NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA, INC

63rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE MINUTES

Mayetta, Kansas
JUNE 14-17, 2012
1.

Call to order at 9:40 am

2.

Invocation

3.

Presentation of Colors VFW Post 410 Potawatomi Nation

4.

Roll Call:
President Present
Vice President Present
Treasurer Present
Secretary Present
Editor Present

5.

Affiliated Chapters:

NAC NM

Yannaguana Tap Pilam

Greater Eau Claire Area

NAC of Half-Moon Fireplace

NAC of Jackhead

NAC of Idaho

Fort Hall

Omaha

NAC Monument Valley

Shonto

Brown County

6.

Aneth Extension

12 Affiliated Chapters

24 Voting Delegates

13 Affiliated Chapters

26 Voting Delegates

Lance Long motion to accept minutes from Blanding, Utah conference. 2nd by Myrtle Long.
Rescind motion to have minutes read by Joe Holgate. Andrew Tso motion to have minutes be read. 2nd by
Lance Long. Call for Question.
Favor 26, Oppose 0 and Abstention 0

7.

Myrtle Long Thank you for honoring her late husband Douglas Long and to the Aneth Host. She also
wanted to know about the magazine.

8.

Joe Holgate I will clarify who made the motion for Mirando City.

9.

Rose Tesheep Asked to have a more detailed report from the Treasurer of the finances.

10. Myrtle Long Officers have been compensated. James compensated reimbursement of travel.

28 Voting Delegates
30 Voting Delegates

11. Lance Long motion to accept minutes as read. Julius Claw second to motion approval on the given
minutes. Favor 22, Oppose 0 and Abstention 4.

12. Motion to break for lunch by Charles Hindsley.

13. Resume meeting at 1:12 pm.

Affiliated Chapters:

NAC NM

Yannaguana Tap Pilam

Greater Eau Claire

NAC of Half-Moon Fireplace

NAC of Jackhead

NAC of Idaho

Fort Hall

Omaha

NAC Monument Valley

Shonto

Brown County

Aneth Extension

NAC Pahto

White Mountain

NAC of Cove/Red Valley

NAC SLC Ashii Be To

15 Affiliated Chapters

29 Voting Delegates

14. Officers Reports:

Treasurer James Tso:

Banking with Wells Fargo National Bank.

Kristy Noelson Clarification on the returned item fee and balance person checks.
July No actions.
August Deposit
November - $426.57

Outstanding balances: $1417.74

James Botsford

Aneth Extension
State of Arizona for Window Rock need to be paid.

Rose Tesheep File a police report and it is available, expenditures, suggestion of travel expenses.

Jefferson Lee Do we use the 501c3 number as a tax exempt organization?

Sarah Fanman Has the Church filed their taxes?

Clarence Chavez 501c3 Tax ID Chapter sharing tax ID that was wrong.

Andrew Tso motion to accept reports. 2nd to the motion by Joe Holgate. Favor 25, Oppose 0 and
Abstention 0.

15. Election Time:

Andrew Tso motion to have Lance Long to be Pro Temp. 2nd to the motion by Charles Hindsley. Favor 25,
Oppose 0 and Abstention 0.

16. Lance Long, Chairman Pro Temp, presided over election of officers for the 2012-2015 term. Linda
Benally was appointed as the Secretary Pro Temp for the elections. Before accepting nominations and to
ensure understanding of the eligibility criteria to hold an officer position, Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long
reviewed Article 4, Section 4 of the NACNA By-Laws.

A.

President
Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced that nominations from the floor are being accepted for the
office of the president of NACNA. The following nominations were made:

1.

Joe Holgate was nominated by Andrew Tso.

2.

Sandor Ironrope was nominated by Stuart Lonetree.

3.

Lance Long was nominated by Julius Claw. Lance Long declined nomination.

As each nominee accepted nomination, they also affirmed that they met the qualifications to hold
office. Myrtle Long made a motion to close nominations; motion carried unanimously.

After a duly called vote of the convention delegates, Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced Joe
Holgate was elected President of the NACNA.

B. Vice President
Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced that nominations from the floor are being accepted for the
office of the Vice President of NACNA. The following nominations were made:

1.

Leo Dayish was nominated by Rose Tesheep.

2.

Andrew Tso was nominated by Joe Holgate; Andrew Tso declined nomination.

Motion made by Ida Dayish to close nominations. Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced Leo
Dayish elected NACNA Vice President by acclimation.

C. Secretary
Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced that nominations from the floor are being accepted for the
office of Secretary of NACNA. Sheila WhiteEagle was nominated by Myrtle Long.

Motion made by Travis Cloud to close nominations. Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced
Sheila WhiteEagle elected NACNA Secretary by acclimation.

D. Treasurer
Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced that nominations from the floor are being accepted for the
office of the Treasurer of NACNA.

1.

Angeline Lovejoy nominated by Myrtle Long.

2.

James Tso nominated by Andrew Tso.

Motion made by Myrtle Long to close nominations. Two duly called votes of the convention
Delegates resulted in tie votes, Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long called for a third vote. After the third
vote, Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced James Tso was elected NACNA Treasurer.

E. Editor-in-Chief
Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced that nominations from the floor are being accepted for the
office of the Editor-in-Chief of NACNA.

1.

Stuart Lonetree nominated by Andrew Tso; Stuart Lonetree declined nomination.

2.

