Title: Support the Alaska Native Justice Center in Their Effort to Address the Inequities of Alaska Natives in the Alaska Court System and the Native American Rights Fund in their class-action lawsuit also addressing the inequities.

 

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, there are inequities in Alaska’s state court system affecting Alaska Natives; and,

WHEREAS, the inequities of Alaska Natives in the Alaska court system is well documented by the Alaska Native Justice Center and Native American Rights Fund (NARF); and

WHEREAS, the Alaska Native Justice Center’s efforts work towards addressing the inequities with research that show the disparity; and

WHEREAS, NARF’s most notable effort currently addressing the disparity of Alaska Natives in the state court system is through a class-action lawsuit, against the state, representing over 20 Alaska Native villages; and

WHEREAS, NCAI, historically supports efforts of American Indian and Alaska Natives; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI does hereby support the Alaska Native Justice Center in their effort addressing the inequities of Alaska Natives in the Alaska court system and NARF’s similar effort in their class-action lawsuit.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Tony Knowles, Governor – State of Alaska, Alaska Inter-Tribal Council, Alaska Federation of Natives, Alaska Native Justice Center and Native American Rights Fund.

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.