2013-2014 LANAIC Annual Report

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Annual Report

Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission

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Annual Report

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Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission

2013 Commissioners RUDY ORTEGA JR., Chairman Fernandeño Tataviam CHRISSIE CASTRO, Vice Chairperson Navajo CHERI THOMAS, Treasurer Quinault/Yurok DARON AHHIATTY Kiowa CAROLYN ECHEVERRIA Gabrielino/Tongva RAMON ENRIQUEZ Tewa – Nambe Pueblo DAWN JACKSON Saginaw Chippewa KIMBERLY MORALES-JOHNSON Gabrielino/Tongva MAXINE JUDKINS Apache/Cherokee IAN SKORODIN Choctaw PATRICIA LOPEZ Taos Pueblo/Tiwa

2014 Commissioners

(November)

RUDY ORTEGA JR., Chairman Fernandeño Tataviam CHRISSIE CASTRO, Vice Chairperson Navajo CHERI THOMAS, Treasurer Quinault/Yurok RAMON ENRIQUEZ Tewa – Nambe Pueblo DAWN JACKSON Saginaw Chippewa MAXINE JUDKINS Apache/Cherokee PATRICIA LOPEZ Taos Pueblo/Tiwa EUGENE MARTINEZ Choctaw ANDREA MONIQUE DIAZ Seminole RANDALL MURPHY Choctaw/Lakota TRACY M. PEREZ Navajo JASON ERIK REED Cherokee

Executive Assistant RON ANDRADE Luiseno (213) 315-5308

3333 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90020 www.lanaic.org contact@lanaic.org Commissioners@lanaic.org

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RUDY ORTEGA JR., Chairman Fernande単o Tataviam The Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission (Indian Commission) is proud to submit our Annual Report for the calendar year 2013-2014.

We look forward to many accomplishments in the coming years. The Ordinance creating the Indian Commission, dated June 25, 1976, provides for an Annual Report to be made to the County Board of Supervisors and City of Los Angeles regarding the activities of the Indian Commission.

With this report we are proud to note that the Indian Commission is entering our 39th year of serving the Indian community of Los Angeles. The Indian Commission remains the only Indian Commission of its nature in the United States. Further the Self Governance Board, created in 1993, is the only Self Governance Board administering a Community Service Block Grant serving urban Indians in the United States. We believe it is significant, as you review this report, to note that the Commissioners serve on a voluntary basis and the staff of the Commission is comprised of one professional staff member. I note with pride that my father, Rudy Ortega, Sr. was one of the first community elected members to the Indian Commission. We thank and honor Supervisors Ed Edelman and Kenneth Hahn, whose leadership, with the support of Mayor Tom Bradley, were responsible for the creation of the Indian Commission.

During the past 39 years, the Indian Commission has been witness to extensive changes and progress for the betterment of the American Indian community of Los Angeles.

Yet, we realize that there is still much work to be done. We also recognize that the work must be a cooperative and collaborative effort with the Board of Supervisors and the City of Los Angeles. We also wish to extend our appreciation to the Los Angeles Indian community who have tirelessly volunteered their efforts in support of the Indian Commission including: United American Indian Involvement; Fernandeno Tataviam Tribe; Wawokiye Foundation; Gabrieleno Tongva Tribe of San Gabriel; American Indian Healing Center; UCLA American Indian Studies Center and the American Indian Community Council.

Sincerely,

RUDY ORTEGA, JR. Chairman

Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission

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Annual Report

Introduction

he Ordinance creating the Indian Commission, dated June 25, 1976, provides for an Annual Report to be made to the County Board of Supervisors and City of Los Angeles regarding the activities of the Indian Commission. This report sets forth the various activities of the Indian Commission during the period from the period January 2013 through November 2014.

The Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission is comprised of 15 members. Five members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, five members are appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles, and five members are nominated and then elected by the community. In addition, the five community elected members, one City appointee and one Supervisorial appointee comprise the Self Governance Board. The Self Governance Board is charged with operating and managing the Community Services American Indian Block Grant (CSAIBG). As a result of legislation sponsored by the Indian Commission, the County of Los Angeles is the only county in California authorized to receive Community Services American Indian Block Grant funds in conjunction with a Self Governance Board.

