Title: In Support of Alaska’s First Nations in Their Opposition to the Opening Up of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

 

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 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 organizations 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 NCAI is the preeminent Native advocacy organization in the United States made up of more than 230 Native American nations, including federally recognized Alaska Native tribes; and,

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

WHEREAS, Alaska’s First Nations built thriving cultures throughout the diversity of Alaska’s terrain and continue to support entire communities through communal hunting, fishing and gathering of wild resources; and,

WHEREAS, Federal law in Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) protects such activities as vital "subsistence" for Alaska’s Tribal communities; and

WHEREAS, the House Manager for ANILCA, the late Congressman Morris Udall, stated for the Record on November 12, 1980, that there would be no such protections contained in ANILCA if the only concern was to protect non-Native hunting and fishing in Alaska; and stated further that the subsistence protections in Title VIII are consistent with Congress’ time-honored trust responsibility to Alaska’s indigenous people; and stated further that Alaska’s indigenous peoples should be masters of their destiny and rate of their own cultural evolution; and

WHEREAS, ANILCA, Title VIII’s subsistence protections are a legal bulwark that has thus far withstood numerous challenges by forces hostile to Alaska Native and subsistence rights; and

WHEREAS, while Alaska’s First Nations would support any amendment of ANILCA that would enhance or strengthen its current subsistence protections, they are concerned that to open up ANILCA for positive amendments at this time might make its existing subsistence protections vulnerable to petitions for repeal by forces hostile to subsistence and Tribal rights; and

WHEREAS, much is at stake for all NCAI member Tribes in the Year 2000 elections, in the questions of presidential succession and the future make-up of the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and concomitant Cabinet appointments; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians has long supported Alaska’s First Nations in their endeavors to maintain their Tribal hunting and fishing rights, especially as challenges to such rights affect the rights of all NCAI member tribes.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians hereby supports Alaska’s First Nations in their desire to see that the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act not be opened.

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.