Title: Support for American Indian Veterans Oral History Project

 

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, American Indians have served in the Armed Forces of the United States at a higher per-capita rate than any other ethnic group; and,

WHEREAS, American Indian veteran history has not been recorded, as an entire group, on their experiences and accomplishments while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the importance of a living history of the American Indian veteran will have a significant impact on educating the American people about the American Indian veterans and will also inspire our young American Indians of the valuable contributions that our American Indian people have given to the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the American Indian Museum under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution has given and endorses the support of the Soaring Eagle Foundation to provide a living history of American Indian veterans (hereafter called Native American Veterans Oral History (NAVOH) project; furthermore, the Smithsonian has offered a permanent home to the collected history videos at the American Indian museum; and

WHEREAS, the Soaring Eagle Foundation is seeking grants and private funding to complete the NAVOH project for the Smithsonian Institution. It is also very imperative that funding be expedited in order to complete Phase I (completion date of July 2001) of this project.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby support the Native American Veterans Oral History Project; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NCAI encourages all member tribes to support the NAVOH project and also encourages those tribes who are financially able, to support funding for this valuable history project.

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.