NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
NW TTAP Advisory Board Minutes
March 18, 2015
Time: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: 2015 TTAP/BIA Symposium
Embassy Suites-Airport Portland, OR
Rowena Yeahquo introduced herself and welcomed everyone to the meeting
Roll Call:
Present: Danny Capri, Kurt Fredenberg, Dan Lozar, Megan Nicodemus, Michele Siedenburg,
Kirk Vinish, Rowena Yeahquo, Byron Bluehorse, Todd Macalady, Amy Changchien, Kristy
McGuill, Herb Fricke, Kim Stube (Cowlitz Tribe) (absent: Rick Galloway, Todd Tripp)
Rowena Yeahquo: Introduced guest Amy Changchien, Director of Programs Region 10 and
Kristy McGuill, Tribal Liaison from FTA. Welcomed them to the NW TTAP Advisory Board.
Inviting FTA to be on board was one of the Action Items on the minutes from last advisory
board meeting.
Rowena Yeahquo: Asked if in the past, does the board vote to approve the minutes?
Herb Fricke: It has been our practice to vote to approve minutes.
Rowena Yeahquo: All in favor of approving the minutes?
Kirk Vinish: Let’s give everyone a chance to review the minutes.
Kurt Fredenberg: Clarified that BIA would have to check with Regional Director for available
office space for NW TTAP satellite office, but will assist in meeting with the tribes.
Danny Capri: Also stated FHWA would have to check formally if there was space to loan to
TTAP.
Rowena Yeahquo: I spoke with Fawn Thompson and she said FHWA has office space
available.
1
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Fawn Thompson: FHWA has office on West side for a meeting but TTAP would have to
check with FHWA on availability.
Fawn Thompson: Ask why handouts of cooperative agreement was given out at last
advisory meeting?
Rowena Yeahquo: It was given out to clarify the purpose of advisory board according to
FHWA cooperative agreement. There were questions about the minutes of the previous
board minutes talking about how board was setup in 2004. The discussion was for the
makeup of the board, duties, goals and the training TTAP is supposed to be covering
according to cooperative agreement.
Amy Changchien: Commented about Mary Beth’s comments on having problems getting
FTA funds through the State (Idaho).
Rowena Yeahquo: Asked Kirk if he remembered conversation and could expand.
Kirk Vinish: I think the question was if you receive a FTA grant there is supposed to be a
mechanism to transfer those funds from the state, wait its other way around State funds
going to FTA.
Amy Changchien: Yes, it’s a little complicated so the state is the delegated authority to
manage and control a portion of the FTA funding designated for those small rural areas
section 5311 rule. Tribes are eligible to apply for that funding. So if their projects are
selected they can go through state to receive funding or they can come forward to FTA and
be a direct recipient. The tribes want to deal with FTA, as a government to government
relationship, and not be managed by the state DOT. And there are pros and cons with going
directly with FTA. But there are requirements to get the direct funding, i.e. program
requirement, cost cutting requirements, civil rights, procurement. If they got the funding
through the state they would just go through the state’s process. Mostly it’s the Alaska
tribes are going directly to FTA, we have two, a village and another tribe. The word is
getting around that the tribes can go directly to the FTA.
Rowena Yeahquo: So they can get the funds directly from FTA but have to deal with
oversight and reporting whereas if they went through the state they would be sub2
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
recipients. But I still don’t see what the problem was getting the funds to the tribe. It was a
comment by Mary Beth and she couldn’t make the meeting, so we don’t have the context.
Byron Bluehorse: The reason why the tribes in Alaska are doing it is because the State of
Alaska does not recognize the tribes. It just by passes them.
Rowena Yeahquo: I don’t know any particular situation where tribe that has had difficulty
receiving funds from the state.
Kirk Vinish: It also depends on the state.
Rowena Yeahquo: Yes, it was Idaho. The tribes have an issue with Idaho DOT.
