Terms of Engagement

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Terms of Engagement

• Niagara County PH Preparedness Collaboration with
  the Tuscarora Sovereign Nation

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Tuscarora

• "Ska-Ruh-Reh"
• Those of the Indian Hemp
• Hemp shirt-wearing People

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History

• Historical location Virginia and North Carolina
  - villages were located along the Neuse and
  Roanoke Rivers. Estimated population pre-contact
  - 25,000
• pushed out of their homeland in the early 1700s
• Tuscaroras become the Sixth Nation of the
  Haudenoshaunee Confederacy in 1722.

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Haudenoshaunee Confederacy

• Six separate nations of people who have agreed to
  live under the traditional law of governance
• the Great Law of Peace
• Each nation retains its own identity
• Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca,
  Tuscarora

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Cross-Border Community

• Tuscarora population split during American
  Revolution
• US- 5,700 acres is located about nine miles
  northeast of Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New
  York
• Canada- Southern Ontario

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History

• 1955- lost 550 acres to New York State Power
  Authority for use as a reservoir
• Eminent domain

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FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION VS. TUSCARORA INDIAN
NATION , 362 US 99 (03-7-60) PART 1

• FEDERAL POWER COMMISSION V. TUSCARORA INDIAN
  NATION 362 U.S. 99 NO. 63. ARGUED DECEMBER 7,
  1959 - DECIDED MARCH 7, 1960 - 105 U.S. APP.
  D.C. 146, 265 F.2D 338, REVERSED. TOGETHER WITH
  NO. 66, POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
  V. TUSCARORA INDIAN NATION, ALSO ON CERTIORARI TO
  THE SAME COURT. UNDER SEC. 21 OF THE FEDERAL
  POWER ACT, CERTAIN LANDS PURCHASED AND OWNED IN
  FEE SIMPLE BY THE TUSCARORA INDIAN NATION AND
  LYING ADJACENT TO A NATURAL POWER SITE ON THE
  NIAGARA RIVER MAY BE TAKEN FOR THE STORAGE
  RESERVOIR OF A HYDROELECTRIC POWER PROJECT, UPON
  PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION, BY THE POWER
  AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK UNDER A
  LICENSE ISSUED TO IT BY THE FEDERAL POWER
  COMMISSION AS DIRECTED BY CONGRESS IN THE ACT OF
  AUGUST 21, 1957, 71 STAT. 401. PP. 100-124.

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Jay Treaty of 1794

• It is agreed that it shall, at all times be free
  to His Majesty's subjects and to the Citizens of
  the United States, and also to the Indians
  dwelling on either side of the boundary line,
  freely to pass and repass by land, inland
  navigation, into the respective territories and
  countries of the two parties on the Continent of
  America (the country within the limits of the
  Hudson's Bay Company only excepted) and to
  navigate all the lakes, rivers and waters
  thereof, and freely to carry on trade and
  commerce with each other. No duty of entry
  shall ever be levied by either party on peltries
  brought by land or inland navigation into the
  said territories respectively, nor shall the
  Indians passing or repassing with their own
  proper goods and effects of whatever nature, pay
  for the same any import or duty whatever, but
  goods in bales or other large packages unusual
  among Indians, shall not be considered as goods
  belonging bona fide to Indians.

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History Breech of Trust

• US-Canadian authorities charge toll to cross
  border

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Turtle Historical Museum

• 1996- Repossessed and sold to a Niagara Falls
  developer for the fee of one dollar

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Threats to Nation Economy

• State attempting to collect state sales tax
• Gas tax
• Prohibition on internet cigarette sales
• Potentially grave economic impact
• Negative social consequences

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Structure

• School
• Community Health Program
• Social work outreach
• Health Clinic
• Environmental Health Program
• Emergency preparedness/HazMat
• Solid waste management
• Water quality
• GIS

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TUSCARORA SOVEREIGN NATION GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
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Tuscarora Nation Government

• Traditional Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers
• Make all decisions for the Nation
• Legal council present at meetings

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4 Chiefs Hoyaneh"

• Caretakers of the Peace
• Installed for life
• Chief assigned as clerk signs all documents
• Clan mothers can remove delinquent chiefs

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Chiefs

• Pleasant personality
• Honest
• Not committed any crimes
• Must have ability to reason, not act foolishly

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Chiefs

• Must be able to represent the people fairly
• Must be kind-hearted
• Must be able to withstand criticism

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Chiefs

• Knowledge of what the Confederacy laws represent
• Knowledge of the ceremonies
• Must have never left his family
• Must be able to uphold the Great Law

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6 Clan mothers

• Level of authority commensurate with age
• Responsible for the welfare of the clan
• Holds a position in nominating, installing and
  removing the male chiefs

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Clan Mothers

• Descent of blood determines citizenship
• Possession of official titles for clan mothers,
  chiefs, faith keepers, pine tree chiefs and war
  chiefs
• Own the home and all of the furnishings
• Children belong to her family.

