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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-20-2001-5dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 20, 2001 Action Agenda Item No. - `g SUBJECT: Resolution Regarding Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation's "Continuous Open Permission" Request DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Commissioner Halkiotis Letter from John "Blackfeather" Jeffries, John Link, ext 2300 Chair of the Occaneechi Band of the' TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Saponi Nation Hillsborough 732-8181 Proposed Resolution Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 33.6-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a resolution of intent to allow members of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation "continuous open permission" for camping on the Occaneechi historical site on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of the Annual Spring Festival and Pow Wow. BACKGROUND: For the past five years during the second weekend in June, members of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation have held their Annual Spring Festival and Pow Wow on the Occaneechi historical site behind the new Orange County Courthouse. These activities involve participants from across the United States coming to Hillsborough to be involved in the events occurring on Friday and Saturday. In the attached letter, John "Blackfeather" Jeffries, Chair of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, requests "continuous open permission" to allow participants the opportunity to camp on the historical site on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the Festival and Pow Wow. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no significant financial impact associated with this decision. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider adoption of the attached Resolution of Intent noting the County's approval of the request with the understanding that Festival and Pow Wow organizers will work with County staff prior to the events to address issues such as notification to County staff, liability insurance, and other items related to Occaneechi Band's use of the site. 2 OCCANEECHI BAND OF THE SAPONI NATION 511 Latimer Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 January 1, 2001 Orange county commissioners Stephen Halkiotis, Chair 200 South Cameron Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Commissioner Halkiotis and colleagues JAN 4 2001 For the past five years, the second weekend of June, member's of the occaneechi Band of the saponi Nation have held their.Annual spring Festival and Pow Wow on Friday and Saturday. This event is held on the site just behind the "new" Court House on Margaret Lane in downtown Hillsborough. This is the historical area where the occaneechi dwelled for many years before visitors from other lands joined them. As was the way for generations, some of the people who come to share in the festivities would like to camp at the site. We have indigenous people coming from across the United States of America to participate in the Festival and Pow Wow every year. These visitors have only the greatest regard and respect for the people of Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina. The members of the occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation are, therefore, requesting "continuous open permission" to allow camping on the site of the Festival and Pow Wow each year. This request covers three days: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. some friends of the occaneechi come on Thursday to help set up for the upcoming festivities. Most of the participants have departed by late Sunday evening to return home for work, school and other family obligations. Please note that many others do utilized hotel/motel accommodations within the county. Mazy of you have joined us during the preparations and the celebration, and can speak of what it meant to you to participate on this weekend. It is always our way to leave the area cleaner than we found it. When the festivities are over, the grounds are policed and all collected trash is placed where it can easily be picked up. We are most appreciative of all the town and county has done to afford us this opportunity to celebrate on the land our people once called home. This in itself makes this Festival and Pow Wow very unique on the east coast. Thank y?u for your consideration regarding this request. Most::sinc rely. John"'Black£e they- 'Jeffries, Chair occaneechi Band of the saponi Nation ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION OF INTENT NOTING ORANGE COUNTY'S APPROVAL OF THE OCCANEECHI BAND OF THE SAPONI NATION'S REQUEST FOR "CONTINUOUS OPEN PERMISSION" FOR CAMPING ON THE OCCANEECHI HISTORICAL SITE DURING THE ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL AND POW WOW WHEREAS, for the past five years during the second weekend in June, members of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation have held their Annual Spring Festival and Pow Wow on the Occaneechi historical site behind the new Orange County Courthouse; and, WHEREAS, these activities involve participants from across the United States coming to. Hillsborough to be involved in the events occurring on Friday and Saturday; and, WHEREAS, John "Blackfeather"Jeffries, Chair of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, has submitted a request to Orange County for "continuous open permission" to allow participants the opportunity to camp on the historical site on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the Festival and Pow Wow; and, WHEREAS, there exists a need for Festival and Pow Wow organizers to work with County staff prior to the events to address issues such as notification to County staff, liability insurance, and other items related to the Occaneechi Band's use of the site: NOW THERFORE be it ordained that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby adopt this Resolution of Intent noting the County's approval of the request from Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation for "continuous open permission" to allow participants the opportunity to camp on the historical site on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the Festival and Pow Wow, with the understanding that Festival and Pow Wow organizers will work with County staff prior to the events to address issues such as notification to County staff, liability insurance, and other items related to Occaneechi Band's use of the site. This the 20th day of February, 2001.