Bylaws

BY-LAWS OF THE

BI-STATE TRIBAL NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Introduction:

The Bi-State Tribal Natural Resources Committee (BTNRC) formed from the collaborative process between the Nevada Indian Commission, interested tribal members, and members of the Bi-State Executive Oversight Committee in 2015 and 2016 to organize a summit to address concerns about pinyon cutting in sage-grouse habitat. The Bi-State Traditional Ecological Knowledge Summit held at the Stewart Indian School in June of 2016 brought together about 200 people from local tribes and agencies. In the process of planning the Summit, the organizing committee built some common understanding and recognized the need to have a standing group to facilitate communication. The attendees at the Summit strongly supported the idea of a standing group to address all types of tribal concerns in the region. The result was the Bi-State Tribal Natural Resources Committee (BTNRC). The Nevada Indian Commission (NIC) currently provides leadership and administrative support for the Committee. The Bi-State Sage Grouse Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) recognized the need for federal and state agencies to assist and collaboratively work with the Nevada Indian Commission.  The Committee reports out regularly to the EOC and to the Local Area Working Group (LAWG) to facilitate communication between the two groups.

“Committee” defined.  Unless the context otherwise requires, “committee” means the Bi-State Tribal Natural Resources Committee.

ARTICLE I – MISSION

The mission of the Committee is to promote, protect and preserve sound management of natural and cultural resources in the Bi-state through advocacy and education using a holistic approach.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

1. The purpose of the Committee is to educate and facilitate communication between tribes and land management agencies.  The Committee provides a forum for tribal members and tribal representatives to address concerns and advocate for sound management of natural and cultural resources that would include tribal cultural values. 

2. The Committee serves the Bi-state area east of the Sierra Nevada, east of Carson City to the White Mountains (see attached map).

3. The Committee is not government to government consultation and does not replace the need and responsibility of federal agencies to engage in required and meaningful consultation.  This is not a decision making group, but rather an educational and information sharing forum.

4. The Committee provides an inter-tribal and interagency forum where issues can be discussed.  The Committee promotes the opportunity for Tribes and tribal members to hear from multiple federal agencies at one time.  This also provides an opportunity for federal agencies to hear from multiple tribes and tribal individuals at once and for multiple tribes and tribal individuals to express concerns with everyone at once.   If the tribes want to speak with one voice on an issue, all can agree an issue is important.

5. The Committee disseminates information that reflects current legislation, theory, methodology, and practices in natural resource management in the Bi-state area. The Committee also plans sessions with tribal entities, state agencies, federal agencies and community members to discuss needs and develop and implement workshops or conferences for tribal entities to influence public land management.

6. The BTNRC regularly reports its activities to the EOC and LAWG.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Appointment of members; meetings.

1. Members of the committee shall be selected from among residents, agencies, tribes and communities within the bi-state who are familiar with natural resources.

• The committee consisting of members appointed by their tribe or tribal organization and approved by the Committee is hereby created. The Committee consists of:

1. Tribal government representatives: One representative and an alternate from each of the Tribes (See list shown as Attachment A) having traditional lands and/or any tribe with traditional use in the Bi-state (including non-federally recognized tribes) is welcome to attend.
2. Tribal organization representatives: One member from each of the tribal organizations in the Bi-state
3. Tribal individuals at large

• Participants from each of the federal and state land and wildlife management agencies will be ex-officio members: Staff person(s) and all decision makers/leaders of agency units in the bi-state area are invited and may attend. Ex officio members do not have voting privileges.  See list of agencies shown as Attachment B.

• Each member serves a term of 2 years. A member may be re-appointed for additional terms of 2 years in the same manner as the original appointment.

• A vacancy occurring in the membership of the committee must be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.  The committee, upon a majority vote may recommend a member to fill a vacant position until the next regular scheduled meeting of the BTNRC where an appointment will be made to fill the position for a two (2) year term.

• The committee shall meet at least quarterly and may meet at such times and places, or by teleconference/videoconference as it considers necessary to carry out its purposes.