Megan Nicodemus: Mary Beth can’t get the state of Idaho to transfer funds to tribes. When
I had passed conversations with her.
Kirk Vinish: So Amy what you could do, if you wish, is contact your counterpart at Idaho DOT
and see if there is an issue there or to just improve communication, you never know.
Amy Changchien: I’ve been in discussion, Idaho DT is one of my recipients and so is the
tribes. And I have been in contact with them on what this means and how is it supposed to
work. There has been a lack of clarity. Has been questions about prior administration of
ITD, there has been a lot turn over at Idaho in last couple of years. They have reversed
course on a lot of things they’re doing. So it’s possible she may find a friendlier
environment now. I’m happy to foster a discussion with her and ITD or otherwise.
Herb Fricke: I suggest we change the wording in January minutes to reflect the discussion
was specific to Idaho Transportation Department. And problems securing funds.
Byron Bluehorse: One of the reason Alaska tribes go directly to FTA is when they consider
working with the State, the state asks for a sovereignty waiver. Maybe that is something
Idaho may be doing.
Kirk Vinish: We should reach out to Mary Beth and ask her for more information.
Amy Changchien: Absolutely, I you could give me her contact information I would be happy
to talk with her.
3
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Rowena Yeahquo: I will get that information for you.
Kirk Vinish: Where is Megan Nicodemus? She knows all about Idaho.
Megan Nicodemus: Hello, I’m right here.
Kirk Vinish: So what is the relationship there in Idaho?
Megan Nicodemus: Its hit and miss, very strained sometimes and at times really really good
at least with our tribe and the MPO and our transit. It depends on the relationship you’ve
built like any other dynamic.
Kirk Vinish: So it’s not a cross the board issue, maybe just specific to Mary Beth’s tribe.
Megan Nicodemus: I agree we need to get in touch with Mary Beth.
Rowena Yeahquo: Yes, further down in the minutes it states Mary Beth requesting a
meeting with IDT, BIA, the tribes in her district and TTAP assist with communications.
Maybe with FTA too.
Amy Changchien: Absolutely.
Rowena Yeahquo: Any other questions on minutes? Has everyone had a chance to read
them over? I will make the corrections we discussed. If everyone has no more changes.
Herb Fricke: I motion to approve with the amendments.
Megan Nicodemus: I second.
Fawn Thompson: One more thing on the minutes, it states there will be an Eisenhower
intern hired at TTAP.
Rowena Yeahquo: What is difference between FHWA intern and Eisenhower intern?
Fawn Thompson: Two separate programs, so you’re going to Eisenhower program?
Rowena Yeahquo: Dr. Winchell talked about hiring an intern and was not specific. Is there a
motion to approve the minutes?
Kirk Vinish: All in favor? (Aye’s and hands)
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NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Kirk Vinish: Any opposed? It’s unanimous.
Rowena Yeahquo: Ok next on agenda are the action items, I have lined them out. Previous
meetings suggested to have an FTA representative on board. I contacted Amy Changchien
and she accepted to be on the Advisory Board with Kristi as her alternate.
Kirk Vinish: Welcome, it’s been a long time in coming.
Rowena Yeahquo: One action we discussed was for me to visit with as many tribes as I can.
While at TTPO meeting in Tacoma I had a chance to make a site visit with the Puyallup and
the Muckleshoot tribes. Andrew Strobel and Dezerae Hayes, Transportation Planners gave
me a tour of facilities and programs. The Puyallup and Muckleshoot tribes are progressive
and their Planners are on the ball and know what they’re doing. I will continue to visit with
tribes especially the ones that have not be contacted in the past to find out how TTAP might
assist them.
Rowena Yeahquo: The next thing on agenda was about having a satellite office on the west
side and doing some workshop. One of the workshops we talked about was having an
Emergency Management type, to assist tribes. The Quinault’s are having a conference,
“Tribal Public Health Emergency Preparedness Conference: The Power of Positive
Partnerships”, June 9-10, 2015. Organize with the NW Portland Area Indian Health Board
and looking for speakers. I wanted ideas from advisory board on what TTAP can bring to
the table.
