Title: Creating A Tribal Liaison Position/Department Within The New Office Of Disability Policy, Evaluation And Technical Assistance Through Department Of Labor For Indian Country

 

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;

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, American Indians/Alaskan Natives have the highest incidence of disabling conditions of any culturally diverse group, one in three or 33%; and,

WHEREAS, there has been the establishment of Vocational Rehabilitation services in the creation of the American Indian Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs (referred to as the Section 121 Projects) but the number is limited in relationship to the number of Tribes and Alaska Native Villages; and,

WHEREAS, due to high unemployment rates on reservations- and in some urban areas- there is little or no established economic development for some Tribes and Alaska Native Villages; and,WHEREAS, there needs to be a coordinated effort in creating more jobs for all American Indians/Alaska Natives but particularly for people with disabilities; and,

WHEREAS, there was announced on February 9, 2000, the establishment of a new Office on Disability Policy, Evaluation and Technical Assistance through the Department of Labor that was one of the recent recommendations by the Presidential Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities and that "…this new office will provide leadership in helping people with disabilities enter, reenter and remain in the workforce…" and,

WHEREAS, the needs of Indian Country differ because of culture and tribal sovereignty there must be considerations within this new office for Indian Country; and,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby urge the Office of Disability Policy, Evaluation and Technical Assistance within the Department of Labor to create and establish a Tribal Liaison position/department within this new office. This would further address and coordinate the employment needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives; and,

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby urge membership tribes, on behalf of American Indian/Alaska Native people with disabilities and Elders, to assert the need for creating a Tribal Liaison Position/Department, and to staff said position/department, with an American Indian/Alaska Native who has background in disability issues and will represent all Tribes and Alaska Native Villages in addressing and advancing the employment issues for Indian Country.

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.