Title: Subsistence for the Douglas Indian Association, Douglas, Alaska

 

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 Douglas Indian Association has a request before the Federal Subsistence Board for consideration under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act for subsistence rights denied them through no fault of their own; and,

WHEREAS, the Tribe has documented oral history and contemporary use of the subsistence resources on the Taku River and has cultural ties to the land; and,

WHEREAS, the NCAI has committed support in the past for the rights of Tribes to practice and maintain cultural and subsistence lifestyles, thereby preserving both; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the National Congress of American Indians, by this resolution, supports the Douglas Indian Association’s request for subsistence rights before the Federal Subsistence Board; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI send letters immediately to the Secretary of the Interior and the Federal Subsistence Board with copies of this resolution affirming NCAI’s support for this cause.

CERTIFICATION

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.