The Los Angeles City and County Native American population remains the largest concentration of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the United States. The Los Angeles county metropolitan service area has the single largest population of Native Americans in the United States.

In addition, there are five major Indian reservations within a reasonable commute distance to Los Angeles County. Those reservations contribute more than $1 billion a year to the local economy.

The Indian Commission is pleased to note that the contribution from the City of Los Angeles to support the Indian Commission has increased from the original amount in 1976 of $15,000 to $47,000 per year.

The areas of activities of the Indian Commission cover a wide range of issues and activities to benefit the Indian community of Los Angeles.

These areas include: • Intergovernmental Activities • Legislative Advocacy • Grantsmanship • Leveraging Private Resources • Community Education The Indian Commission has also included recommendations for what we feel will better serve the Indian community, while

meeting the requirements of the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles. We have included the recommendations to focus attention on limitations on our work created by structural and systemic issues. These structural issues result in a decrease in our ability to accomplish certain goals to the detriment of the Indian community. As we have noted previously, the Indian Commission’s work is significant in it’s breadth given that the Commissioners donated their valuable time to serve on as voluntary basis and the staff of the Commission is comprised of one professional staff member and occasionally one consultant worker.

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City Budget Contribution

The City of Los Angeles has agreed to fund the Indian Commission in the amount of $47,000 per year (City Contribution). Funds were received from the City for year 2013 and 2014. However, while the City contribution is sent directly to the Indian Commission, the Indian Commission must provide the City Contribution to the Department of Senior and Community Services (CSS) since the Indian Commission does not have a separate County account authorized by the Board of Supervisors in which to deposit the City Contribution. This accounting methodology has caused considerable confusion within both the Indian Commission and County offices as noted later in this report. Unfortunately, the Indian Commission has been unable to utilize any of the City Contribution for Indian Commission activities (such as community hearings) but instead the entire City Contribution is claimed by CSS, as the County fiscal conduit, for “administrative� costs.

The Indian Commission has requested that CSS provide a line by line accounting as to the exact expenditures of the City Contribution. The Indian Commission has been unsuccessful in obtaining such an accounting from CSS.

$47,000 per year

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission

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Grants Community Services American Indian Block Grant (CSAIBG)

The Community Services American Indian Block Grant (CSAIBG) program administered by the Self Governance Board of the Indian Commission served over 6,000 American Indians in the Los Angeles County area with direct and indirect services as well as intake and referral.

The Board of Supervisors and the Indian Commission Self Governance Board share grant authority for this program. The Indian Commission received approximately $261,949 per year for the operation of the CSAIBG program for FY2013 and FY2014 for a total of $523,898.

This is a reduction from a total of $710,096 for 2011-2012.

These services were designated as “Emergency Services” by the State. During this period the three contracted American Indian agencies provided emergency services to American Indians in need. The Indian Commission took significant efforts to protect and retain the CSAIBG for the Los Angeles Indian community, which has provided programs to the Indian community since 1993.

The Self Governance Board administers sub-contracts with three American Indian groups, United American Indian Involvement (UAII), Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribe, and Pukuu Cultural Community

$261,949 per year for the operation of the CSAIBG program for FY2013 and FY2014 for a total of $523,898 Services. The types of services included intake and referral, emergency food, emergency shelter housing, employment assistance, education, youth services, and many other areas of services. The Self Governance Board administers the CSAIBG program in conjunction with the Board of Supervisors and is the only direct urban area grantee in the State of California.

These are very important services since almost all of the non-Indian service providers in the County provide little to no services to the American Indian community. As an example of the lack of services, the Community Health Centers in California wrote a letter in response to President Bush’s budget that the Community Health Centers would NOT be

able to provide services to the American Indian clients if the Indian Health Service program was eliminated in Los Angeles.

The problem becomes more intense when review is made of the Indian Health Service (IHS) funding which funds only one health program in Los Angeles County although Los Angeles has the highest population of urban Indians nationwide.

The Indian Commission’s Community Services Block Grant program allocates nearly 90% of the State amount in subcontracts to American Indian service agencies. Since its inception, the Indian Commission has advocated for approximately $8 million in federal funding that has been allocated to Indian agencies in the County of Los Angeles through advocacy and letters of support. The Indian Commission is the most active off-reservation agency in the State and we believe the Country advocating on behalf of legislation pertinent to the urban Indian community.