Herb Fricke: Quinault is an interesting case. With a big earthquake 9.5, the ground
subsidence would be estimated 6ft or better so that would totally the landscape. And with
tsunami on top of that, there would be a question on what would be left.
Rowena Yeahquo: The Quinault have a relocation plan but some of the smaller tribes are
struggling to know where to start. I spoke to a few of those tribes at TTPO meeting and
thought about putting together a workshop on resources and partnerships, and this
Preparedness conference came to my attention. A lot of tribes do not have an emergency
management plan or emergency managers and do not know what to do in an emergency or
recovery. A lot things need to be in place to have FEMA assistance and many tribes do not
have the capacity to pull together. I wanted to put that together to help tribes get on
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NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
board. This conference will be about working with county and state, making partnerships.
The TTAP directors, Byron and Todd, suggested bringing in FEMA liaison for this region.
Todd Macalady: FEMA has funding available for pre-disaster and recovery. And tribes can
become self-certified to declare a disaster for themselves and apply directly to FEMA.
Tribes in Alaska are planning for relocation. And some pre-disaster migration can save
money as opposed to cost trying to recover from disaster. Transportation has funding to
move or build roads for evacuation purposes. It’s an intensive process for tribes to be selfcertified but worth it in long run. Some tribes in California have been very successful in
receiving FEMA funding for road construction.
Rowena Yeahquo: Do they have emergency managers in tribes and villages in Alaska?
Todd Macalady: Some villages have emergency plans and managers some depend on local
jurisdiction. Some villages are pretty isolated. The tribes have become pretty self-sustaining
in emergency management.
Rowena Yeahquo: I suggest I contact the regional FEMA liaison and we put together an
abstract to submit for this conference by March 30.
Kurt Fredenberg: BIA has an Emergency Manager, I don’t know her name but I will give her
this information and your contact. She should definitely be going to this conference because
she responsible for the tribes in northwest region.
Rowena Yeahquo: Great, maybe I could put them together for a presentation.
Herb Fricke: I think they might be looking for a more health related aspect, like water
contamination, sanitation etc. in a disaster event.
Rowena Yeahquo: I was thinking about that myself and mentioned that to Dr. Winchell.
And he said the health board is becoming very diverse and getting in to all different kind of
areas, not just sanitation and diseases. They are calling this the Power of Positive
Partnerships and Emergency preparedness, I can just submit it and see if this is what they
want.
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NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Todd Macalady: There is a connection with health. Water lines usually run by roadside and
if want to move with road it can be part of their mitigation plan.
Rowena Yeahquo: If everyone agrees, I can submit as a TTAP training. If time permits I will
try to visit with other tribes on the peninsula coast and see what trainings and TTAP
assistance they may need.
Kim Stube: The Shoalwater Bay Tribe has an excellent emergency management program.
They have been nationally recognize and there is a video about them.
Rowena Yeahquo: They would probably be at this conference. But good information to
know. Thank you.
Dan Lozar: How does work with tribes on coast for fire management and fire control? I
know on the Flat Head we have very strong fire control group. This could be an option for
this conference or training. I didn’t know if that was an issue out here, it’s pretty dry in
Montana right now.
Kirk Vinish: In terms of preparedness, you don’t wait until fire begins to get personnel and
equipment in place. I don’t think this Indian health board is going to get into that.
Dan Lozar: Even from an air quality standpoint? I was thinking of that fire that burn
backside of Cascades that was pretty significant.
Kirk Vinish: That fire group you have at Flat Head fights fires on and off reservation. That
might be something we can put on the symposium next year. I don’t know if the Yakima
has one.
Herb Fricke: Warm Springs has their own fire control.
Megan Nicodemus: Yes, the Yakima Nation does too.
Dan Lozar: I imagine Colville probably does too.