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Clan Mothers

• Right to nominate, confirm, and depose male
  chiefs
• Right to adopt foreigners or prisoners
• Power to forbid brothers and sons from going to
  war
• Power to maintain the national resources

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Clan Mothers

• Use of clan lands
• Food distribution
• Right to burial grounds for sons, brothers,
  daughters and sons
• In the past, had power to grant life or death to
  prisoners

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Clans

• Turtle
• Wolf
• Snipe

• Black Bear
• Beaver
• Bear

Clan identity impacts the social, political and
spiritual organization of the community
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Attributes

• deep seated beliefs in their traditions
  committed to their survival
• traditional culture is forward thinking, to
  assure long-term survival
• connected to a living earth and a spiritual
  universe

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Attributes

• respectful regard of aged
• self-sufficient
• Decisions based on consensus
• Collective thinking

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Preparedness Concepts

• International diplomacy
• Recognition of sovereignty and autonomy
• Distinct cultural values and traditions drive
  decisions of authorities

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Preparedness Concepts

• Deference to privacy essential
• Not media-friendly
• Terms of County-Nation planning relationship are
  determined by the Tuscarora Nation authorities

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Preparedness Concepts

• All collaboration under strict purview of the
  council
• Prepare for scrutiny
• Patience is essential-Approval process may take
  years
• Timelines not relevant

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Memoranda of Understanding Between the Niagara
County Department of Health and the Tuscarora
Sovereign Nation

• RECOGNITION AND PRESERVATION OF SOVEREIGN
  IMMUNITY
• The NCDOH agrees nothing herein is
  intended as a waiver of the Tuscarora Nations
  sovereign immunity or any other aspect of the
  Nations sovereignty, or jurisdiction over its
  territory or its citizens. The Niagara County
  Department of Health acknowledges that Tuscarora
  sovereignty ensures the future of the Nation and
  the preservation of its culture

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable

• Barriers to planning identified by Tribal
  participants
• Communications
• Funding

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable

• Consensus
• Core emergency preparedness and response
  planning should occur at the local level with
  open communication/collaboration with state
  regional and central offices
• Planning communications should bear consistent
  messages and dialogue, objectives and goals.

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable Action Steps

• Form Western NY PH Alliance Tribal planning
  sub-committee with Allegany, Cattaraugus,
  Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara Counties
  Seneca, Tonawanda, Tuscarora Indian Nations
  NYSDOH Western Regional representatives

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable Action Steps

• Local Health Departments will work to facilitate
  cooperation between County Offices of Emergency
  Management and Tribal Nation planners
• LHU will facilitate the exchange of CEMP, PHERP
  and Tribal Nation Emergency Preparedness plans
  and or plan components, regardless of stage of
  development.

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable Action Steps

• Incorporate Tribal Nation Representatives into
  County Local Emergency Planning Committees
  (LEPCs)
• Develop Tribal LEPCs within each Indian Nation-
  tribal health, responders, tribal planners and
  stakeholders

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable Action Steps

• Research creative funding sources to build up
  tribal emergency preparedness infrastructure,
  capacity and surge capacity
• Follow-up with NYS to establish whether funding
  can be allocated for creation of a PT/FT
  dedicated Tribal Emergency Preparedness
  Coordinator

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable Action Steps

• Include/incorporate Tribal Nations into all local
  and regional training and drills and related
  opportunities
• Link tribal health centers with Regional Resource
  Center and Hospital training opportunities

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July 2005 County/Tribal Preparedness Meeting
Roundtable Action Steps

• Include/incorporate Tribal Nations into all local
  and regional training and drills and related
  opportunities
• Link tribal health centers with Regional Resource
  Center and Hospital training opportunities

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Preparedness Progress Report2002-2006

• 2002- 2006 Ongoing collaboration
• Tuscarora representatives attended
  multidisciplinary HEART meeting to discuss
  preparedness issues and concerns from their
  perspective
• Nation contacts added to meeting/ notification
  list and invited to meetings, exercises

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Progress Report

• Meetings with tribal council
• discussed public health communications/HIN
  presentation and wireless redundant internet
  technology
• Permission granted by council to conduct Avian
  Influenza Pod exercise (suspended d/t vaccine
  shortage)
• CDC/NYSDOH/NCDOH discussion POD MOU,
  communications

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Preparedness Progress Report

• Chiefs assigned Emergency Preparedness Director
  role
• Engaged in NCDOH and NYSDOH PH Preparedness
  exercises
• Tuscarora initiated development of Tuscarora
  Emergency Response Plan

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Preparedness Progress Report

• Established POD sites
• IQ
• CDEX Design Team Member
• Organizational chart completed
• Inter-jurisdictional protocols and coordination
  of authorities for infectious disease planning
  discussed

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Preparedness Progress Report

• Tuscarora Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
  working with NYSDOH representatives and NCEMO to
  plan for emergency communications technology and
  infrastructure enhancement for
• Interoperability
• Redundant capabilities

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Preparedness Progress Report

• Tuscarora Emergency Preparedness representative
  active in
• HEART Meetings
• LEPC
• WNYPHA
• Homeland Security Partnership
• County HazMat
• CDEX

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Preparedness Progress Report

• Tuscarora Preparedness Representative
• NIMS IS-700 - 800
• ICS 100-400
• Participation in County, Regional, State,
  National, International Preparedness Trainings
• 2006 DOH/Tribal Preparedness Conference

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GOAL

• Achieve optimal environment for
  inter-governmental synchrony and coordination for
  rapid identification, response, control and
  recovery during an emergency

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Objectives

• Obtain final signature on POD MOU by August 30th
• Establish HPN coordinator and commerce accounts
  by 08/2006
• Populate Communications Directory by 09/2006

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Objectives

• Establish communications interoperability
• By August 30, 2006
• Complete Infectious disease annex by July 13th
• Review, approve and integrate organizational
  chart into plan by May 31st

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Objectives

• Complete and integrate IQ plan by July 13th
• Establish inter-jurisdictional infectious disease
  response algorithm by July 13th

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Appreciation

• I would like to express my appreciation to
  Matthew Patterson and the Tuscarora Nation for
  their time and dedication devoted to Niagara
  County in support of public health preparedness

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Thank You

• Questions?