• At its first meeting and annually thereafter, the committee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members.

• The designated facilitator serves as the coordinator of the Committee and is an ex-officio position. Ex-officio members do not have voting privileges.

• QUORUM:  A simple majority of the official members entitled to vote, represented in person shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Committee membership.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

Duties:

1. The designated facilitator: 

1. Prepares the agenda with input from the Committee chair and Committee membership.
2. Prepares, keeps current, and presents the Committee budget.
3. Advises the Chair and the Committee.
4. Liaises between Committee and other stakeholders.
5. Notifies Committee membership of upcoming meetings and other communications.
6. Records, publishes and disseminates minutes of Committee meetings.
7. Makes necessary meeting accommodations for Committee members.
8. Communicates with Committee and other advocates for environmental subjects.

• Chair:  Conducts the Committee business and the Committee meetings.

• Vice-Chair:  Acts on behalf of the Chair in the Chair’s absence.

ARTICLE V – OFFICER or MEMBER REMOVAL

After just cause has been determined by the membership of the Committee, an official recommendation to the appointing authority may be made to remove and replace an appointed member.

REMOVAL OF OFFICERS:

By a vote of the majority of the Committee members present at a regularly scheduled meeting, an officer may be removed with or without cause, and such action shall be conclusive on the officer so removed.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS and TRAVEL

The Committee shall meet quarterly unless otherwise determined by the Committee membership.

A meeting agenda will be prepared by the Chair for each meeting.

Members may request in writing to the Chair items to include on the agenda.

Meetings will be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order.

Decisions requiring a vote will be decided by a simple majority vote.

Meeting notes of each meeting will be recorded by the designated facilitator. Meeting notes will be published and disseminated in draft form to Committee members as soon as possible after each meeting for review of content accuracy. Meeting minutes in final form will then be presented for Committee approval at the next regularly scheduled Committee meeting.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended, repealed, or replaced by new By-Laws adopted by a majority vote of the Committee members present at a regularly scheduled meeting. There must be at least a thirty (30) day written notice to committee members and a first reading at a regularly scheduled meeting of all changes to the By-Laws before the By-Laws can be amended, repealed, or replaced.

Whenever any amendment or new By-Law is adopted, it shall be permanently recorded as an update to the original By-Laws. If any By-Laws are repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted shall be stated in the minutes of that meeting and included in the By-Laws. Whether any provision of the By-Law is either amended or repealed, a marginal note shall be made thereon indicating the place or page where the amendment or repeal may be found.

Attachment A

Tribes with Ties to the Bi-State Area

	NV Tribes
	Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe
	Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
	Reno Sparks Indian Colony
	Walker River Paiute Tribe
	Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California Yerington Paiute Tribe
	CA Tribes
	Antelope Valley Indian Community
	Big Pine Paiute Tribe of Owens Valley
	Bishop Paiute Indian Tribe
	Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony
	Ft. Independence Community of Paiute Indians
	Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation
	Mono Lake Kutzadika Tribe
	Timbisha Shoshone Tribe
	Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe Benton Paiute Reservation

Attachment B

Land and Resource Agencies in the Bi-State Area (Including, but not limited to)

1. U.S. Forest Service
   1. Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (Region 4)
   2. Inyo National Forest (Region 5)
2. Bureau of Land Management
   1. Bishop Field Office (CA, Central California District)
   2. Sierra Front Field Office (NV, Carson City District)
   3. Stillwater Field Office (NV, Carson City District)
3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
   1. Reno Nevada Field Office (including Bishop Field Station)
4. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)
   1. CA
   2. NV
5. U.S. Geological Survey
6. Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW)
7. California Department of Fish and Wildlife
8. Nevada State Parks

Record of Review and Approvals:

1. Approval by Review Committee

First reading of By-Law revisions took place at the February 8, 2018 BTNRC meeting and was approved by the review committee members on August 23, 2018 with a motion to approve the By-Laws made by Gracie Dick, seconded by Charlotte Lange.  By-laws were approved with a unanimous vote.