The Indian Commission has been able to achieve many significant accomplishments for the betterment of the Indian community but the lack of funding limits the additional potential benefits that might be achieved. As noted above, the amounts available for distribution through the CSAIBG represent a reduction due to the severe budget

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cuts suffered by the Indian Commission during the years in question. The reductions were unfortunately, based on inaccurate data which was then utilized to justify the reductions. Unfortunately, the Indian Commission was unable to secure support from County offices to oppose the reductions. The Indian Commission, in collaboration with the UCLA Lewis Policy Center and the American Indian Community Council, sponsored a research technical memo about the inaccurate American Community Survey counts used to determine these amounts.

Unfortunately, the documented errors did not change the policy decision to reduce funding to Los Angeles CSAIBG funds.

SUB-CONTRACTORS

Gabrieleno/Tongva Native American Services

The Self Governance Board administers sub-contracts with three American Indian groups: United American Indian Involvement (UAII), Gabrieleno/Tongva Native American Services, and Pukuu Cultural Community Services. The types of services included intake and referral, emergency food, emergency shelter housing, employment assistance, education, youth services, and many other areas of services. The Self Governance Board administers the CSAIBG program in conjunction with the Board of Supervisors and is the only direct urban area grantee in the State of California.

CSAIBG grant - RFP, grant negotiations with State, grant negotiations with grantees.

The sole member of the Indian Commission staff has continued oversight of the CSAIBG grant and has clarified the law as it pertains to the Indian program both with the State and County Departments. The State requested that all CSBG grantees clarify their status

Offers bus tokens, food distribution/vouchers, shut-off assistance, etc.

and certify that each agency is in compliance with the triparte board requirement as stated in the federal law. The Indian Commission provided information to the State evidencing the fact that the Self Governance Board was in compliance with the law. The State has certified that the Self Governance Board does meet legal requirements. The Self Governance Board maintains oversight and monitoring of the activities of each of the CSAIBG grantees.

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Pukuu Cultural Community Services

One Stop Emergency Service Program offers temporary aid to low-income American Indians who encounter a financial emergency.

United American Indian Involvement (UAII)

UAII,Inc provides quality services and advocacy to the American Indian communities residing within the State of California in a respectful manner with high regard for cultural values, Tribal affiliation, spiritual and the personal values of individuals.

United American Indian Involvement (UAII)

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Annual Report

Community Activity Youth Services

American Indian/Alaska Native youth in Los Angeles County often experience cultural and social isolation due to the geographic disbursement of the American Indian/Alaska Native community. For example, AI/ AN youth are often the only American Indian youth in their school and/or neighborhood.

Research indicates social inclusion and connectedness as a major contributor to youth well-being for any population. For this reason, the Indian Commission has taken on a special project to create opportunities for social connectedness, belonging and cultural pride by coordinating and hosting a series of American Indian/Alaska Native heritage nights in association with L.A.’s major sports teams.

To its knowledge, the Indian Commission is the most active Indian agency in the country in coordinating American Indian/ Alaska Native heritage nights, which provides low-income Indian youth and their families tickets to attend professional sports games free of charge.

The Indian Commission, with the help of the UAII, the Fernandeño Tataviam tribe, and other local Indian agencies have identified, on average, more than 140 low-income youth and families to attend these events.

Special initiatives have been arranged with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Clippers,

Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Kings where dancers from the Indian Community and/or other Native related activities occur to provide exposure to the nonNative Los Angeles community to Native culture and activities.

As identified in the Private Contributions section of this Annual Report, the Indian Commission has coordinated donations from private corporations and from various Indian Tribes to accomplish the goal of providing tickets to these events. As noted, each event has had special activities for youth. For example, at the Galaxy game the Commission arranged Native dancing before the game, as well as provided an Indian Color Guard from the San Manual Tribe to present the flag before the game. We have also had Indian veterans and a WWII Code Talker, participate with the Color Guard. In 2012, for the first time, at the Galaxy game we had an American Indian sing the National Anthem. At the Clippers game we have had Native dancing before the game and traditional singing during half time. In addition, the Clippers have generously donated T-shirts, designed, in part, by the Indian Commission, to all Indian participants. At a Dodgers game this year funds were donated for 200 tickets to the all-you-can eat section for low-income youth and families. Lastly, 208 tickets were provided for the general

seating area. After the game, the youth were invited to “Run the Bases” which is a special program of the Dodgers.

