Tribal Council approves school violence prevention grant application

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals editor

Tribal Council approved an application for a U.S. Department of Justice School Violence Prevention Program grant at its Wednesday, June 11, meeting.

“We are hoping to secure up to $500,000 over three years to fund the 0.6 of an existing (position) that is currently grant funded,” Tribal Grants Program Manager Wendy Sparks said during a Tuesday, June 3, Legislative Action Committee meeting.

If approved, the federal grant would be a joint venture between the Tribal Police Department and the Tribal Emergency Services Department. In addition to helping fund the current fulltime position, funds would also be used for trainings, supplies and security system upgrades.

In other action, Tribal Council:

• Approved amendments to implement provisions of the CARES Act of 2020 which affect the Tribe’s retirement plan;
• Approved a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Safe Streets and Roads for All for up to $1 million;
• Approved a grant application to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Tribal Wildlife Grant Program for up to $200,000;
• Approved reappointing Angela Sears and Mia Prickett to the Editorial Board with terms ending March 31, 2028;
• Approved a lease agreement amendment for the Tribe’s homeownership development Tipsu-ili’i;
• Approved final adoption of amendments to the Public Safety Ordinance that will place a mandatory reporting requirement on Tribal employees to report instances of Elder and vulnerable adult abuse, create a system for the Tribal Court to issue emergency protective orders over Elders and vulnerable adults who are experiencing abuse and place civil penalties on those who commit or fail to report abuse against Elders or vulnerable adults;
• Approved an application to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for Community Policing Microgrants for up to $175,000;
• Approved a grant application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Management Agency for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response for up to $600,000;
• Approved a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services for enhancing law enforcement accreditation entities for up to $300,000;
• And approved the enrollment of six infants and an emergency enrollment of two non-infant minors into the Tribe because they meet the requirements under the Tribal Constitution and Enrollment Ordinance.

To watch the entire meeting, visit the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and click on the Videos tab.