Rose Tesheep nominated by Ida Dayish; Rose Tesheep declined nomination.

3.

Isaac Cardenas nominated by Joe Garcia.

Motion made by Andrew Tso to close nominations. Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long announced Isaac
Cardenas elected NACNA Editor-in-Chief by acclimation.

F.

Re-opening of Elections for President and Editor-in-Chief

After close of elections for the President and Editor-in-Chief, the delegation confirmed that Joe
Holgate and Isaac Cardenas did not meet the credentials to hold an officer position set forth in the ByLaws. As a result, nominations were re-opened for the President and Editor-in-Chief positions.

1.

President
Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long asked Mr. Holgate again to affirm that he was eligible to hold an
officer position. He explained that the Shonto Chapter did not affiliate in 2010; therefore, he does
not meet the requirement set forth in Article 4, Section 4, Paragraph A. As a result, Chairman Pro
Temp Lance Long announced that Mr. Holgates election as President was null and void, and that
nominations from the floor were being accepted for the office of the President. The following
nominations were made:

a.

Sandor Ironrope was nominated by Myrtle Long, with supporting remarks of his nomination
made by Sheila WhiteEagle.

b.

Leo Dayish was nominated by Rose Tesheep.

Each nominee accepted nomination and affirmed that they met the qualifications to hold office.

2.

Editor-in-Chief

a.

Sarah Fanman nominated by Ida Dayish.

b.

Ralph Harvey nominated by Andrew Tso; Ralph declined nomination.

Motion made by Clarence Chavez to close nominations. Chairman Pro Temp Lance Long
announced Sarah Fanman elected NACNA Editor-in-Chief by acclimation.

G. Motion made by Myrtle Long to ratify election of officers for the 2012-2015 administration, and
seconded by Andrew Tso; motion passed unanimously.

H. Old Business:

A. Legal Team consisting of David Armstrong, James Botsford, Linda Arnold and Steve Moore give
a Legal Update:

James Botsford gave a legal update. This was his 22nd year with NACNA. Also his
regrets that he is unable to be present. He continues to work with the legal team. A new attorney
will be working with the legal team, David Armstrong, attorney Indian Law Office of Judicare.
He is volunteering his assistance.
The issues currently the legal team is involved with are on the agenda. Items that are not
on the agenda are; Cardenas Property, a trust document was created for the benefit of all NAC
members, a case in Hawaii is pending involving James Mooney Jr. Linda Benally will be giving
an update on the UNDRIP-United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People Conference
in Tuscon, AZ.
Drug Enforcement Attachment-Lyndon Barber worked with NACNA for more than a
decade, about 15 years. He sends his greeting and he is now in private practice. He is offering
assistance to access people at DEA. He has not been replaced and has no successor. Right now
there are no issues or problems.
Texas Department of Public Safety, Jody Patterson. There is a good outlook with no
problems or confusions or glitches. Currently on record there were 5 or 6 individuals in trouble
with the law. They were on legal probation or on parole and want to find a way back into
NACNA. They work directly with the state to help with a policy of encouraging participation in
culture and ways. There were some traffic stops, 2 or 3 minor incidences that were taken care of.
David Armstrong describes the case in Hawaii. NAC Oklevueha is involved with James
Mooneys son, who is an active member in Hawaii. In the late 2009-2010 DEA seized marijuana
en route to Hawaii. This is not only about Peyote laws in place to safeguard but they want rights
to use Marijuana. This court case is in action. NAC Oklevueha brought charges against DEA for
the seized Marijuana. Will this case go to trial? This is to be determined.
Linda Benally, NACNA legal team, gave her report. She attended the session on the visit
from the Special Rapporteur for the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People in February of
2012. She thanked the host chapter of the Prairie Band Potawotamie Nation for their hospitality
and work for all the attendees. She also explained that at the 2007 UN General Assembly on
Indigenous Rights this policy was formed. This was to pave the way for the rights of the
Indigenous people to be heard. There were 193 members from around the world. Initially there

were 4 countries not participating. The US endorsed the declaration on December 16, 2010.
Professor James Anaya made an official notification to the countries endorsing this to be heard.
The issue raised was to bring NACNAs issues to them. On April 26-27, 2011 in Tuscon, AZ
there were drafting concerns to bring up. The letter presented to Special Rapporteur Professor
Anaya was on the sustainability of the sacrament. Make them aware of the growing concern of
the amount available diminished quantity and quality. Just to bring to their attention the selfgovernance in sacred places is needed. Linda Benally, Theron Arnold and Sheila WhiteEagle
attended this event. In a statement from Professor Anaya on the conclusion of his visit there will
be further meetings and discussions on this subject. An invite was extended to all in attendance of
this session to the UN Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
James Botsford, retired NACNA attorney, then reports that this concludes Old Business.

I.

Delegate at Large NAC Aneth-Extension Andrew Tso motions to recess until 8:00 am. Seconded by
Delegate at Large NAC State of New Mexico Ida Dayish. Voted on with 32 yes, 0 no and 0
abstentions.

J.

Announcements: NAC Youth meeting sponsored by Haskell Indian Nations University at Prairie
Peoples Park NAC Club. Roadman, Lonnie Emmhoolah from Anadarko, OK.

K. Benediction rendered by President Sandor Ironrope.

L. Retrieval of Colors

M. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the motion to adjourn the 2012 NACNA Annual Convention
passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at