Herb Fricke: I think they all participate interagency coordination group that’s in Boise. They
have all the data and equipment.
Kirk Vinish: Is there any road issues related to that groups activity?
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NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Dan Lozar: Absolutely, in terms of having ingress and egress roads in case of fires.
Command center will work with county and cities if needed.
Kirk Vinish: Is there a need you think to have further discussion?
Dan Lozar: I would think so, it’s definitely something to bring to the table.
Megan Nicodemus: There are cultural preservation sites to consider.
Kirk Vinish: Oh yes, we have cultural sites to protect with trees and such.
Dan Lozar: I don’t know where maybe air quality would come into play depending where
fire is and size with smoke inhalation.
Rowena Yeahquo: So your fire control has coordination with counties? They have
tabletops?
Dan Lozar: Yes, good coordination.
Amy Changchien: Any of the FTA funded transit vehicle can be used as an evacuation
vehicle to get people out.
Rowena Yeahquo: Good to know.
Kirk Vinish: How can we document that?
Amy Changchien: I will have our counsel find that clause.
Kirk Vinish: That would be good to have included in our emergency plan.
Megan Nicodemus: State of Washington transportation plan state requires their transit
programs have an emergency management in their policy and procedures.
Rowena Yeahquo: Was that brought up in the symposium transit sessions? Do the tribes
know they can use their transit for evacuation? We need to put newsletter. Maybe Amy
could write an article for our newsletter.
Kirk Vinish: We get many requests to use transit vehicles for personal events. So it would
be nice to have that stated on allowed uses for the transit vehicles.
8
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Rowena Yeahquo: I will submit something for the preparedness conference and send out to
Advisory Board.
Dan Lozar: How many reservations in NW Portland Area? Who is this group?
Kirk Vinish: In this region, 45 tribes.
Kurt Fredenberg: Whole BIA Region is 45 tribes.
Dan Lozar: I thought it was just the Portland area.
Herb Fricke: All tribes in northwest region are welcome.
Rowena Yeahquo: The next item discussed was the BIA and Washington DOT to coordinate
to get tribal roads info.
Kurt Fredenberg: BIA does not have anything on GIS yet to share with WSDOT and probably
won’t have anytime soon. They have strip maps.
Kirk Vinish: Kurt is there any limitation on adding roads on inventory for non-funding
purposes.
Kurt Fredenberg: I don’t think so, Sheldon said they’re expanding the road category to
docks, ramps, parking lots.
Kirk Vinish: After Oso slide and it got almost 100% funding for reconstruction, I’m thinking
more state, cities and counties are going to want that information.
Megan Nicodemus: We’re hoping they do, I’m spreading the word.
Kurt Fredenberg: We have no GIS software but we are short staffed. My staff is trained in
GIS and not waiting for central office. We are starting with our bridge inventory, guardrail,
signs and asset management.
Kirk Vinish: Can you scan in strip maps?
Kurt Fredenberg: The strip maps and road inventory are not coordinated with same name.
Dan Lozar: No way to query the roads with strip maps.
9
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Byron Bluehorse: Kirk what do you do with GIS?
Kirk Vinish: We GIS all roads, culverts, signs, guardrails, wetlands.
Byron Bluehorse: I’m working Garrett Couch and BIA pilot project requested volunteer
tribes for data. We would like to see what you have, just leave out cultural data.
Kirk Vinish: Our GIS department is very competent and produce impressive documents.
Byron Bluehorse: We will send request to Lummi and talk to Garrett.
Rowena Yeahquo: Next action item, was Mary Beth requested meeting with ITD, BIA and
TTAP. I contacted her and we can make arrangements after June.
Kurt Fredenberg: There is mechanism to transfer funds from state to tribes, and tribes
don’t have to waive sovereignty. It’s a 202(?) government to government agreement that
worked for tribes. I just wanted to bring it up to set as an example working with state with
this agreement.
