Title: Support for the Douglas Indian Association on the Tulsequah Chief Mine Issue in Canada

 

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 is a federally recognized Tribe in accordance with, and by authority of the Indian Reorganization Act, on June 13, 1934, and as amended on June 15, 1935; and,

WHEREAS, the issues surrounding the proposed opening of the Tulsequah Chief Mine and Road in British Columbia, Canada on the Taku River watershed are complicated by the position of the international boundary; and,

WHEREAS, subsistence uses of the natural resources, such as fish, are important to tribal members of the Douglas Indian Association; and,

WHEREAS, the Douglas Indian Association seeks to preserve and protect the water quality of the Taku River as any changes to water quality from mining in Canada could have long-range impacts to subsistence resources and uses; and,

WHEREAS, the Department of State, Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have pledged support of the Tribal concerns in international discussions with the Canadian government; and,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby support the Douglas Indian Association’s efforts to preserve and protect the subsistence way of life, thereby preserving the culture, on the Taku River when the Tribe addresses the Tulsequah Chief Mine with the British Columbia government, and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NCAI submit letters of support to the Department of State, Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs with copies of this resolution in efforts to address the water quality issues on the Taku River.

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.