It is important to note that the above-referenced activities were done at no cost to the County and all funds were raised from local Tribes with participation from local businesses.

lanaic.org Intergovernmental Indian Child Welfare Act

The Indian Commission, for the past two years, has coordinated with the Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights, which leads a worldwide effort to reduce the use of psychotropic drugs.

As a result of the work of the Indian Commission, the California State Judicial Council instituted a rule requiring that notice be given to the tribe when an Indian child in the DCFS system may be prescribed psychotropic drugs. The Indian Commission has taken the lead in distributing information in order to limit the prescribing of psychotropic drugs to Indian children who are members of Indian tribes, who are in the foster care system, and under the jurisdiction of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The Indian children who are in the DCFS system are a major concern of the Indian Commission. There are continuous issues arising under ICWA as well as issues related to regulations governing DCFS that we continue to review and evaluate.

Additionally, the Indian Commission has served as a member of an ad-hoc committee established by Judge Michael Nash for the Department of Children and Family Services to review and make recommendations for the American Indian unit. Los Angeles County has the highest number of Indian children

within the protective system of any county in the Country.

LOS ANGELES CITY

American Indian Heritage Month November 2013 & 2014

The Indian Commission has partnered with the City of Los Angeles to coordinate the American Indian Heritage month activities conducted by the City of Los Angeles.

The Indian Commission has coordinated the special day activities conducted at City Hall, which have included presentations by the Mayor, appearances before the City Council, and special activities conducted for the American Indian community. We are very proud to acknowledge that for the first time in the modern history of Los Angeles, an American Indian, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell has been elected to the Los Angeles City Council. He is the first federally recognized American Indian to serve on the City Council and one of a very few Indians to be elected to the City Council of a major American city.

State Board of Equalization (BOE)

Tribal General Welfare Act, H.R. 3043, The Indian Commission was very active in the consideration and passage of the Tribal General Welfare Act, which was signed into law

by President Obama. Due to the leadership of BOE member, Betty Yee, a guidance letter was issued by the BOE indicating that payments made to Indians living off the reservation would be treated in the same fashion for tax purposes as for payments made to Indians living on the reservation if the payments met the criteria of the Tribal General Welfare Act.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs (OJJDP)

Commissioners and staff continue to research the availability of funds from the OJJDP office to benefit Indian youth in Los Angeles. Meetings were previously held with federal program staff regarding the availability of funding and program requirements.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention seriously under-funds California. In 2012, California received $1,200 from OJJDP. The State allocates $80,000 from their funds amounting to only $81,000 for all 110 California Tribes. In addition, there are very few juvenile detention centers funded by BIA/IHS. (Bureau of Indian Affairs/Indian Health Service). This means that the majority of Indian children within this system are in State operated detention centers.

Our goal is to determine the total amount of OJJDP funds allocated to Indian Tribes or Indian communities in the

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Country as a whole. Following further review, we will be able to identify the regulations requiring change for the benefit of Indian children.

CITY OF SANTA CLARITA

NATIVE CALIFORNIA CULTURAL PARK

The Indian Commission has continued to be very active with the efforts in the creation and organization of the Native California Cultural Park to be located in the Santa Clarita area.

Negotiations have been ongoing for the use of at least three acres for a cultural arts area as well as a pow-wow ground for the Indian community within the Rivendale Park & Open Space project. With support from the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians the organization and the Indian Commission was successful have included in the City of Santa Clarita Master Plan for Rivendale Park & Open Space a Native American Cultural Gathering Space.

The Native American Cultural Gathering Space will feature: Centered on a heritage oak along the banks of Towsley Creek, is the Native American Cultural Gathering Space. This area provides opportunity for ceremonial gatherings with a strong emphasis in education and exploration. This area features replicas of traditional

Native American dwellings, an intimate pow-wow space, and endemic plantings that explore the natural resources that were so critical to Native American life. It is at once a place for the local descendants of Tataviam tribe to gather and celebrate and an educational journey for others to enjoy.