Rowena Yeahquo: Another thing we spoke about was a peer-exchange for best practices.
We have the Tribal Planning Institute that Dr. Winchell and Margo Hill will teach. He wasn’t
sure about the 2nd week, the Tribal Transportation Planning. He would let me design the
second week. I would like to bring in an architect that does community development
unique to each tribe. But there is a conflict in scheduling. So I may bring him in at a later
date for a workshop. We could have one day for transportation, one day for peerexchange, FHWA has funding for peer-exchange. We had a board up at symposium for
successful project posting. We could post on our website and it would be useful to other
tribes.
Kurt Fredenberg: It would be good to have examples of how projects progressed through
challenges and barriers to get accomplished.
Kirk Vinish: It would benefit to hear from other regions issues, topics and success stories.
Example: low cost solutions, roundabouts, alternative signalization.
Kurt Fredenberg: I will ask other regions when I go out of state.
10
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Rowena Yeahquo: When I was at a peer-exchange in Albuquerque on Tribal Traffic Safety. I
learned from another tribe in California having the same problem of having crash data.
State may not have accurate data for reservations. This tribe in California got accident data
from the reservation EMT’s and used that to get state grant. I took that info back to EWU
and Margo Hill is gather crash data from EMTs for the tribes list on their grant. It’s very
useful to have this exchange.
Kirk Vinish: Do you think of having the peer-exchange a two-week event?
Rowena Yeahquo: No, I was thinking just one day for peer exchange and one day for
transportation. I thought we could have the architect come for one day but I don’t think we
can get him during that time. And I didn’t want to push it further into August. People are
used to June.
Megan Nicodemus: Most of our planning vendors in our hallway have done tribal planning
in the Northwest. And it’s a sensitive topic to bring in someone from outside. The vendors
are sponsoring our work.
Kirk Vinish: We have local experts are already doing that.
Rowena Yeahquo: I’m not sure I explain his method well enough. I have not seen an
approach like his.
Megan Nicodemus: Quinault had an approach for the relocation plan and they did that
whole community process.
Rowena Yeahquo: I thought Kirk’s idea of bring ideas from outside would be welcome. But I
understand what you’re saying.
Herb Fricke: Our tribe is going through a new planning process because of the new oil
drilling. Ron Hall is using the approach from Michael Giovanni, Tribal Community Planning.
Mike Marchand is good too.
Rowena Yeahquo: Mike Marchand wanted to do some planning workshop at the Colville
tribe. Maybe we could have Colville tribe sponsor our Planning Institute. They are opening a
11
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
casino/hotel for a place to stay. Will Marchand said they need to do a comprehensive plan
and this could be used for training process.
Kirk Vinish: It would be a challenge to have people come to location so far. Its three hours
from Spokane.
Rowena Yeahquo: Logistics and facility cost it would be better at EWU.
Megan Nicodemus: Ribbon cutting for road to Omak casino, should be open in May.
Kirk Vinish: We had a meeting at Omak once and everyone could fit in phone booth. There
is perception that is too far away. We want to make it easy for students and not let
distance be a barrier. Spokane airport close.
Rowena Yeahquo: It was just an idea we put together, because Will wanted this, Mike
wanted that, and we just thought they had a place for us to have it. But it was never
followed up.
Rowena Yeahquo and Michele: We can coordinate with EWU to get classroom space.
Rowena Yeahquo: If we can put an agenda together, I have no problem having it at EWU.
This would not be for EWU credit.
Rowena Yeahquo: I have heard from several that the planners want leadership to know how
transportation program works.
Kirk Vinish: A better venue would be at ATNI. And have Rowena Yeahquo and Kurt
Fredenberg do a transportation program/funding workshop. I’ll check into agenda.
Herb Fricke: A lot of people talking about climate change and impacts on transportation.
There is village almost under water now.
Kurt Fredenberg: There are conferences on climate change are around now. BIA adopts
FHWA stance. We haven’t done outreach to tribes yet. NW region does get large about of
funds for climate change because tribes along coast being affected.
