Minutes for May 11/12, 2006

SILC Meeting
White Earth Reservation

Meeting with Tribal Leaders

May 11, 2006

Members present: Mark Eggen, Judy Sanders, Phyllis Coppess, Ann Zick, Bryan Jensen, Lois Johnson, Mary Pennington, Roberta Cich, Connie Lee Berg, Vicki Dalle Molle, Larry Lura, David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Gail Lundeen (Staff), and Brad Westerlund (Staff).

Tribal Members Present: Gloria LaFriniere, Director of White Earth Reservation VR Project; Erma Vizenor, White Earth Reservation Tribal Chairwoman; Earl Hoagland, traditional healer; Oscar Oppegard, Project 121 Counselor and traditional healer, Mary Oppegard, Project 121 Rehabilitation Tech., and Marvin Tibbets, Project 121 Counselor.

OPTIONS Independent Living Center Staff: Jesse Smith, ADA and White Earth Reservation service coordinator, John W. Johnson, Gordie Haug.

Visitors: Anni Magoris, VR Counselor, Park Rapids Rehabilitation Services, Connie Erlandson, Department of Human Services Resource Specialist, and Nate Aalgaard, Freedom CIL E.D.

Erma Vizenor, Tribal Chair welcomed the SILC. She stated that encroachments to Indian rights, specifically in the area of access to land for hunting and fishing, are still occurring.

LaFriniere reviewed some of the differing approaches of the state VR program and the White Earth Reservation 121 project. The 121 project looks at the whole person and addresses the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the individual. Traditional healing is often used.

LaFrinier illustrated one of the many cultural differences between the state Vocational Rehabilitation program and the 121 projects by pointing out the word ‘disability' does not exist in the Ojibwe language. She stated that initially the 121 project had challenges recruiting clients because the word ‘disability' was offensive.

The 121 project must consider the spectrum of needs a person might have such as housing, transportation and child care. Berg commented that there are not many services for Indians with disabilities. Frequently, the 121 program is all that is available. Berg shared the concern that the tribe cannot be an ‘employment network' for purposes of the social security Ticket to Work program. Red Lake would like to be able to participate in this program.

Oppegard and Hoagland shared some of their life's story, their philosophy, and their experiences as faith healers. Oppegard spoke of his personal healing from a faith healer and Hoagland spoke of the miracles that he has seen as a faith healer.

Johnson and Haug discussed the OPTIONS' Independent Living Centers approach and success with relocating nursing home residents to the community. They provided a handout with the history of the Olmstead Supreme Court decision, information on Medical Assistance Waiver transitional services, the Department of Human Services nursing home relocation priorities, and recent legislation on the Olmstead decision. (see attached)

Having completed the agenda, the meeting ended at 3:30 p.m.

SILC Meeting
White Earth Reservation

Business Meeting

May 12, 2006

Members Present: Bryan Jensen, Ann Zick, David Sherwood-Gabrielson, Linda Lingen, Judy Sanders, Phyllis Coppess, Connie Lee Berg, Roberta Cich, Larry Lura

Staff Present: Brad Westerlund, Gail Lundeen.

Approval of April Minutes

Sanders requested the following revision to the SILC minutes:

  1. In line 2, change ‘would block' to ‘does not provide'.
  2. In the second bullet statement, change ‘exemption' to exception' and ‘pay for the booths' to ‘program the ballots'.

Cich moved accept the minutes as amended. Sanders seconded the motion. The motion passed with Jensen, Zick, Sanders, Coppess, Cich voting in favor and Berg abstaining.

Zick presented a letter sent to Lois Johnson from Nate Aalgaard of Freedom Resource Center of Fargo inviting the SILC to visit. Zick commented that, with the exception of Freedom Resource Center, the SILC has visited all the Independent Living Centers and 121 projects. It was the consensus of the group that visiting Fargo's CIL was an excellent idea. The SILC requested that Johnson write a letter accepting the invitation for sometime in the next calendar year.

State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind

There was no report from the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind because the RCB has not met since the last SILC meeting.

121 Project update

Connie stated that she will be attending an American Indian Mental Health conference June 14 through the 16th, 2006.

State Rehabilitation Council Update

Lundeen, staff support to the State Rehabilitation Council and the SILC, provided the SRC update. She informed the SILC that copies of the SRC Annual Report were available for distribution. A PDF and Word electronic copy will be emailed to SILC members.

A joint State Rehabilitation Council and Rehabilitation Services Public Forum will be held on June 28 at the Paul and Shelia Wellstone Center for the Community. From 9:30 to 11:00 am an expert panel will present and discuss the strategic direction of vocational rehabilitation services in Minnesota. Comment from the public on any matter related to the employment of persons with disabilities in invited during sessions from 11:30 to 3:30 and from 4:30 to 6:30. Sign language interpreters will be available. More information will be broadcast to SILC members. Lundeen requested that the information be distributed to interested stakeholders.

Visitor Comments

No visitors were present.

The next SILC meeting will be at the Minneapolis Four Points by Sheraton on June 8th, 2006 from at 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.