The Programs
Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No.87)
Page 8	Page 9		Page 10 (The People)
Northern Cheyenne Tribe Holds Housing Summit Lafe Haugen [Acting Executive Director, Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority] The Northern Cheyenne Tribe held a two-day housing summit in Billing, Montana on April 11^th and 12^th, hosted by the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority and attended by many of the Tribal Council of the Tribe. Following opening ceremonies by the Sacred Hat Keeper, President Little Coyote shared with the audience, along with the several Federal Agencies that provide housing resources to the tribe, his vision for future housing and infrastructure for the Northern Cheyenne nation. He stated that housing success was an initial component of the tribe’s goal of creating an “independent Sovereign Nation.” President Little Coyote’s remarks set the tone of a Nation “On the Move,” which was the theme of the well-attended summit. He stressed to the attending agencies that the Northern Cheyenne Government and programs were not waiting for something to happen. He explained that the Northern Cheyenne are putting into place components necessary to attract numerous housing resources. He cited the recent passage of two prices of NC Tribal Legislation: the Mortgage Lending Code, and the Landlord and Tenants Rights Code. Maylinn Smith, Director of the Indian Law Clinic from the University of Montana School of Law presented and provided insight to the practical advantages to well-written codes and the assurances		they provide to parties doing business on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. She complemented the Northern Cheyenne for its separation doctrine, which affirms autonomy to the N.C. Tribal Court; unique in Montana. Susan Woodrow, representing the Federal Reserve outlined secured transactions law issues, and the advantages to encouraging economic development though well-written and enforced codes. While she acknowledge that the focus of the summit was on housing, she reminded the participants to encourage businesses to invest on reservations, and that these businesses will invest if they have confidence in the Tribal legal process. Speakers from Fannie Mae and First Interstate Bank applauded the Northern Cheyenne for taking the initiatives to provide for more housing services. A healthy lending environment will add value to the existing homes recently conveyed by the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority. They are now eligible for rehabilitation loans and other grants. The second day concluded with presentations from representatives of the Rural Development Agency and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. “Title Status Reports are our number one priority,” claimed Clark Madison, Regional Realty Office for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Several participants had identified slow Title Status Reports as an impediment to lending at Northern Cheyenne Agency. Mr. Madison advised that if such requests to the BIA are taking too long, to “put everything in writing,” and then they can begin to remedy such impediments. Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 9.
Documents for Tribal Members/Employees and Tribal Housing Payments Eugene Little Coyote This week’s Tribal Report is publishing three documents: The first is an existing agreement between the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, and the Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority that supports payroll deductions and encourages timely payments for assisted housing; the second document is a Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority Board Resolution requiring employees to establish payments from paychecks as well; the third is a Tribal Council Resolution that advises tribal employees to make payment schedules on delinquent housing debts. We must expect all members of this great Tribal Nation who are working to make their payments. (I myself have fallen behind sometimes, but I still commit to bringing my account up to current.) The Tribe will not be able to afford to meet our goals for maintaining current housing, nor build new housing programs/projects if payments are not made current and consistently. There are already a number of responsible employees on voluntary payroll deductions for housing payments, and they are to be commended. (I myself will begin to go on automatic payroll deductions for my housing payments.) Following their example, we can provide a home for our tribal members in need. Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No.8), page 9.
Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 9.
Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 9.
Tribal Report of the Northern Cheyenne Nation (July 2006 Vol. I No. 8), page 9.
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