HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-2022 Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation CommissionAd Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda
Thursday, April 7, 2022, 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 cMlaaV6cTxGwO1Wu2-hFHg
I D: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN ICII811PSRo1U0XPIL-1Ew
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. ROLL CALL
3. READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
4. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 17, 2022
5. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS)
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7. UPDATES AND DISCUSSION ON THE FACILITATOR PROPOSAL
8. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUNCEMENTS)
9. 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@jowa-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
APRIL 7, 2022, MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #3
• TRC AND HRC LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AGENDA ITEM #4
• DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 17, 2022
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.
March 17, 2022
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Kevo Rivera, Wangui Gathua, Clifton Johnson, Eric Harris,
Chastity Dillard (via Zoom), Daphney Daniel (via Zoom), Mohamed Traore (via Zoom).
Commissioners not present: Sikowis (Christine Nobiss).
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendations to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 7:05.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Rivera read the Land Acknowledgement
Approval of Minutes from the March 3, 2022: Ali moved, and Johnson seconded. Motion passed
6-0. (Daniel, Dillard not present for vote).
Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: None.
Approval of TRC Logo: The TRC needed a logo created by them for them. The logo design
inspiration comes from African flag colors but also has colors that are representative of Latin
countries. Without comments or opinions from the other non -Black member of the TRC the
Commission should wait to make a decision on using this logo. Also, the Commission should
consider the inputs from other marginalized groups.
The logo should not reflect on any particular background or continent. Flags can bring a lot of
feelings including those of empire, colonization, etc.
Commissioners are to get comments and/or suggestion on the logo redesign to Ali by March 25
so that Ali can work on some drafts.
Discussion on Facilitator Proposal: The Commission will not be voting today on the proposal
because the budget is still a work in progress. The TRC had a budget approved for a facilitator by
City Council and so now what they need is to get local input. Commissioners are not sure the
community knows the TRC is doing truth -seeking and reconciliation. How can the TRC make sure
they have that focus. The budget should emphasize the local aspect.
Some Commission members and members of the public will need the costs associated with
childcare covered and/or reimbursed. It is suggested that stipends and/or costs like childcare be
considered as part of the TRC budget but not a line item in the facilitator budget.
The facilitator budget should reflect being committed to paying Indigenous Persons for the
Circles. It should be a solid process for how they will be compensated.
Commission Announcements: Daniel noted that there appears to be some mistreatment of
persons of color in Ukraine. Perhaps Ukraine can consider establishing a Truth and Reconciliation
Commission after the war is over. Ali will be presenting on "Queer Space" at the 2022 United
Action for Youth Pride Con event. Ali will be presenting for 7S minutes on Saturday, April 2 at
Elizabeth Tate High School. Ali and Rivera will be participating in a Transitional Justice Course
sponsored by The Truth Telling Project and Think Peace Learning & Support Hub. Harris updated
on the Excluded Workers and Ali added that the application to apply is currently up on the
Johnson County website.
Adjourn: 8:28 PM
City meetings are recorded and can be viewed in their entirety by visiting this link.
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The following documents were handed
out during the meeting.
Stefanie Bowers
From: Annie Tucker <annie.h.tucker@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 7, 2022 2:49 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Subject: would you please email this to the TRC members? Thanks
Attachments: We sent you safe versions of your files; TRC letter re developing ongoing T&R capacity
in IC 4-7-2022.docx
A
Mimecast Attachment Protection has deemed this file to be safe, but always exercise caution when opening files.
Hi Stefanie,
I have been meaning to send this to the TRC members.
Thanks in advance for forwarding it.
Annie
Training local IC people to continue the work of the TRC after the initial Truth and
Reconciliation Process has been completed
The purposes of a community holding a Truth and Reconciliation process are multiple
and include, at least:
1. Giving individuals an opportunity to tell their truths
2. Giving the community a chance to hear their truths
3. Giving the community, through the commission, a chance to analyze the patterns
and situations and to propose changes
4. Giving the community a chance to implement those changes
5. Providing continuing opportunities for individuals to tell their truths, and this cycle
to continue, permanently.
For this to cycle to happen and continue, and for truth -telling to become an integral part
of a community, the community must gain the capacity to understand, plan and provide
these processes.
We do not already have those specific skills here in Iowa City. That may be the reason
that experienced local facilitators, trainers and leaders have not applied to provide the
Truth and Reconciliation process here in Iowa City.
Fortunately, there are people who have these valuable skills and experience. Kearns
and West and THINKPEACE, with Eduardo Gonzales and his team, are among them. It
makes sense that if the TRC hires them as facilitators, that the TRC could also hire
them to teach and mentor community members while they provide their facilitation of the
Truth and Reconciliation process. These community members could include TRC
members. Members of this Capacity Team (please create a name) can learn how the
process works, and be present/involved in the planning sessions, truth -telling sessions
and in the debrief/analysis/strateg!zing/ and reporting sessions.
I will use (Capacity Team) to identify this group here, as an indication that it is a
temporary name.
The goal is to develop an increased capacity in the community for providing ongoing
Truth and Reconciliation processes. Part of the agreement for (Capacity Team)
participants would be that they would work collaboratively to continue to provide T and
R processes in the community after the initial process has been completed.
People on the (Capacity Team) can be paid an hourly wage for their time spent in
training, meetings, hands-on work and process support during the initial T & R process
guided by K&W and TP.
I drafted the following for K&W and TP to see after the last meeting. There has been no
formal discussion of it. I offer it to the TRC members for them to discuss,
• The expenses related to a (Capacity Team) would be a separate expense. It is
not in the KW/TP budget
• There could be 15-20 CT members who commit to being trained, providing tasks
in this stage of T&R and to providing ongoing T&R process in Iowa City
• CT members could get $50 an hour. (actual amount be decided by the TRC)
• TRC members can choose to be part of the (Capacity Team)
• CT members would be at design meetings as well as the training for the
Conversation Corps, public meetings, fact finding, interviews, etc. Possibly 60
hours. (60 hrs @ $50 X 20 people = $60,000)
• The TRC would/could let community members from our various Iowa City
communities know about this opportunity and select the participants.
More details on possible activities:
The following categories of possible activities are taken from the KW/TP budget. The
(Capacity Team) budget would be separate from the KW/TP budget.
This list provides an idea of the types of activities that are planned in the TRC process
and that the (Capacity Team) members could/would participate in. It is included here to
give TRC members an idea of the planned activities of the TR Process, as listed in the
KW/TP budget.
Eduardo's process involves a local "Conversation Corps". My understanding is it is
comprised of local volunteers he trains to help with the processes. (Capacity Team)
members might be involved in this training and these activities. That could be discussed
with Eduardo.
Task 1 Convening and Understanding
1 a Kickoff — 2
1 b Project management and Team coordination 8
1 d Facilitator Strategic Plan - 4
Task 2 Design of fact finding
2a Conduct interviews with community organizations 2
b. In person or door to door fact finding
g Design of TRC outreach approach — 8
2b Conversation corps training ??
3 Fact-finding and Truth -telling Public Process ??
3b Conversation Corps training 12 hrs?
3c fact-finding meetings ??
3d large in -person events ??
3d Circle events 12-15 hours