CLASSIFICATION: #5. CEREMONIAL GROUNDS/CHURCHES

NCA 16-035

CLASSIFICATION: #5. CEREMONIAL GROUNDS/CHURCHES

A LAW OF THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION AMENDING MCNCA TITLE 5.,

CHAPTER 2., SUBCHAPTER 1. ENTITLED “Grant Programs for Churches and

Ceremonial Grounds”

Be it enacted by the National Council of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation:

SECTION ONE. AMENDMENT. This amendment shall be codified in Title 5,

Chapter 2, of the Code of Laws of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation; provided that for

purposes of codification of said amendment and its inclusion in pocket parts of the Code

of Laws of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Attorney General is hereby authorized:

(1) to approve any changes related to the manner in which sections, articles, chapters

and sub-chapters are designated consistent with the format in the Code of Laws

published in 2010 by West Publishing Company; (2) to include footnoted references to

the legisiative history in said pocket parts to the Code of Laws and (3) to note in said

pocket parts any editorial correction of minor clerical or grammatical errors in the

following amendment, without further National Council approval:

TITLE 5. CEREMONIAL GROUNDS/CHURCHES

CHAPTER 2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

SUBCHAPTER 1. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CHURCHES AND CEREMONIAL

GROUNDS

§ 2-101. Findings.

The National Council finds that:

A, There is a need for a thorough assistance program for Muscogee (Creek)

Nation Traditional Churches and Ceremonial Grounds.

B. Due to numerous factors, many Churches and Ceremonial Grounds are in

great need of maintenance, repair and/or larger more improved facilities.

Cc Due to the increase in assistance requests from Churches and

Ceremonial Grounds and the inability to finance all requests, a comprehensive

assistance plan must be established to identify and help the most needy.

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NCA 16-035

§ 2-102 Purpose. The purpose of this Subchapter is to establish a comprehensive

assistance grant program to aid Churches and Ceremonial Ground.

§ 2-103. Church and Ceremonial Ground Ggrant award requirements and

restrictions

A. Each Muscogee (Creek) Nation Traditional Church that is fifty (50) years

or older or a church that can provide documentation demonstrating that eighty percent

(80%) of its membership is Muscogee (Creek) Gcitizens and each of the sixteen (18)

established Ceremonial Grounds which are located within the Nation's jurisdictional

boundaries shall be eligible to submit an application for one of the following six grant

awards:

(1) Grant Award 1 is available once per fiscal year beginning October 1

and shall not exceed $5,000.

(2) Grant Award 2 shall be in the amount of $5,001 to $10,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next 2 fiscal

years.

3) Grant Award 3 shall be in the amount of $10,001 to $20,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next 4 fiscal

years.

(4) Grant Award 4 shall be in the amount of $20,001 to $30,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next 6 fiscal

years.

(5) Grant Award 5 shall be in the amount of $30,001 to $40,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next 8 fiscal

years.

(6) Grant Award 6 shall be in the amount of $40,001 to $50,000.

Applicant shall not be eligible to receive a Grant Award for the next 10

fiscal years.

B. Each application shall be on a form provided by the National Council, and

at a minimum shall include an itemized budget and designate the Church Pastor,

Ceremonial Ground Mekko or authorized representative to receive payment if the

application is approved.

C. The Land, Natural Resources & Cultural Preservation Committee of the

National Council shall review all qualified applications. All applications will be

considered fairly, taking into consideration availability of funds and giving priority based

on the urgency and severity of need.

D. The grant award limitation set forth in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6)

of this subsection A of this section may be waived in the event that the Land, Natural

Resources & Cultural Preservation Committee determines that repairs or renovations to

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NCA 16-035

the property of a church or ceremonial ground are necessary due to damage caused by

a natural disaster.

E. The Land, Natural Resources & Cultural Preservation Committee shall

provide the Principal Chief with a copy of each application for a grant that has been

approved by the Committee. Upon signature of the application by the Principal Chief,

the Controller shall pay the grant award to the Church Pastor, Ceremonial Ground

Mekko or authorized representative.

F. Each Grant recipient shall expend funds in accordance with the approved

grant budgets.

G. Each Grant recipient shall submit the following records for expenditures of

a Grant award within thirty (30) days of completion of the awarded assistance project:

invoices or receipts with proof of payment evidenced by cancelled checks or other bank

records. All records shall be provided to the Controller of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Each Grant recipient shall return any unexpended grant funds to the Controller for

deposit in the Tribal Treasury.

H. In the event that a Grant recipient does not turn in records as required by

subsection G of this section, said Grant recipient shall not be eligible to receive

Comprehensive Assistance Grant Program funds for a period of five (5) years from the

date of the original award.

