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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-18-2024; 8-j - Resolution Naming the John Blackfeather and Lynette Coles Jeffries Memorial Bench at River Park 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 18, 2024 Action Agenda Item No. 8-j SUBJECT: Resolution Naming the John Blackfeather and Lynette Coles Jeffries Memorial Bench at River Park DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners, Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation, & County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board, 919- Picture of Bench 245-2130 David Stancil, DEAPR Director, 919-245- 2522 PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution naming of a replacement bench at Occaneechi Village in River Park after John Blackfeather Jeffries and Lynette Coles 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 Jeffries' proudest and most visible contributions to the community is the landmark replica village of his ancestors, which he 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 in Hillsborough, 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 bench at a location he often frequented adjacent to the Occaneechi Village replica in his name (picture attached). 2 On September 5, 2023, the Board formally approved announcing the intent to name a replacement bench after John Blackfeather Jeffries and his wife Lynette Coles Jeffries. The bench would bear the following nameplate: In Memory of John "Blackfeather"Jeffries & Lynette Coles Jeffries In keeping with the County's Naming Policy, a resolution is required to officially allow for the naming of the bench. The attached resolution is presented at this time to allow for the possibility of a naming event to occur prior to September 2024, scheduled in conjunction with the Jeffries family and Board members' availability. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this resolution. The bench was ordered several months ago and is currently slated to be received around July 1, 2024. The cost of the bench is $2,187 and would be purchased from funds in the BOCC contingency account. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • 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 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached resolution authorizing the naming of the replacement bench, at a time and date to be scheduled. 3 RES-2024-040 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION NAMING THE JOHN BLACKFEATHER AND LYNETTE COLES JEFFRIES MEMORIAL BENCH AT RIVER PARK WHEREAS, John Hayles Blackfeather Jeffries (1939-2023) was widely known as a longtime member and leader of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation; and WHEREAS, 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, playing an important role in helping his tribe gain official state recognition in 2002; and WHEREAS, one of Jeffries proudest and most visible contributions to the community is the landmark replica village of his ancestors, located in Orange County's River Park which he helped establish and construct in the late 1990s working under the guidance of UNC's Research Laboratories of Archaeology; and WHEREAS, 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; and WHEREAS, in memory and appreciation of Jeffries' dedication and commitment to his tribe and local history, a proposal was made to name a bench at a location he often frequented adjacent to the Occaneechi Village replica in his name; and WHEREAS, on September 5, 2023, the Board of County Commissioners announced the intent to name the bench after John Blackfeather Jeffries and his wife Lynette Coles Jeffries. The bench would bear the following nameplate: In Memory of John "Blackfeather"Jeffries & Lynette Coles Jeffries NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners do hereby name the bench to be installed at River Park to be the John Blackfeather and Lynette Coles Jeffries Memorial Bench. This the 18th day of June, 2024. Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board 4 1<-TCle1 f� KEYSTONE RIDGE \1-1DESIGNS ©2016 Keystone Ridge Designs,Inc. All Rights Reserved.