Quapaw Nation General Council reviews constitution draft, extends committee and sets public timeline

The Quapaw Nation General Council met on March 21, 2026, at the Quapaw Nation Community Building to consider a draft constitution presented by the Stanford Public Policy Lab and to solicit recommendations for the Constitution Committee's next steps. Chair Wena Supernaw called the meeting to order at 11:11 a.m., and Secretary-Treasurer Linda Valliere declared a quorum.

Vance Gilmore, Chair of the Constitution Committee, presented the Stanford Law/Stanford Public Policy Lab draft and opened a question-and-answer session. The committee proposed continuing its work; a main motion to continue the committee for one year was moved by Bonnie Schalk and seconded by Alicia Tinsley. An amendment from Joey Giveswater added a requirement that "this current Constitution Committee come back no more than one year to bring back the final draft worked out from the original draft and the Stanford draft. All materials must be mailed out and, on the website, no later than 60 days from March 21, 2027." The amended motion passed as recorded.

Delegates also considered but rejected a motion to end Stanford's involvement and approved a separate motion giving the Business Committee authority to appoint vacancies to the Constitution Committee. The meeting recessed at 1:21 p.m., reconvened at 1:46 p.m., and adjourned at 3:06 p.m. A later certification recorded in the minutes shows a July 4, 2026 General Council certification vote of Yes 331, No 20.