Rowena Yeahquo: Did Dr. Winchell do a strategic planning at ATNI?
Kirk Vinish: No, it was here at this symposium.
12
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Rowena Yeahquo: Since Dr. Winchell couldn’t make it, Byron and Kyle is going to take the
critical issues off the board and talk about it tomorrow.
Kirk Vinish: Dick was always amazing do that session.
Rowena Yeahquo: We will be looking at assessments and evaluations to see what they liked
and need to continue. I will share with advisory board.
Dan Lozar: Question on that tribal planning institute and this conference as well, is there
any continuing Ed given out for professionals that need their CEU’s during the year?
Rowena Yeahquo: For Planning? Engineers? For APA to keep up your AICP, the APA has to
certify the class to get the CEU’s.
Kurt Fredenberg: Yeah, same thing with Engineering.
Dan Lozar: I could use a lot of these class toward my CEU’s.
Byron Bluehorse: We are offering engineering classes at our summer institute in Alaska that
may count toward CEU’s.
Fawn Thompson: Cost are associated to getting classes certified. NTTC has United Tribes
Technical college offers CEU’s or PEC’s.
Rowena Yeahquo: Ok we will look into it as for APA approval CEU’s.
Rowena Yeahquo: Ok now we will discuss our advisory board retreat in October. We would
be putting together the TTAP Strategic Plan and the Advisory Board’s guidelines. The only
guidelines we have are from 2004. So we need to update those guidelines.
Michele Siendenburg: I check with Montana $100/day GSA rates, Couer de Alene $100/day
GSA rate, Northern Quest $200/day GSA, and all would give us per diem rate for guest
rooms. Salish Lodge have not return call. Food extra charge.
Kirk Vinish: Which is closest?
Michele Siendenburg: Quest is closest but cost more. But Salish Kootenai offered to pick up
people at airport and possible BBQ. And maybe visit the bison range.
13
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Megan Nicodemus: My recommendation is Montana
Rowena Yeahquo: This could be scouting trip for our next symposium.
Kirk Vinish: I think we would get better attendance for the symposium at Couer de Alene.
Rowena Yeahquo: It is a smaller venue but we could scale down the tracks.
Michele Siendenburg: We could wait to hear back from Salish Lodge then vote on location.
Everyone agreed.
Kirk Vinish: We haven’t had the symposium in Montana since 2006, something to think
about.
Rowena Yeahquo: I have handouts on guidelines on things we need to be looking at. One is
maybe having two tribal representative from each state and replacing Todd Tripp. Lonny
Macy for Oregon and Al Pinkton from Yakima and Kenton Dicks.
Kirk Vinish: We should send out email to all tribes equally and invite them to be on the
board.
All agreed.
Fawn Thompson: I had the opportunity to look at the structure in the advisory board
handbook and has not been updated since 2004. I’m glad you are addressing this at sooner
than later. I want to thank all of you for working with the TTAP. The TTAP program is not
like LTAP. TTAP is under cooperative agreement for federal highways. I am the one that
monitors the cooperative agreement and make sure everything done in certain way. We are
trying to bring consistency to all seven TTAP. There were personnel issues and challenges. I
see these last two rounds as a positive change for the program. I’m looking forward to
working with all you in the future and now since Rowena has joined us. You can contact me
or Jeff Zaharewicz , LTAP/TTAP Program manager. We will be at these meetings, we have
commitments from FLH, FHWA Division office and BIA working with us in supporting tribes
in the region.
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NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Kirk Vinish: Do you have specific feedback on the handbook right now? Like a strike out and
replace that kind of thing.
Fawn Thompson: I tried not to go there because I was told it was going to be updated.
Rowena Yeahquo: Yes, it’s going to be updated.
Fawn Thompson: I had a lot of comments, Jeff and I.
Kirk Vinish: I think it would be helpful to know. I’m sincere.