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lanaic.org Community Activity Kiicha project (project for the future)

The Indian Commission initiated the Kiicha project to assist Indian youth who would be emancipating from the child welfare system. Kiicha is a traditional Luiseno Indian word referring to “coming home.”

The Indian Commission offered to assist any Indian child who would be leaving the foster care program and would be looking for employment or any other social service. Contacts were made with Indian social service agencies who have offered to assist any emancipating Indian child. Also, support was received from surrounding Indian Tribes which have also to provide assistance to the emancipating youth. The Indian Commission has expressed interest to be included in all AB-12 discussions and training. Assembly Bill 12 offers significant opportunities for Indian youth who are leaving the foster care system and the Indian Commission can serve as a bridge back to their individual tribes.

(project for the future)

As a special initiative the Indian Commission began researching the Indian juvenile population in federal prisons. According to the Bureau of Prison’s website, 50% of all juveniles in federal prison are American Indian.

Although there is a federal prison in Los Angeles County, there is no data available of the

number of American Indians who were paroled in Los Angeles County and where the Indian parolees are now living.

International Visitors Center of Los Angeles:

The Indian Commission has assisted the International Visitors Center in hosting delegations comprised of indigenous leaders from various countries whose visits were sponsored by the U.S. State Department and who asked to meet with Tribal leaders in Southern California. The Indian Commission coordinated meetings for the visitors with the Tribal agencies such as the Indian school at the Soboba Indian Reservation in San Jacinto and the San Manuel Indian Tribe. In former years, we have also hosted visitors from Brazil, China, Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan. In 2012 we held meetings organized by the International Visitors Center with Algeria, Iraq, Mauritania, Morocco, West Bank and Yemen. We are currently planning for events with indigenous leaders from Australia.

Racial Mascots

The Indian Commission has coordinated with Indian groups who have sought, in a longstanding effort, to remove racial mascots from sport team names in the State of California.

Despite wide spread support for this effort from every Indian

community in the State, the use of Indian mascots has continued. We will continue efforts to eliminate Indian mascots from schools and sports teams. The Indian Commission has closely monitored instances of racial stereotypes in movies, television, and all media. As an example we closely monitored a discriminatory fraternity party entitled “Western Bros and Navajos”. The event was cancelled after public outcry due in part to our efforts became widespread. We have addressed similar issues with clothing companies in Los Angeles that used negative American Indian imagery.

Legislative and Program research

The Indian Commission provides extensive legislative and program research pertaining to American Indian issues to American Indian community groups, colleges, Tribes, legislative offices, and interested individuals within Los Angeles County. The Indian Commission maintains a database of Indian agencies within the County and continually monitors federal and state legislation, court cases of importance to the Indian community, federal regulatory actions pertinent to the Indian community, and program availability for the Indian community from State, federal, and private sources.

Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission

Education

The Indian Commission was the only organization in the State to distribute information noting that 2012 was the 65th anniversary of the right of American Indians to attend any public school in the State of California. Separate schools existed for Indian children (although many public schools admitted Indian children).

However, in 1947 Governor Earl Warren signed legislation abolishing Education Code Sections 8003 and 8004, which called for the segregation of Indian children. As a historical note, this followed the decision in Mendez v. Westminster.

Ron Andrade made a special presentation at the California Education conference held at California State University, San Bernardino to discuss “Piper v.

Big Pine School District” which outlawed separate but equal schools for Indians in 1924 and which preceded Brown v. Board of Education by thirty years.

The Indian Commission has participated in hearings pertaining to the Memorandum of Understanding issued by the White House regarding Indian Education. Meetings were held at UCLA and at the Pala Indian reservation on 8/30/12. Members of the Indian Commission attended each meeting and provided testimony at each event.

Recently, a member of the

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Indian Commission met with Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Kevin Washburn who is tasked with reforming Indian Education policy. The Indian Commission was recently asked to coordinate a White House Listening Session on Education held November 13, 2014 at the Autry Museum.

The Indian Commission was successful in seeking donations to hold this event.

Media

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feathers only by members of federally recognized Tribes.

Civil Rights

The Indian Commission has been active in efforts to protect the civil rights of Indian people who live off the reservation in cities such as Los Angeles. We found that when the Office of Civil Rights at the Justice Department created its Tribal Justice Office, urban Indians were not covered by that office.

