillard move to hold this additional Spanish speaker's SD, Gathua seconded. The motion passed 6-0. Fact Finding: Kearns and West will lead a fact-finding session on Wednesday, September 27, from 5-9, here at City Hall. Adjourned: 9:35 p.m. This meeting can be viewed in its entirety at this link. 2 e: 4 &= e< e= e e< e 4 ! £ � q Agenda Item *3 September 7, 2023 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma J. Harvat, City Hall Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Marie Krebs, Lauren Merritt, Sikowis Nobiss. Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Wangui Gathua. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Redmond Jones. Meeting called to order: 7:02. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Merritt read the Land Acknowledgement. Comments on items not on the agenda: Angie Jordan invited the TRC members to an upcoming community event being held on Saturday, September 23, at the South District Market. Approval of the meeting minutes of August 24, 2023: Item skipped. The minutes were not available at the time of the meeting. Commission Bylaws: After a brief discussion that clarified the revisions made by Facilitator Gonzalez and those by the City Attorney's Office (CAO), Simmons moved, and Tassinary seconded to approve the revised bylaws. This motion included removing the two sections on closed sessions as advised by the CAO. Motion passed 7-0. Better Together 2030 Plan: Cady Gerlach, Executive Director of Better Together 2023, presented the history of the project, the vision, and the guiding principles. Gerlach closed the presentation by asking the TRC to recommend that the City Council formally adopt the Inclusive Economic Development Plan. Inclusive Economic Development Plan: V Fixmer-Oraiz spoke on how community outreach and engagement was conducted, including through Strategic Doing, research, surveys, and interviews. Then went on to discuss the outreach highlights that included the demographics of those respondents and concluded with the recommendations. Strategic Doing Workshops: Time was spent crafting a "North Star Statement." The group eventually agreed on the following: How can we strategically build capacity and amplify the voices ofBIPOC and ethnically oppressed Peoples in order to express their truths, all while addressing historical oppression, genocide, racism, and the need to de -construct colonial systems, ultimately creating foundations .for safer spaces for healing and empowerment? The motion passed 7-0. Facilitator Work Plan for Phase One: Kearns and West will lead a fact-finding session on Wednesday, September 27, from 5-9, here at City Hall. At this session, the TRC will select focus topics, focus areas, data, and the methodology for collection. The TRC was asked to hold October 25 and 26 for a session by Think Peace on truth -telling. Announcements of Commissioners: Nobiss gave an update on the first -ever Indigenous Peoples' Day being held here in Iowa City and that tickets have gone on sale for Truthsgiving: The Truth Will Not Be Whitewashed. Adjourned: 10:02 p.m. This meeting can be viewed in its entirety at this link e e: 4 &= e< e= e e< e 4 ! £ � q Agenda#3 September 14, 2023 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma J. Harvat, City Hall Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Louis Tassinary, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua, Marie Krebs. Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Sikowis Nobiss, Chad Simmons. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers. Meeting called to order: 5:31 p.m. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Facilitator Fixmer-Oraiz read the Land Acknowledgement. Strategic Doing Workshops: The session began with the participants including community, Commissioners, and facilitators creating community agreements. Facilitators went over the difference between strategic planning and strategic doing. The pathfinder projects are: 1) A Financial Literacy & Credit Builder Program. Members: Tracy Jon Sargeant, Charles Eastham, Amos Kiche, Louis Tassinary. Meeting October 30 at 6 pm at the Center for Worker Justice. 2) Community Cohort- Develop a curriculum for a cohort of community members to engage truth -telling, fact-finding, and reconciliation/healing throughout the community. Members: Monica Nieves, Chastity Dillard, Tony Branch, Laura Bergus, Annie Tucker, Clif Johnson, Mark Pries, Kim Scott, Wangui Gathua. Meeting October 1 at 4 pm at ICORE Boxing Club. 3) A Focused Marketing Campaign for BIPOC & Ethnically -Oppresses Peoples to Connect them to employment opportunities & training through Iowa Works. Members: Lauren Merritt, Kate Moreland, Nancy Bird, Marie Krebs, Corey Johnson. Meeting October 2 at 5 pm on Zoom. Adjourned: 9:02 p.m. 1 a r x r 0. 0. 0. M N 0 P, 0. 0. 0. rL 0. r N b R N N N N N N Q •6 � m � ++ G O y