Native American Commission

Name Native American Commission
Contact Person Chandler Vidrine, MPA - Executive Director, Governor's Office of Indian Affairs
Mailing Address P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9004
Phone Number 225-342-6160
Fax Number 225-208-1603
Board Email chandler.vidrine@la.gov
Website gov.louisiana.gov/page/indian-affairs
Legal Authority Act 102 of 2018
Year Created 2018
Organizational Placement Office of the Governor, Office of Indian Affairs
Purpose/Function The Commission shall assume all powers delegated to it by Act No. 102 of the 2018 Regular Legislative Session “Creating the Native American Commission within the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs,” R.S. 46:2305 and not otherwise forbidden by the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, including but not limited to the following: (1) To conduct meetings and elect/appoint officials to operate in its behalf; (2) To adopt bylaws, rules, and procedures for its operation; (3) Advise the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs regarding issues pertaining to Native Americans; (4) Identify the needs and concerns of the Native Americans in Louisiana and bring such needs and concerns to the attention of the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs; (5) Make recommendations to the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs to address the needs and concerns of Native Americans in Louisiana; (6) Establish criteria for state tribe recognition and recommend criteria to the Governor’s
Number of Entity Members: Number Authorized: 18
Number Currently Serving: 14
Number of Entity Meetings: Actual number in prior year: 0
Estimated number in current year: 4
The Entity is:
Active   Inactive   Not fully organized   Disbanded   Never fully organized
Do members receive per diem, salaries, and/or travel expense reimbursements?
Yes   No
Excluding member per diem, salaries, and travel expense reimbursements, does the entity receive or expend funds?
Yes   No
Entity Member Per Diem:
  Amount Authorized: $0      per meeting   per meeting day   per day spent on board business   None

Total entity member per diem:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Entity Member Salaries:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Entity Member Travel Expense Reimbursement:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Number and Type of Authorized Employee Positions:
Classified: 0
Unclassified: 1
Part-time: 0
Entity Fiscal Year End:
4/30         7/31         10/31         Other (identify date)
6/30         9/30         12/31         None
Participation in State Employee Benefit Programs:
    Employees:
       participate in state retirement system(s) and/or state group insurance program(s)
       do not participate in state benefit programs

    Members:
       participate in state retirement system(s) and/or state group insurance program(s)
       do not participate in state benefit programs
A state agency provides: (Check all that apply and identify the state agency)
Per Diem Payments          State Agency:
Travel Reimbursements    State Agency:
Other (explain)    State Agency:
Is this entity a budget unit or included within a budget unit of the State of Louisiana as defined by LSA-R.S. 39:2?
   Yes    No
  If yes, identify the budget unit and the budget schedule number below:
  Budget Unit Name:
  Budget Schedule Number:
Notes A special meeting for the Commission is scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2022. The meeting will be held at Pointe au Chien Tribe in Montegut, LA.

The December 14, 2020 meeting meeting will be a virtual meeting. See agenda for login information.

Last meeting of the Native American Commission was September 16, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2019 and will be held in the 4th Floor Press Room at the State Capitol. A notice for the meeting has been posted.
October 28, 2019 meeting did not have a quorum present. By-Laws review and adoption was tabled until next meeting scheduled for November 12, 2019.
By-Laws were review and adopted at the November 12, 2019 meeting. By-Laws have been posted.
January 21, 2020 meeting did not have a quorum. Minutes for the November 12, 2019 meeting will be posted once approved.
On April 27, 2020 a Zoom meeting was scheduled for the Commission. There was not a quorum. Topics concerning the COVID-19 issue were discussed.
On July 20, 2020 a Zoom meeting was scheduled. There was not a quorum attending. The participants discussed continuing issues dealing with the COVID-19 health challenge. Minutes to meeting is on file.
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