Committee Members:

Cynthia Butler, Chair                                      Joseph Reed, Member

Walter EchoHawk, Co-Chair                         Denise Miller, Member

Lisa Gover, Member                                        Vacant, Member

Victoria LeftHand, Member                          Vacant, Member

Contact information:

Email: cb0081@pawneenation.org or govdocs@pawneenation.org

Staff Support: Skye Goodfox, sg1163@pawneenation.org, 918-762-3621 ext. 114

Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to support the development and review of by-laws, ordinances, acts, statutes, and other governing documents which serve in the growth and development of the Pawnee Nation.

Committee Governing Documents: Pawnee Nation Administrative Procedures Act, PN Governing Documents Committee Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Committee Quarterly Reports: 

2021 First Quarter                    2021 Second Quarter

2021 Third Quarter                  2021 Fourth Quarter

Committee Scholarship Opportunity:

PN Political Science and Government Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Deadline: August 1st

Award Date: August

Committee Work (approved or in progress):

• Constitution of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Article VII, Section 2, Recall (Approved by Resolution #21-29)
• Pawnee Nation Government-to-Government Consultation Statute (Approved on June 5, 2021 by Resolution #21-38)
• Pawnee Nation Attorney General Act (Submitted to PBC)
• Pawnee Nation Election Act (Revision Approved 01-15-2021)
• Pawnee Nation Rakurâračihtisu (Declaration of Respect) (Approved on November 9, 2021 by Statute #21-04)
• PN Election Act - Revisions (Withdrawal of a Candidate - Committee level)
• Pawnee Nation Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Submitted to the PBC) - Briefing Paper (Questions Concerns from forum), Resolution #21-52 - Endorsement of UNDRIP, PNDRIA Approval, Pawnee Nation DRIP Act
• Constitution Convention (Committee level - Planning stages)  Call for Constitution Convention approved by Resolution #21-93, Resolution #22-21 Convention Extension, Convention Committee (Appointed 03-10-2022)

1. Constitution of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma
2. Tribal Constitution Handbook
3. 1937 Constitution and Bylaw
4. 1998 Constitution
5. Corporate Charter of 1938
6. 25 U.S. Code Chapter 15 - Constitutional Rights of Indians
7. Public Law 113–4 Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
8. Public Law 95-608 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
9. Public Law 93-638 Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act
10. Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act (OIWA) Title 25 Ch 45A PDF or Cornell Law School Link
11. PN AG Opinion 2020-07 - Exercise of Executive Power
12. PN AG Opinion 2020-08 - Powers of the Chiefs Council
13. Oklahoma State University Libraries TRIBAL TREATIES DATABASE
14. 1818 Treaty
15. 1825 Treaty
16. 1833 Treaty
17. 1857 Treaty

DOCUMENT REVISIONS: (Governing documents sent for PBC approval)

• Statute #21-03 - PN General Revenue and Taxation Act, Chapter 10, Section 1012, Military Duty Personnel (Approved on September 28, 2021)
• Statute #22-02 - PN General Revenue and Taxation Act, Chapter 10, Section 1015, Out of State Vehicle (Approved on April 11, 2022)

COMMENT PERIOD:  (We will post here the documents for the comment period)

PN Museum Board By-Laws - SUGGESTED REVISIONS The Comment period will run for 30 days.  Updates will added soon.

Meetings:  The Governing Documents Committee meetings are scheduled for every Monday at 6 pm.  We hold our meeting virtually through the Microsoft Teams App.  Meeting agendas, minutes and videos will be posted below.