Fawn Thompson: Ok, I’m serious. I have no problem sharing it. I will provide it to Rowena
and Michele and to you so that you can speak for us when we’re not here.
Kirk Vinish: The tribes worked hard to get the TTAP program and we love our TTAP too and
want it to be successful.
Fawn Thompson: There were seven different TTAP and seven different ways of doing
things. Some of the BIA and FHWA divisions weren’t partnering like they should. FLH never
saw some TTAP’s.
Kirk Vinish: Is there another TTAP handbook we can look at? Can you get us one?
Fawn Thompson: I’ll let the TTAP’s do that, I’m not going to provide that information.
Rowena Yeahquo: I can get that information. And have that at our retreat.
Kirk Vinish: Is there anything particularly glaring that you can share now.
Herb Fricke: It was everything you wrote.
Kirk Vinish: As I recall we didn’t actually write any of it, the board.
Fawn Thompson: I was speaking to Byron, and Todd who never had Advisory Board, about
the role of advisory board and remind them that the Advisory Board just advises, they don’t
direct the work or manage the TTAP.
Kirk Vinish: It’s not advice if you can’t say no. That’s what the county engineer always tells
me. I’m on citizen advisory committee’s and he says thanks for the advice, we’re not going
to do that.
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NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Fawn Thompson: I understand that since because it was done before and things were
changed in 2006 re-compete way back then. So going into the next they didn’t have those
challenges. I’m really excited to see about how things are done with the new cooperative
agreement. And across the program completely, we had new directors. But overall the goal
is the same, to increase the knowledge base of Indian Country and tribal transportation.
Rowena Yeahquo: Ok, great.
Fawn Thompson: I just wanted to put that out there so you won’t so you wouldn’t seem like
you’re the bad guy. Any questions about the bad stuff, call me, talk to me, I’ll take it.
Rowena Yeahquo: So that’s why I put together this little handout on the guidelines until we
get together at retreat and how we want to frame it. And we’ll have info from Fawn of what
not to put in the guidelines. We did talk about sending out email to all Oregon tribe for the
extra representative. Did you want me to put that out to the all the Washington, Idaho and
Montana?
Dan Lozar: I don’t think we need another one for Montana.
Rowena Yeahquo: Dez Hayes volunteer to be on board. I mentioned Alvin Pinkton and
Kenton Dicks would be good to have on board. We can put out the emails to all the tribes
and if no one comes forward we can ask these people to be on board. On back of guideline
sheet it shows the make of board now. Mary Beth represents Idaho tribe and ITA.
Kim Stube: She doesn’t represent ITA. No NW tribes are part of ITA anymore.
Rowena Yeahquo: Even with new elected officials.
Kirk Vinish: ITA does not represent NW tribes.
Fawn Thompson: One of the old cooperative agreement had ITA as one of the organizations
TTAP to work with. But now the agreements just say the TTAP’s will work with inter- tribal
organizations without specifying any one particular.
Kirk Vinish: That’s absolutely right, sure.
16
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Rowena Yeahquo: Ok, so no ITA. We have one rep from Montana, Dan Lozar. One rep from
Washington and ATNI Kirk Vinish, one rep from Oregon Todd Tripp who resigned, Megan
Nicodemus for the DOT State of Washington, Dan Capri FHWA, Kurt Fredenberg BIA and
Rick Galloway has not made it to last Advisory meeting and he is right there in Spokane. I
sent Rick and Todd and email to have an alternative for the board meetings if they can’t
make it. Todd was the only one responded and he resigned. We’ll continue to invite Rick
and see if wants to continue on the board. He was the rep for the TTPC, Transportation
Program Coordinating committee.
Kirk Vinish: We should have Mike Cardwell, he is the TTPOC alternate for this region. He’s
more inclined to go. We are frustrated with Galloway for not sharing TTPC information.
