Three Affiliated Tribes
Report date
February 2021
What has been most instrumental to your progress?
To meet with the three segments New Town, Parshall, and Twin Buttes to organize the steering committee's and to collect information so we can start to unite MHA Nation Community Segments on the Fort Berthold Reservation and help to overcome isolation and to work with County and regional resources. Also, to continue the community meetings so each Segment Representative will have a better understanding the full concept of what is to be expected for the upcoming year involving their segments. Due to the Covid 19 we have been not able to meet face to face and trying to complete the tasks via email or zoom so we can continue to move forward in completing our plans for the segments. The Steering Committees also include county and regional resources and we have started to have that connection for outside resources that the tribe has needed and some of the information will enable to help with other services that our Tribal has limited resources. We are working on the draft for Monica Mayer, New Town Councilwoman, and will be meeting with Mervin Packineau, Parshall Lucky Mound, Parshall Councilman, and Cory Spotted Bear, Twin Buttes Representative so we can update their information.
To unite the MHA Nation with county and regional in the areas to help the six segments receive the necessary strategies and resources to develop strategies on how each segment can best meet its community needs and provide service to the members. The Mountrail JDA has been included on the meetings to help local business on the Fort Berthold Reservation for business opportunity assistance for the tribal members and non natives included. We are continuing to work together in collaboration with key groups interested in solutions that can be created to unify the six segments and collecting the necessary data and information to complete our process for the plans for the three segments we have selected and we will continue to move forward and we plan on doing zoom meetings within the next few weeks to complete these segments for their plans.
We had to suspend the follow up meetings due to the pandemic Covid 19 and due to this pandemic the tribe had to lay off or furlough some of the staff and others were able to work from home as long as they were set up to do their work online an via telephone and zoom meetings. We did do a draft for New Town Segment, Monica Mayer, Councilwoman, and waiting for completion of the committee members for discussion and hoping to complete that task by end of February. We are working to use zoom or teleconference for future meetings and Parshall is the only other with City Council and that will be the next segment we will be focusing on and we have met with them prior to the Pandemic and can continue where we left off and then Twin Buttes which is a smaller segment and wont take long to complete that plan due to no City Council. Having to learn to work without face to face meetings has been a task but we do have zoom and camera ability now and look forward in getting this project moving forward and still being safe due to the pandemic.
Key lessons learned
We had to learn about the pandemic and guidelines so we could keep us all safe from covid and there is still no face to face meetings, no gatherings, etc, but we have installed new technology systems in place so we can work together and do web meetings via zoom and that is making sure that our schedules are not conflicting. The information that we have collected a year ago and having to move forward since some of the issues that the communities faced are now lapsed so we are working to get an update and zoom meeting so we can get the information up to date and some of the contacts that we had before are no longer working within the communities so we need to research on the new staff information to make a connection for segments. Also, during this pandemic we have had some major changes due to the new guidelines and staff changes that are in place and especially following the protocols and mandates that require us to wear a mask, social distance, and sanitize our offices and not allowing face to face meetings have been the real challenge. But we are moving forward in learning to use the technology that is given to us and the necessary training that will enable us to move forward.
I would not say that we have failed in this past year but have grown to know what technology can provide during this pandemic and having more training in using this technology and using the zoom system and has become easier over the months and also having to work from home and making sure that we had the necessary office equipment to complete our services to the public. I think that the Three Affiliated Tribes have come to experience this pandemic head on and with forming the MHA Taskforce along with training the employees has enabled our reservation to move forward and having our staffing back to 90% and following the process of sanitizing and no social gatherings and masking up has showed all of us that we need to protect others but also our own families from the virus. The issue that was a main concern was no meeting in person because I feel that having a in person meeting seems to be able to get the point across and have a better understanding of what we are asking for the grant. But, we understand now that through the new technology and the training we are able to see the people and able to make a connection that we need.
Reflections on inclusive, collaborative or resourceful problem-solving
The collaborative because this is the working practice where the individuals continue to work together for a common purpose to achieve business benefits and we are continuing to build relationships with MHA Nation with tribal, county, city, sate and federal. Also, to identify and develop an active and engaged sterring committee to provide input and encourage community participation in the planning process. To understand current activities and the challenges with other organizations and stakeholders to identify the issues that need to be addressed on a regional level, Tribal Level, or Segment Level and to identify economic and quality of life opportunities for each of the six segments. To collaborate and to engage the steering committee in identifying regional-local challenges (SWOT Analysis) and each of the six segments capacity to carry out their plans and processes for their communities.
Other key elements of Community Innovation
The deeper insight into the opportunities and the challenges of living and doing business in each segment which is to identify the community values and their future and their challenges within each of the six communities and the clear understanding of how the challenges effect the Tribe and Segments. The identification of the challenges that can be positively impacted by additional capacity building. To start working together to help identify the resources for the Fort Berthold Reservation whether it is local, tribal, state, regional, or federal to help us further our community development for our enrolled members to be able to prosper in employment and education.
Understanding the problem
To unify an to engage the communities for all six segments of the Fort Berthold Reservation in open discussions with the community board and the enrolled members to develop strategies on how each of their segments can best meet all of their community needs. So the community members can have a better understanding what the grant consist of and what their community sees as a priority and include them on the discussions and comments. Has not been easy for our elders to be able to come to our meetings due to no transportation but we have worked with the Tribal Leaders to have someone from the Elders Program reach out to them for conversation. We look forward in building the relationships with our youth and the Elders whom have so much knowledge for our communities.
If you could do it all over again...
To have more meetings closer together due to the pandemic that stopped us in our tracks and we were not capable because we did not have the technology at home to do via zoom or even scan or fax. We have been able to get those in place where we are able to work from home since the staff was working from home for quite a few months in fiscal year 2020. To have more training in using zoom and other necessary training that a person can take to have more experience if this happens again. To have more contact with the community board so we know when there is a change in staff so we can get the employee the necessary information to get them upto date now and not later. We have been able to provide the information via email and are now working with the zoom for the upcoming meetings in March.
One last thought
Thank you for working with us to complete this grant and appreciate our guidance.