Title: Support for National Tribal Forum on ICWA Implementation Issues

 

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, a national forum to discuss continuing problems with ICWA implementation and develop strategies to address these problems was held on June 24-25 in conjunction with NCAI’s 2000 Mid-Year Conference in Juneau, Alaska, and

WHEREAS, discussions held at the ICWA Forum revealed that many Indian children are still being lost to their tribes and families because of problems with the ICWA, especially in the area of voluntary adoptions, and

WHEREAS, the tribal representatives in attendance at this ICWA Forum recommended that another meeting be held before the NCAI 2000 Annual Convention to complete work on ICWA implementation strategies, now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI calls for the NCAI/Indian Child Welfare Task Force to sponsor a national meeting to be held jointly with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona and the National Indian Child Welfare Association to initiate a strategic plan to address ICWA implementation issues, including those addressed in S. 1213.

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.