HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-05-2023; 8-v - Proposed Naming of Bench at Occaneechi Village for John Blackfeather Jeffries 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 5, 2023
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-v
SUBJECT: Proposed Naming of Bench at Occaneechi Village for John Blackfeather
Jeffries
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Orange County Property Naming Policy Bonnie Hammersley, 919-245-2306
Photo of Proposed Dedicated Bench
Request for Naming of Bench
PURPOSE: To consider stating the Board's intent to adopt a resolution for the naming of the
bench at Occaneechi Village in the County's River Park for John Blackfeather Jeffries.
BACKGROUND: John Hayles Blackfeather Jeffries (1939-2023)was widely known as a longtime
member and leader of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation. Jeffries was often described
as a "warrior" for his tireless efforts to honor, preserve, and teach his tribe's heritage to the public
and helped younger tribal members reconnect with their roots. Jeffries played an important role
in helping his tribe gain official state recognition in 2002.
One of his proudest and most visible contributions to the community is the landmark replica village
of his ancestors, which Jeffries helped establish and construct in the late 1990s working under
the guidance of UNC's Research Laboratories of Archaeology. Located in Orange County's River
Park, just off the Riverwalk, the replica village served as a popular site for cultural education
programs where Jeffries worked with other tribal members to hold demonstrations and living
history events to help raise awareness of the Occaneechi tribal heritage of this area. Jeffries
worked with tribal members to organize a wide variety of public educational programs at the
village, including outdoor cooking, storytelling, tribal dance, and methods of hunting and fishing.
Jeffries was later instrumental in a community volunteer project to rebuild the replica village
between 2017 and 2022, working in partnership with Orange County and the Alliance for Historic
Hillsborough.
In memory and appreciation of Jeffries' dedication and commitment to his tribe and local history,
a proposal was made to name a favorite bench he often frequented adjacent to the Occaneechi
Village replica in his name (see attached picture). This proposed bench dedication for John
Blackfeather Jeffries is presented to the Board of Orange County Commissioners for
consideration.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: If the Board states its intent to adopt a resolution naming the bench for
John Blackfeather Jeffries, staff will pursue options and costs related to a plaque/signage and
identify funds for the expenditure.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
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• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic
background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) receive this information;
2) state its intent to consider adopting a resolution at a future meeting naming the John
Blackfeather Jeffries Bench at the Occaneechi Village in River Park; and
3) if the Board states that intent, direct staff to present a proposed resolution to the Board at
a future meeting.
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POLICY FOR INSERTION INTO THE POLICY MANUAL
MEETING DATE: February 21, 1989 NUMBER: A-0390
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 21, 1989 REVISIONS:November 9, 2005
March 3, 2009
November 17, 2015
December 16,2016
POLICY: Orange County Property Naming Policy
Policy "Policy Statement"
County owned buildings,facilities and land shall bear such names as the Orange County Board of
Commissioners shall approve pursuant to this policy. This policy follows all applicable local,state and
federal laws,rules and regulations.
Purpose
This policy is to establish the Board of County Commissioners as the responsible authority for naming of
County buildings,facilities,and land.
Guidelines
2.1. The naming of public buildings,facilities and land shall be done only by the Board of County
Commissioners by resolution adopted by majority vote.
2.1.1. Property to be given names or titles shall be either owned by Orange County government
or leased by Orange County government for its use.
2.1.2. Properties to be named or given a title include county-owned or leased buildings.
2.1.3. Official names or titles for property belonging to the County shall only be changed by the
Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate after a public participation
process.
2.1.4. Current names for property belonging to the County shall remain the same unless
changed by the Board of County Commissioners upon relocation or change in function of
the property.
2.1.5. Property belonging to Orange County may be named for living persons with the
following qualifications.
a. Any areas or rooms in buildings,other physical facilities,collections of books,records
or other printed or audio-visual materials, land or water areas
b. Living persons who secure funding and/or make a significant contribution to the life
and well being of Orange County.
c. Leased property that has been conferred a name by the lessor that is a person's
name need not be renamed if it has locational or other value
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2.1.6 Official names or titles for property belonging to or leased by the County shall be based
upon geographical, historical, ecological, functional, or other such factors as the Board of
County Commissioners deems appropriate. If a geographical reference of locational
value is derived from the name of a person, such as a street name, it may be used in
naming County property.
a. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased
for park development or conservation/preservation will be given a "working
title" which will only become the official title of the property when formally
approved as such by the BOCC
b. Memorial naming of a public building, facility or land is in addition to the
official title of the building/facility/land and is bestowed in accordance with
Section 2.2 of this policy
c. Leased property naming will respect historical names that may already be
attached to the facility or as may be negotiated with the owner of the
building.
