Title: Supporting the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ Requests Regarding Leases of Trust Lands

 

WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest and largest national organization established in 1944 and comprised of representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and local Tribal concerns; and

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of NCAI; and,

WHEREAS, for many years the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has developed a thriving tourist economy, and it is currently poised to undertake rapid economic growth which would positively impact the Tribe, its members, and other local communities; and

WHEREAS, the Eastern Band depends on an effective and efficient system for leasing its tribal trust lands if this economy is to continue to thrive; and

WHEREAS, the Eastern Band has experienced significant delays in obtaining lease approvals from the Bureau of Indian Affairs for leases longer than 10 years; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Interior is proposing lease regulations that will severely impact the rights of the Eastern Band and its members to receive lease payments directly from lessees of their land; and

WHEREAS, the Cherokee Tribal Council has passed the attached Resolution No. 343 (2000) urgently requesting actions to expedite and improve the process of lease approvals and, most importantly, that the U.S. Department of Interior issue no regulations that would impair the rights of the Eastern Band and its members to receive lease payments directly from lessees; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the United South and Eastern Tribes has passed the attached Resolution No. 2000:66 in support of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby support the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ and the United South and Eastern Tribes’ concerns set forth in the attached resolutions, and requests that the Department of Interior and United States Congress take prompt action to approve the Eastern Band’s requests.

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000 with a quorum present.

_____________________________

Susan Masten, President

Juana Majel, Recording Secretary

Adopted by the General Assembly during the 2000 Mid-Year Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska on June 25-28, 2000.