Title: Support Federal Legislation Calling for Recognition of the
Hawaiian Nation and Return of Land to the Hawaiian Nation

 

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 federal policy affords all Native Americans and Alaska Native the right to be self-governing within a defined land base; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for self-government; and

WHEREAS, NCAI at its 56^th annual session adopted Resolution #99-042, which supports the sovereign rights of Native Hawaiians and recognizes the need to develop a true government-to-government relationship with the Hawaiian Nation; and

WHEREAS, NCAI also adopted in that same resolution that the Hawaiian Nation's goal is federal recognition as a sovereign indigenous nation with inherent rights to self-determination and self-governance.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby support federal legislation calling for recognition of the Hawaiian Nation, a self-determined entity created by and for native Hawaiians and their descendants in furtherance of a true government-to-government relationship; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI further supports the return of land to the Hawaiian Nation.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Hawai'i state legislature, the Hawai'i congressional delegation, the 106^th Congress of the United States of America, Secretary of the Department of Interior, Attorney General of the United States, Secretary of State and the President of the United States of America.

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.