Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Resolution on Senate Special Investigations Committee focus and work.
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A F F I L I A T E D T R I B E S O F N O R T H W E S T
I N D I A N S
1989 Winter Conference
Tacoma, Washington
Resolution #89-06
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians
of the United States, invoking the divine blessings of the Creator
upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves
and our descendants 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 and several 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 Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI)
are representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and
specific tribal concerns; and
WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians is a
regional organization comprised of American Indians in the states
of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, northern
California, and Alaska; and
WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and
employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural
resources are primary goals and objectives of Affiliated Tribes of
Northwest Indians; and
WHEREAS, Congress has passed Resolution (S. Res. 473) in
February of 1988 that authorized a Special Committee on
Investigations to conduct a comprehensive and intensive
investigation of the entire spectrum of the federal government's
relationship with American Indians; and
WHEREAS, the Special Committee on Investigations original
objectives were: (1) to study the Department of Interior's
exercise of trust responsibilities, and (2) to investigate the
allegation of fraud and mismanagement of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, and other Federal agencies administering Federal Indian
programs; and
WHEREAS, this Special Committee is specifically authorized
to: "Study or investigate any and all matters pertaining to
problems and opportunities of Indians and the Federal
administration of mineral resources, including but not limited to
resource management and trust responsibilities of the United
States Government, Indian education, health, special services, and
other Federal programs, and related matters."; and
WHEREAS, this investigation was initiated following the
controversy resulting from articles published by the Arizona
Republic and other newspapers regarding allegations of fraud,
mismanagement, and failure to successfully implement federal
programs designed to improve the life and welfare of Indian
people; and
WHEREAS, ATNI is deeply concerned about the direction,
approach, and impact of the study outside of its stated purpose
and mandate; and
WHEREAS, the general public has a basic misunderstanding and
lack of knowledge of the obligations of the United States due to
Treaties, Federal Statutes, Executive Orders, and other
Congressional Acts regarding trust relationships with Indian
Nations; and
WHEREAS, ATNI is concerned that the Investigations Committee
is entertaining testimony from Indian individuals who do not
represent any Indian Tribal governments and do not have a
background in implementing the Tribes' understanding of Self-
Determination and Self-Sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, ATNI is concerned regarding the dangerously
misleading impressions and images of Indian Governments, as well
as the damage and unjust impacts on Indian Governments that can
result from testimony of such individuals; and
WHEREAS, ATNI is concerned over the media portrayal of any
alleged improprieties of a few Indian leaders and is concerned
that the media does not create a generic view of Indian leaders
and governments due to these alleged improprieties. We are
concerned that the media coverage will critically damage the
general public's view of the integrity and competence of Indian
Tribes;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does urge the Special
Investigations Committee to return to its focus, attention, and
review on its original objectives, i.e. (1) studying the
Department of Interior's exercise of trust responsibilities, and
(2) the allegations of fraud and mismanagement of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, and other Federal agencies administering Federal
Indian programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby urge the Senate
Special Investigations Committee to scrutinize carefully the roles
and leadership positions of the individuals testifying before the
Committee to assure that the voices heard by Congress are those of
Indian leaders democratically chosen by the Indian people, so that
the Committee can keep in perspective the true conditions, needs,
problems, expectations, and solutions to the existing system that
serves Indian people; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI encourages the Committee to
focus on the positive progress of the Tribes in the United States
in their pursuit of Self-Determination and Self-Sufficiency. That
when the findings of the study focus on the Tribes, as opposed to
the Federal agencies, the emphasis must reflect the accomplishments
and successes. The Tribes must be provided an opportunity for
their testimony to be recognized and to balance the negative
findings with the success of the majority of the Tribes despite
the dismal conditions and ineffectiveness of the federal programs
designed to assist Tribal Governments in returning to Self-
Sufficiency, Self-Determination, and Self-Governance.
CERTIFICATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following resolution was adopted at the 1989 Winter
Conference of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, at the
Executive Inn Hotel in Tacoma, Washington on February 1-3, 1989
with a quorum present.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Joe DeLaCruz, President Georgia C. George, Recording
Secretary
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