TEB Reports Progress On Vaccine Distribution
The Tribal Executive Board was thanked in this week’s meeting for its participation in the 2020 Census, with special thanks to Councilman Alex Smith and Lance Fourstar with Western Native Voice. The Board heard from BIA Superintendent Anna Eder and IHS Director Dennis Smith during the Chairman’s Report. Debate was heated during the report and during the committee motions.
Eder reported that the wildland fire management position had selected a candidate for whom the BIA is awaiting confirmation. She also reported that the agency took in four additional children in the month of February. Frank Gourneau told the superintendent about a family who had been trying to see their child. He alleged that they hadn’t seen their kid in eighteen months nor did they have a hearing for visitation even though they met the requirements set by the Spotted Bull Recovery and Resource Center. Eder didn’t have a clear answer for the councilman, stating that such hearings take place every ninety days.
Fourbear told the board that IHS was making progress in administrating doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Two more clinics will take place on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 25-26, with Thursday’s clinic taking place in Poplar’s Cultural Center and Friday’s at the Wolf Point Community Center. Both clinics are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Councilwoman Kaci Wallette made the point that the time frame doesn’t work well for teachers who need to be in class. Councilwoman Patt Runs Through suggested to Fourbear that a clinic be held on Saturday for those who can’t make Thursdays and Fridays. Councilman Terry Rattling Thunder was concerned that although people are being vaccinated in Wolf Point and Poplar, they shouldn’t forget other communities like Brockton or Fort Kipp. Fourbear assured the board that there are plans in place for these other communities, but IHS is too short on staff to implement the plans just yet.
Councilwoman Carolyn Brugh told Fourbear that a family had been trying to get their girl into IHS for COVID testing, but neither clinic in Wolf Point and Poplar would administer the test. Instead, the family went to Listrude’s Clinic, where the test was administered.
“They called, but they got the run around” Brugh said, “The girl now has to go to Listrude’s where they’ll have to spend money out of pocket. [...] Both clinics were neither compassionate nor helpful.” Fourbear said that he told the managers at both clinics to test patients who show symptoms. Councilman Leonard Crowbelt spoke up then about his experience with IHS: “Either they don’t answer or they put you on hold”, he told Fourbear, “To me, that’s a problem.” The director then suggested that a 24hour COVID hotline be implemented. He then thanked the council for bringing these issues to him and ended his report.
The Finance Committee got a yes vote on their motion to approve a star quilt and a gift of $500 to Carol Bemer for her retirement from the Fort Peck Tribes Community Service Program.
Discussions got heated after Councilman Dana Buckles brought forth a motion to approve a onetime contract in the amount of $5,000 to the Lice Angels of Wolf Point, utilizing the Fort Peck Tribes third party billing service. Gourneau, Chairman Floyd Azure and Councilwoman Kaci Wallette chimed in regarding the third party service.
Gourneau argued that each tribal program should be receiving money directly from the Tribes. Azure told the board that if it wanted these direct payments, they should’ve created a centralized billing service. Brugh then reminded the Chairman that she had attempted centralization in the previous board term, but the directors of each tribal program protested against the act. The motion passed.
