Oneida Nation condemns actions, dissolves board of OESC

ONEIDA – The Oneida Nation Business Committee (OBC) dissolved the Oneida Engineering Science and Construction Group’s Board of Managers this week after learning of two agreements awarded to Oneida-Stantec JV, LLC with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Oneida-Stantec JV, LLC, is a joint venture between Oneida Environmental (OE) and Stantec. OE is a tribally owned SBA-certified 8(a) business that performs a variety of contracted functions including engineering and inspection services intended to ensure safety, quality and compliance in federal facilities that may be occupied by individuals for federal contractors, including Natural/Cultural Resource Assessment and Management.

OE is a subsidiary of Oneida Engineering Science Construction Group (OESC), which is an independent corporate entity wholly owned by the Oneida Nation.

According to a press release, the Oneida Business Committee met with the OESC leadership after the Oneida Nation became aware that OE-Stantec JV, LLC entered into agreements associated with ICE detention facilities.

“The Oneida Business Committee and OESC leadership discussed the Oneida Nation’s values, shareholder expectations and the ramifications this joint venture’s role in the development of an ICE detention facility may have on those core values,” the release stated. “The Oneida Business Committee condemns OESC’s action to enter a contract for ICE facilities, and we believe such actions hinder teaching our values to the next seven generations of its employees, representatives or corporations if we do not abide by those values today. OESC leadership will meet to consider the Nation’s concerns. Looking forward, and to provide clarity on the Nation’s position, the OBC adopted a resolution indicating the Nation requires its divisions, entities and tribal corporations to disengage from grants, agreements or contracts that involve Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

“Passing this resolution is an initial step to implementing clarity about the Nation’s expectations that our employees, representatives, businesses and tribal corporations align with our core values. The Oneida Business Committee will consider other appropriate steps needed to prevent future misalignment with balanced measure using our Good Mind Principles,” said Chairman Tehassi Hill.

On Friday, Jan. 2, the OBC replaced the OESC Board of Managers with an interim board manager, Debra Powless, who is the Nation’s director of commerce development.

The OBC also adopted two resolutions which provide further policy guidance to the OESC Group and require all of the Nation’s corporations to adopt a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy.

“Taking this action is a step to ensuring that the future OESC Group Board of Managers and other Nation-owned corporate boards practice due diligence in their roles and active communication with their Nation assigned liaisons,” said Hill.