WPCO Discusses Future Of Housing Commissioners
Members of the Wolf Point Community Organization continued their pursuit to reinstate the Fort Peck Tribes’ housing commissioners on July 20 by planning to meet with representative of other communities in August. Last month, WPCO members unanimously approved a motion stating that they wish to have the Tribal Executive Board reinstate the housing commissioners. TEB member Marva Chapman reported that TEB voted to not accept the resolution, partly because it represented only one of the reservation’s communities.
WPCO member Wayne Two Bulls made a motion to host a meeting to bring leaders from other communities in to discuss the matter. The motion was unanimously approved.
Chapman said that’s one avenue that could be taken, but she reminded audience members that each of the communities would need to conduct a vote in their own communities.
TEB members George Blount and Chapman each reported that the findings of an investigation of the housing committee should be completed in the very near future.
“It’s down to any day now that we should get the final report,” Blount said.
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.
During last week’s meeting, WPCO member Lawrence Hamilton asked about the recent termination of physical therapists. He said it seems that tribal members keep getting fired.
Chapman said none of the firings came through the council.
Blount added, “Personnel issues all run through the chairman’s office.”
After Blount said that a lot of providers have incomplete notes for services, Hamilton said the health director should have been in control of everybody.
Hamilton said about 7,000 encounters were undocumented. He explained that it’s possible that state could order the tribes to pay $15 million because of the lack of documentation.
TEB member Roxanne Gourneau said some of her goals is to add lighting on basketball courts, Wolf Point’s skate park and residential streets.
When complaints were made about the condition of Wolf Point’s west end playground and other areas, Chapman said that housing is responsible for the playground.
“This whole community could be cleaned up because we have a building full of inmates,” Chapman said.
Donations approved by WPCO members included $2,500 for Wadopana, $2,000 for Skillz & Drillz basketball activities, $500 for a mobile barber shop and $2,000 each for two traveling basketball teams.
Two Bulls reported that the powwow committee is planning fundraiser bingos in Wolf Point, Poplar and Frazer during August.