The Indian Commission, primarily through the efforts of Commissioner Jackson, was involved in the coordination of community involvement in the development of a new television project entitled FNX—First Nation Experience. FNX is a special initiative of the San Manual Indian Tribe and is broadcast on the KVCR PBS station. The Indian Commission assisted FNX with introductions at national conferences and provided them a booth during the LA City Heritage opening celebrations to promote the station. FNX has been very successful and has been noted as far away as Connecticut.

Another activity of the Indian Commission is assisting individuals who are trying to research their own Indian ancestry. Our efforts range from assisting those contacting the federally recognized tribe to which they are seeking enrollment or assisting others in identifying genealogical resources.

Eagle Feathers

Housing

The Indian Commission was very active working to protect the rights of nonfederally recognized Indians nationwide when the United States Department of Justice announced a new policy allowing possession of eagle

Climate Control

In 2013, The Indian Commission participated at a White House session on Climate Control held at the Los Angeles City Hall with tribal leaders from the local area and delegates from Alaska.

The Indian Commission led the statewide efforts to enable urban American Indian families to take part of a special housing program offered through the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development specifically for American

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Indians.

Community Coordination The Indian Commission has worked in coordination with various Indian community groups as requested.

For example, the Indian Commission participated as a support organization with TAMIT-Teaching and Mentoring Indian Tarahat sponsored by the Education Department of the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.

The Indian Commission is coordinating closely with the National Convention of Native Americans in Philanthropy in Los Angeles held November 7, 2014. The Indian Commission is assisting with publicity, sponsors, and general on-site assistance.

Speaking arrangements

The Indian Commission has assisted other agencies who occasionally seek speakers or ask for the Indian community’s participation in their events.

As previously noted, the Indian Commission was a participant at the California Indian Conference recently conducted at California State University, San Bernardino at which Rudy Ortega, Pamela Villasenor and Ron Andrade were presenters.

Federal, State. County, City Appointments

The Indian Commission has been recognized and called upon to make recommendations of Indian individuals to various positions and advisory committees. The Indian Commission provided suggestions for American Indians for Superior Court appointments in California and participated when an American Indian was appointed to the Superior Court in Riverside County for the first time making her the second American Indian currently appointed to the Superior Court in California.

Private Contributions

The Indian Commission has worked closely with private funders, corporations and Tribal Governments to secure funding for various projects in Los Angeles County. In addition, the Indian Commission has regularly assisted Indian nonprofits seeking funds from non-governmental sources. For example, Southern California Edison provided assistance for a special reception to honor Native American Richard West, who was appointed as the CEO of the Autry Museum.

As indicated previously in the Youth Initiatives section of this Annual Report, the Indian Commission has received support from the San Manual Tribe, Rincon Tribe, Soboba Tribe, Pechanga Tribe, Big Sandy Rancheria, Torres-Martinez

Tribe, Merrill Lynch/ Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Southern California Edison.

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Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission

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Problem Areas

in the most efficient manner possible, we ask the Board of Supervisors to provide the Indian Commission with additional funding for increased staffing and for program services outlined in the ordinance. Furthermore, the Indian Commission requests assistance in moving the Indian Commission management to a different county department. In that CSS has absorbed all of our funding and has indicated they will continue to do so even if that funding is increased, we believe that the work of the Indian Commission cannot expand if it remains with CSS as the fiscal conduit, and in fact, our work may be severely circumscribed if we remain with CSS.

As noted in the transmittal letter for this Report, the Indian Commission has served the Los Angeles Indian community for 39 years. Yet, the Indian Commission is funded for only one staff position from the County of Los Angeles ($158,000 in Net County Cost (NCC)) and a yearly City Contribution (currently $47,000). The total amount of funding from both the City and County is, therefore, $205,000. The Indian Commission, in conjunction with the County of Los Angeles, also manages a contract for the Community Services American Indian Block Grant in the amount of $261,949 for FY 2014. The State of California Community Services Department (CSD) notified the Indian Commission on December 20, 2012 that the yearly contract amount has been reduced to $261,949 for 2013 based on “new” but disputed 2010 Census figures.

In any event, these funds are required to be distributed to sub-contractors for direct program services and are not available for operational expenses of the Indian Commission.

