HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-07-2021 Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation CommissionAd Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (REVISED) Agenda
Thursday, October 7, 2021 7PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Iowa City City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
In order to encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to
participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meeting is in -person, and those wishing to ensure
their ability to participate should attend the meeting in -person. If you instead wish to participate
remotely, you may attempt to do so by joining the below link. Please note that the meeting link and ID
for the first Thursday of each month is different than the link and ID for the third Thursday of each
month.
First Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cMlaaV6cTxGwOlWu2-hFHg
I D: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN IcllgllPSRglu0xPIL-lEw
ID: 895 3695 0485
If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone
by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID when prompted.
Meeting Agenda:
1. CALLTOORDER
2. ROLLCALL
3. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & DISCUSSION
4. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
5. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (COMMENTATORS SHALL ADDRESS THE TRC
FOR NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE
PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS).
6. COMMUNITY COMMENT ON THE TRC'S CHARGES INCLUDING FACT-FINDING AND TRUTH -
TELLING
7. CONSIDER A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL
A. CLARIFY THE INTENT, PURPOSE, AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE TRC
B. EXTEND THE TIMELINE FOR THE TRC TO FULFILL ITS CHARGE
8. BEGIN A CONVERSATION ON HOW TO HEAL THE DIVIDE WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY
9. UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE FUND EXCLUDED WORKERS COALITION
10. Conversation with ThinkPeace (Eduardo Gonzalez, Antti Pentikainen, and David
Ragland)
11. ANNOUCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUCEMENTS).
12. ADJOURNMENT
If you will need a disability -related accommodation to participate in this meeting please contact
the Equity Director, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org. Early
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your accessibility needs.
I r i
CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(319) 356-5000
(319) 356-5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
OCTOBER 7, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #3
• LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AGENDA ITEM #4
• DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
HANDOUTS
• FUND EXCLUDED WORKERS SURVEY LINK
Native American land Acknowledgement
Prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human
Rights Commission
PURPOSE
Iowa City owes its existence to the many Indigenous Peoples who were the original stewards of this land
and who were subjected to manipulation and violence by non-native settlers, invaders, and governments
in order to make this moment possible. Acknowledgement of this truth is central to our work toward
reconciliation across all barriers of difference and injustice. Starting with a Native American Land
Acknowledgement, this Commission will bear witness to the legacies of violent displacement, migration,
and settlement that have marginalized those who were the first inhabitants of this land. We must also
address the mistreatment and exclusion that Native Americans continue to face today. The Ad Hoc Truth
and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights Commission encourage the community and City of
Iowa City to join us in these efforts through the use of a Native American Land Acknowledgement.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To be read at all public meetings and events:
"We meet today in the community of Iowa City, which now occupies the homelands of
Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of
Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk, and because
history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the
ancient connections of many other Indigenous Peoples here. The history of broken
treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands
was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we can not erase. We implore the
Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we
work toward equity, restoration, and reparations."
LEARN MORE
Native Governance Center Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
US Department of Arts and Culture: Honor Native Land Virtual Resources and Guide
Meskwaki Nation - History
Special thanks to the University of Iowa Native American Council for their work and guidance, as well as
members of the public, for their input.
September 30, 2021
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall
City Hall
Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Daphney Daniel (via Zoom), Chastity Dillard, Wangui Gathua, Eric
Harris, Clifton Johnson, Sikowiss (Christine Nobiss via Zoom) Kevin Rivera, Mohamed Traore (via Zoom),
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Redmond Jones, Geoff Fruin.
Others present who spoke: Annie Tucker, Ninoska Campos.
Recommendations to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 7:03
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Ali read the Land Acknowledgement
Vote to approve the meeting minutes from September 2, 2021 and September 16, 2021: Motion by Ali,
seconded by Rivera. Motion passes 8-0. (Nobiss not present for the vote).
Consider a Motion to hold meetings the 1`t and 3rd Thursday of each month: Motion by Ali, seconded by
Johnson. Motion passes 9-0.
Discussion on City Council Vote on facilitator agreement and next steps: The discussion started on
whether to ask the Council for clarification on the timeline prior to considering next steps for a facilitator.
It then moved to a conversation on the TRC having the right to select the facilitator of their choice and one
that has expertise in working with Truth and Reconciliation Commissions. Even though the facilitator was
not local you don't have to live in Iowa City for 30 years to get or understand the community.
The current TRC must continue to exist because of people in the community who are not able to speak out
and the TRC should exist indefinitely.
If the TRC wishes to do a community survey the cost to operate the survey can be funded through the
Human Rights Office's budget. This survey can then be online and also brought to area organizations. The
survey can be used as part of the fact-finding process that may assist in creating a framework to move
forward on.
The conversation also involved what could be done to heal the divide with the older African American
community and the members of the TRC.
At the next TRC meeting the TRC will consider a motion to request an extension of time from the Council
for their existence.
The TRC would like for someone to give a presentation on strategic planning possibly as soon as the next
meeting.
Community Comment on the TRC's charges including fact-finding and truth -telling: Ninoska Campos
relayed that the Excluded Workers Fund supports the TRC. Campos reports it has been hard to work here
in Iowa City and that it is amazing that people are making it through this second waive of Covid. Her and
other Excluded Workers are asking for economic relief and hazard pay.
This meeting can be viewed at https://citychannel4.com/cqi-bin/vdb/vtp.pl?id=F21764
Community Circles are a way to help people deal with trauma. More people could be trained on using
circles to heal trauma. Annie Tucker said that she is currently working on ways that more community
members can be trained on circles.
Announcements of Commissioners: Rivera thanked the persons on Zoom who believe in the work of the
TRC. Dillard encourages commissioners and attendees to bring friends and families to the meetings so the
TRC can hear from them. Harris thanked the City Manager and City Council members for attending this
evening's meeting. Daniel mentioned an upcoming expungement clinic that is being sponsored by the City
of Iowa City and Iowa Legal Aid on Thursday, October 7 from 4-7 PM. Nobiss provided the history of
Orange Shirt Day. A day of remembrance to commemorate the genocide of over 1,000 Indigenous children
in unmarked graves. Gathua thanked the public for their support, mentioned a Kenya delegation that is
visiting Iowa City and being hosted by the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, and noted that
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.
Adjourn: 8:53 PM
This meeting can be viewed at https://citychannel4.com/cai-bin/vdb/vtp.pl?id=F21764
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From:
Annel Ali
To:
Stefanie Bowers
Subject:
Congregation Survey on Covid-19 and Pandemic Relief
Date:
Friday, October 1, 2021 12:22:04 PM
Attachments:
9:1129
10,
Stefanie,
This is the excluded workers fund survey that's in english and Spanish. Please include this in
the handouts for Thursday's meeting.
Thank you!
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