2.1.7 Exceptions to this policy of naming property belonging to the County may be made by
the Board of County Commissioners as it deems appropriate.
2.1.8 This policy does not apply to the naming of public streets, roads, alleys and other similar
thoroughfares.
2.1.9 This policy shall not be construed as the mechanism for selling the permanent naming
rights to County structures, buildings, facilities or land.
2.2. Memorial Naming (in honor of a deceased individual) of Public Buildings, Facilities, or Land:
In the event Orange County wishes to honor a deceased individual by naming a public
building, facility or land after such an individual, the following shall apply:
2.2.1. The person who is being honored by such a memorial shall have made a significant
contribution to the well-being and betterment of Orange County.
2.2.2. The party requesting a memorial shall submit a brief biography of the person to Orange
County government for recording purposes.
2.2.3. The memorial naming of a public building, facility or land will be in addition to the
official name as defined in Section 2.1.6 of this policy.
2.2.4. Renaming a public building, facility or land which has previously been named in honor
of or in memorial to an individual shall only be done in extraordinary circumstances as
determined by the Board.
Procedures
2.3. A public building/facility under construction/renovation or land purchased for park
development or conservation/preservation shall be given a "working title" by staff for easy
identification of the property.
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2.4. The proposed naming of a public building, facility or land may be generated in the following
manner.
a. Staff shall recommend to the BOCC an official title of the public building, facility or land in
accordance with Section 2.1.6 of this policy. Such recommended by staff will be made prior to
the completion of any project to construct, renovate or develop the property.
b. Any person, firm or association may propose a name for a County owned building, facility
or land by submitting the proposal in writing to the County Manager or Clerk to the Board.
c. Under certain circumstances the BOCC may wish to set in place a public process for
soliciting input in the official naming of a public building, facility or land.
2.5. The County Manager shall prepare a report with recommendations for the proposed naming of
the public building, facility or land and present it to the BOCC for consideration at a regularly
scheduled public meeting.
2.6. Upon receipt of the report and the recommendations of the manager the BOCC will state its
intent to consider the adoption of a resolution for the naming or renaming of the public
building, facility or land at the next or some subsequent meeting as determined by the BOCC.
2.7. The Board may determine the public building, facility or land is of significant public interest
and direct a notice be published informing the public of the Board's intent to consider the
naming or renaming of the public building, facility or land and fix a time and place for a public
hearing on the question.
2.8. Upon approval of the resolution by the BOCC, the public building, facility or land shall bear
the name assigned to it from and after the date of Board action or such subsequent date as the
BOCC may prescribe.
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Greg Wilder
From: Renee Price <reneeprice2012@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday,August 4, 2023 3:50 PM
To: Bonnie Hammersley
Subject: [EXTERNAL MAIL!] nameplate for the Jeffries
Bonnie,
Hope you're having a wonderful summer.
Some time ago, I mentioned to you a nameplate for the bench that overlooks the Occaneechi
Village to remember and honor John and Lynette Jeffries. I finally contacted Vivette, their
daughter, to get her approval, so as to prevent any bad feelings.
My request, now, to Orange County, is to have a nameplate produced and placed on the existing
bench, or a new bench, with the inscription:
In Memory of
John "Blackfeather" Jeffries & Lynette Coles Jeffries
As always, please feel free to contact me at any time. If I need to complete any forms, let
me know. Once the nameplate is completed and delivered, I would like to have an unveiling
ceremony, and am happy to work with county staff as well as other community members, and
will include family and tribal members.
Best,
Renee
PS: In case you were wondering, a state budget is coming, maybe by the end of August.
Renee A. Price, Representative
House of Representatives, District 50
North Carolina General Assembly
Co-Founder/Project Director
Spirit Freedom
919-593-1904
"If anyone should ask a Negro woman in America what has been her greatest achievement, her honest answer
would be, `I survived!"
— Pauli Murray
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