Title: Recommendations for the Department of Health & Human Services National Tribal Consultation Forum (July 19-20, 2000)

 

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, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is hosting a National Tribal Consultation Forum to be held on July 19-20, 2000 in Washington, D.C.; and,

WHEREAS, the overall objective of the meeting is for HHS to respond to the issues raised by American Indian and Alaska Native tribal leaders during five Regional Listening Councils held in 1999; and

WHEREAS, the HHS Deputy Secretary and Indian Health Service (IHS) Director heard directly from tribal leaders about the challenges confronting Indian people, particularly those related to the provision of health and human services including programs affecting the Welfare Reform legislation; and,

WHEREAS, the issues and recommendations raised during the Regional Listening Councils have been categorized into five majors areas, including: (1) funding/budget issues; (2) health services and access to these services; (3) care providers; (4) facilities, equipment and supplies; and, (5) intergovernmental relations and related issues.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby urge that the HHS National Tribal Consultation Forum be structured to provide for meaningful dialogue between tribal leadership and HHS senior officials in order to reach mutual understanding on how to address specific issues raised during the Listening Councils and implement the initiatives and actions as a result of these understandings; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI further urges HHS to implement a formal consultation process with tribal governments throughout the Department and to institutionalize this process with each of the HHS Operating Divisions; and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby urge HHS to fill permanent positions in the Office of Secretary/Intergovernmental Affairs Office (IAO) to act as a liaison and work with tribal governments in the same as the IAO interacts with state governments.

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.