1. In the event that a Grant recipient expends funds not in accordance with the

awarded Comprehensive Assistance Grant Program award, said Grant recipient shall

not be eligible to receive Comprehensive Assistance Grant Program funds for a period

of ten (10) years from the date of the original award. In addition during that time period,

said Grant recipient shall not receive any financial assistance from the National Council

and the Nation may seek full restitution of any and all funds received.

§ 2-104. Church camp house/Ceremonial Ground campifellowship hall grant

award requirements and restrictions

: Muscogee (Creek) citizens who are members of a Mus Creek

Traditional Church _or Ceremonial Ground and have a camp

/icamp/fellowshi it be eligible to su lication fora one

time grant award u @ amount _o @ d 1 Dollars

7,00 if the following requi nts are met:

1. a completed application; and

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NCA 16-035

2. a letter from the Ceremonial Ground Mekko or Pastor stating

the need for the financial assistance. If there is no Pastor, a

Deacon may make same request,

3. a line Item budget of total cost of repairs/renovation: and

4. no | an two | ized quotes that match line item budget

for total cost of repairs/renovation.

Cc. Financial tance will specifically fo cture of

hurch Camp, Ceremoni round Camp House or Fellowshi

include roofs, floors, walls, windows and doors, as well as, any electric, water,

heating or air problems.

D. Financial assistance will not be provided for appli toves

refrigerators, icoe-makers, etc.) and furnishings (tables, chairs, dishes, etc.).

E. The Land, Natural Resources & Cultural Preservation Committee

shall review all_qualified applications. All applications will be considered fairly,

taking into consideration availability of funds and giving priority based on the

urgency and severity of need.

F. The grant award limitation act forth in § 2- 108 A. of this section may

aived in the event that ti ; 2 9s & Cultural Preservation

Co mmittee determines that aDRITRTenGVanGn to the p roperty of a church or

: b % SONs ee Uoere Le

premonial ground are necessary due to damaae

S The Land, Na Resources & Cultural Preservati

shall provide the Principal Chief a copy of each application for a grant that has

been approved. Upon signature of the application by the Principal Chief, the

Controller il pay the grant award ipient.

H. Each grant recipient shall_ expend funds in accordance with the

approv nt budgets.

1. Each grant recipient shall submit the following records for

ditu fa nt award within (30) days of completion of warded

assistance project: invoices or receipts with proof of payment evidenced by

cancelled ch r_ other bank ords fl rds _shall_ be provided to

Controiter of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

¥. Each grant recipient shall m_any unexpen funds to

Control he Tribal

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NCA 16-035

K. _In_ the event that a grant recipient does not turn in records as

§2-104. G i i aid ore ant shall 2 oligible to

=! a = 2 . o> a UL =Jil: = wis i

receive a grant award fi eriod of five (5) years and shall not be eligible to

receive any financial assistance f the National Council and the Nation ma

seek full restitution of any and all funds received.

L. Only twenty-five (25) applications will be accepted per fiscal year or

expenditures not to exceed $175,000.

§ 2-1045. | Funding request

All funding requests from Muscogee (Creek) Nation Traditional Churches that are fifty

(50) years or older or churches that can provide documentation demonstrating that

eighty percent (80%) of their membership is Muscogee (Creek) Geitizens and the

sixteen established Ceremonial Grounds, as well _as_ funding requests from

Muscogee (Creek) citizens for Ceremonial Ground camp repairs and Church

cam use and fellowshi ll irs/renovation, shall only be addressed through

the Comprehensive Assistance Grant Program. Any emergency request not qualifying

for the Comprehensive Assistance Grant Program shail be referred to the Land, Natural

Resources & Cultural Preservation Committee to be considered, subject to the

availability of funds.

2-1 ntract and Terms and Conditions

All ovations nstruction projects funded through the C rehensive

Assistance Grant Progra involve an outside contractor(s) are required

use the Contract and Terms and Conditions, which shal vided with

application.

SECTION TWO. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall become effective immediately

upon proper approval and execution in accordance with the requirements of the

Muscogee (Creek) Nation Constitution

ENACTED by the Muscogee (Creek) National Council on this 30" day of April, 2016.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Speaker of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council has

hereto attached his signature.

Lucian Tiger Ill, aker

National Council

Muscogee (Creek) Nation

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NCA 16-035

CERTIFICATION

I, the undersigned, certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the minutes of the

Muscogee (Creek) National Council comprised of Sixteen members with Fifteen

members attending this meeting on the 30" day of April, 2016 and that the above is in

conformity with the provisions therein adopted by a vote of 14 in favor, 0 against, and

that said Law has not been rescinded or amended in any way and the above is the

signature of the Speaker of the National Council.

Kristie A. Sewell, Recording Secretary

Muscogee (Creek) National Council

APPROVAL

I, the Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, hereby affix my signature on this

Sh. day of Ma 4 , 2016 to the above Law, NCA 16-035 authorizing it to

become a Law under! Article VI., Section VI, of the Constitution of the Muscogee

(Creek) Nation.