Unfortunately, the relationship between the Indian Commission and Community and Senior Services (CSS) has been strained for several years. The primary reason for the strained relations between the Indian Commission and CSS is the insistence

by CSS, provided to the Indian Commission in writing, that the entire Indian Commission funding of $205,000 is used by CSS to fund the single staff position, pay a high share for accounting and contracting services and other expenses incurred by the Indian Commission at CSS. In fact, CSS has advised the Indian Commission that we exceed allocated funding by over $50,000 per year. The Indian Commission finds this remarkable in that CSS provides none of the funding for the Indian Commission’s responsibilities set forth in its bylaws and county ordinance.

The Indian Commission has a long history of cooperation with the City and County in moving our projects forward for the benefit of the Indian community and the people of Los Angeles as a whole. Therefore, in order to continue our work

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For example, the Indian Commission is very interested in supporting business development concepts with local Indian Tribal governments. There is no doubt that such development will be advantageous, not only to the Tribes, but to the people of the County as a whole through the creation of employment opportunities for both Tribal and non-Tribal people.

Recommendations: 1.

Revise the county ordinance, and revise the city-county memorandum of understanding The ordinance establishing the Indian Commission was developed 39 years ago. A review and revision of the ordinance and city-county memorandum of understanding will clarify policy on issues where there is confusion, including: Defined Budgeting and Accounting Guidelines Clear, defined budgeting and accounting guidelines for administering all funds provided to the Indian Commission by the City and County should be provided to the Indian Commission and the Host Department.

Expanded Resources and Adequate Staffing Increase of funding from the County and City to enable the Indian Commission to employ or contract for additional positions to

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assist in the work of the Indian Commission.

2.

Relocate The Indian Commission And Self Governance Board To A Different And Appropriate County Department As Soon As Possible: The new Department should recognize that the work of the Indian Commission falls in many different areas, but is focused on community development and particularly meeting the emergency services needs for the Indian community.

3.

Increase Interaction and Engagement Between Board of Supervisor Deputies and Supervisor Appointees or, alternatively, Other Commissioners: As noted in the Ordinance creating the Indian Commission, quarterly or monthly meetings should be held with Board of Supervisor office deputies and the Indian Commission’s Supervisor appointees to review problems/activities/ challenges facing the Indian community.

The Indian community is very concerned about issues surrounding administration of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Although recent California court decisions hold that Indian youth in juvenile facilities are covered under the provisions of ICWA, no effort has been made to include the Indian Commission or other Indian agencies in discussion on the implementation of that requirement in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. Greater interaction between the Board of Supervisor’s Deputies and the Indian Commission could help alleviate this problem.

The Indian Commission, as we have noted, has taken the lead in restricting the prescribing of psychotropic drugs unless notice and agreement is given by the child’s tribe. We have had progressive discussions with Superior Court

officials but we have not had any form of discussion with the Department of Children and Family Services. Greater interaction between the Board of Supervisor’s Deputies and the Indian Commission could help alleviate this problem.

Mandated Meetings Between the County Host Department and the Indian Commission: Mandatory standing meetings between the host department key staff and the Indian Commission should be instituted in order to address operational concerns. This would eliminate the necessity of seeking intervention by the Board of Supervisors to resolve minor differences.

Mandated City and County Data Collection, Compilation and Sharing: The Indian Commission and the County would benefit from an increase in data compilation and data sharing between City and County agencies and the Indian Commission and Los Angeles Indian agencies.

Currently, City and County agencies either do not compile or do not report data relative specifically to the Indian Community. As a result, the ability of the Indian community to utilize data in program planning or fundraising is very limited.

Increased Appointments of American Indians to City and County Commissions and Boards: The Indian Commission and the County would benefit from an increase in the participation of American Indians on Commissions and Boards of the City and County. While the County of Los Angeles has the largest population of American Indians of any county nationwide, there are virtually no American Indians appointed to various Commissions and Boards with the exception of the Los Angeles Indian Commission and the Workforce Investment Board. While the Indian Commission has been in existence for 39 years, the Indian Commission has not been utilized to identify potential Indian candidates for other Commissions and Boards or general employment. The Indian Commission had occupied a position on the City Community Action Board but that position was removed from the Commission in 2003.

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