WPCO Urges Reinstatement Of Housing Commissioners
The Wolf Point Community Organization unanimously approved a motion stating that they wish for the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board to reinstate the tribes’ housing commissioners.
The vote, which occurred on June 15, came after TEB member Roxanne Gourneau provided her monthly report to WPCO members. Gourneau informed members that the audit on the housing authority for last year was completed and she was hoping to release the information once she obtained legal approval.
When asked when the housing commissioners might be reinstated, Gourneau answered, “To tell the truth, there is no discussion.”
Gourneau added, “I would hope we will continue to maintain the presence of communities on this board.”
TEB made the decision in December, 2025, to suspend housing commissioners for six months. During a WPCO meeting in January, tribal chairman Floyd Azure said issues included housing committee members getting paid for too many meetings and meals, bills not being paid and micro-managing.
Azure explained at that meeting that TEB has primary authority and that means overseeing boards, “If we see problems, we have to take action.”
After WPCO’s recent vote, Gourneau said she will report the action to TEB members.
Former TEB member Lawrence Hamilton Jr. noted that several TEB members attended the WPCO meeting in January, and that they said they would keep attending the monthly WPCO meetings. “I haven’t seen them yet,” Hamilton said. The TEB members who have attended have been Gourneau and Marva Chapman.
Also during the meeting, Wayne Two Bulls reported WPCO’s threeday powwow went extremely well.
“I wasn’t expecting to see that many people,” Two Bulls said. “There were tons of dancers. It was outstanding.”
WPCO chairman Jason Hamilton added, “I got a lot compliments how big and organized it was.”
WPCO announced that its $2,500 scholarship winners were Richard Campbell and Jayla Big Talk.
A request of $3,000 for Wolf Point’s fireworks fund was approved.
Also approved were $500 donations to students Kashtin Lizotte and Sean Hamilton for trips.
Vicki Bisbee provided a report after attending an international Parkinsons’ disease conference in Phoenix, Ariz. WPCO made a donation to help Bisbee attend the event. She said the conference featured individuals from the United Kingdom, France and China. Speakers said that pesticides cause a lot of diseases in the world. Bisbee said she stays as healthy as she can by eating healthy and exercising. She added that being isolated is a problem for a lot of people with the disease.