Rowena Yeahquo: From tribal business we have Herb Fricke and Dick Winchell is EWU
grantee.
Dan Lozar: What about adding a university student rep to this board.
Rowena Yeahquo: Eastern?
Dan Lozar: or U Washington
Fawn Thompson: or a tribal college
Rowena Yeahquo: How could they make it to the meetings? They don’t have the financial
support of tribe.
Fawn Thompson: They wouldn’t have meet with us face to face.
Rowena Yeahquo: I thought that would be the point to have them present.
Kirk Vinish: We could specify it should me an Eisenhower.
Herb Fricke: We can get an AISES student. There is engineering students in Portland State.
Rowena Yeahquo: We could have regional student reps depending on where we have our
meetings. Could actually be present at our meetings.
Fawn Thompson: That is a resume builder, seriously.
17
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Kirk Vinish: And they could meet Fawn.
Fawn Thompson: And they could come to your conferences and present their research.
Rowena Yeahquo: Get students from everywhere.
Rowena Yeahquo: When we get more Oregon and Idaho reps on board we can start having
our meetings in Oregon and Idaho. Mary Beth can host us.
Rowena: Amy will there be a problem with you coming to these meetings?
Amy Changchien: We got to come today because we made a presentation. I will have clear
with our division about attending these meetings. I’m not sure about the retreat.
Rowena Yeahquo: We only meet face to face twice a year and the rest conference calls.
Fawn Thompson: If you cannot have two face to face meetings, you need to notify us in
advance.
Kirk Vinish: We could meet at FLH and one out somewhere.
Rowena Yeahquo: Our meeting in Jan was the second meeting for last year. This meeting is
our first meeting for this year.
Fawn Thompson: To FTA, I know this is new to your department so if they have any
questions have them give me a call.
Rowena Yeahquo: Next on agenda is next year’s symposium. The symposium committee
was a lot of help and would like them to help find sponsors next year.
Herb Fricke: The tribal casino’s really assist when we have our conference there.
Fawn Thompson: FHWA has a problem with staying at anything casino. I will fight to get
conference at tribal own casino.
Rowena Yeahquo: We can get a better deal at a tribal casino.
Danny Capri: We are working on getting that approved.
Amy Changchien: Not sure about FTA, but probably fall under DOT regulations.
18
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Rowena Yeahquo: How far in advance do you want to decide where to have conference?
Michele Siendenburg: A year or more is what they need. Some locations book two years in
advance. I will give them our needs and they send bids.
Kirk Vinish: Send out request to all known locations.
Michele Siendenburg: We moved to March instead of April because of APA conference.
Rowena Yeahquo: So you like March and will keep it around 2nd or 3rd week in March.
Kirk Vinish: We need to have it on east side next year. So check with all east side tribes.
Rowena Yeahquo: Michele will send out info and get the bids then will send out the info to
all on board.
Rowena Yeahquo: Any other closing comments.
Dan Lozar: Who are the officers right now?
Rowena Yeahquo: The only information I know is Kirk Vinish is the chair. Where there other
officers? But like I said we will discuss this at the retreat whether we will have new officers
or officers at all.
Michele Siendenburg: We had a secretary, someone to take notes.
Rowena Yeahquo: I recorded it this time. We’ll see how this works and see if we need
someone to take notes as well.
Dan Lozar: Can this board write letter of support for tribes on the TTPSF funding coming
out?
Rowena Yeahquo: I don’t think TTAP can do that.
Fawn Thompson: No, it would be a conflict.
Kirk Vinish: ATNI can write a letter for you.
Rowena Yeahquo: Any other comments? Anyone move to adjourn?
Kirk Vinish: I move to adjourn.
19
NORTHWEST TRIBAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
668 N. Riverpoint Blvd, Rm 382
Spokane, Wa 99202
phone 509-828-1410
ryeahquo@ewu.edu
Dan Lozar: I second.
Rowena Yeahquo: Thank you everyone for coming.
END OF MEETING
20