Title: Supporting Full Federal Compensation to the Pueblos of San Ildefonso And Santa Clara For Damages Suffered As A Result Of The Cerro Grande, New Mexico, Fire and Its Aftermath

 

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 National Congress of American Indians includes many federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments and individual members; and

WHEREAS, the Pueblo of San Ildefonso is a member of NCAI; and

WHEREAS, the Pueblos of Santa Clara and San Ildefonso suffered significant damage from the recent Cerro Grande, New Mexico, fire; and

WHEREAS, the Federal government has a trust obligation to fully compensate the Pueblos of Santa Clara and San Ildefonso for all losses and damages resulting from the Cerro Grande, New Mexico, fire and its aftermath;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, thatThe United States of America provide full funding as soon as possible so that the Pueblos of Santa Clara and San Ildefonso can carry forward emergency and longer term mitigation and rehabilitation work on their lands, as well as full compensation for all damages and losses suffered by the Pueblo people, governments, and their natural resources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Northern Pueblos Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs receive additional resources for fire protection services to benefit the Northern Pueblos; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all Federal agencies, including the Departments of Interior, Energy, and Agriculture, maximize on-going consultation and involvement for the Pueblos of San Ildefonso and Santa Clara, at Federal expense, as well as interagency cooperation with the Pueblos to assure Federal support for Pueblo traditional and cultural uses of the burnt area and protection of traditional and cultural properties and sacred sites; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the officers and staff of NCAI provide copies of this resolution to appropriate Federal and Pueblo officials.

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.