Support for Legislation that Establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs’ Tribal Advisory Committee

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Res #: Committee: Submitted by: Title:         Pass → Yes No Amended/Tabled To NCAI
19-15 Veterans Lavada Anderson Support for Legislation that Establishes a Department of Veterans Affairs’ Tribal Advisory Committee X


 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 15 

“SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHES A DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS’ TRIBAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, 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 to 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, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, 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 the ATNI; and 

WHEREAS, AI/AN Veterans have played a vital role in the United States military for over two hundred years in all of the United State’s wars since the Revolutionary War and have served in several wars before they were even recognized as American citizens; and

WHEREAS, AI/AN Veterans have distinctive cultural values that drive them to serve their country; and 

WHEREAS, AI/ANs serve in the United States Armed Forces at higher rates per capita, are younger as a cohort and have a higher concentration of female Service members compared to all other Service members, yet they are underrepresented among Veterans who access the services and benefits they have earned; and 

WHEREAS, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics counted 11,028 AI/AN Veterans in the Northwest; and 

WHEREAS, in FY 2016, there were 1,775 AI/AN Veterans in Idaho, 3,151 in Oregon, and 6,102 in Washington; and 

WHEREAS, the Veterans Affair (VA) must take into consideration that AI/AN Veterans are more likely to lack health insurance and to have a disability, service-connected or otherwise, than Veterans of other races; and 

WHEREAS, in 2010, the American Community Survey highlighted about 19 % of AI/AN Veterans had a service-connected disability rating in 2010; and 

WHEREAS, in FY 2016, the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics reported that AI/AN Veterans have lower incomes, lower educational attainment, and higher unemployment than Veterans of other races; and 

WHEREAS, for the VA to better serve AI/AN Veterans after their service, the VA must create a Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) to address inequities of AI/AN Veterans and to fulfill the federal trust responsibility; and 

WHEREAS, the creation of a VA TAC is critical to ensuring that the VA in partnership with tribes provides comprehensive culturally responsive care and benefits to our AI/AN Veterans; and 

WHEREAS, a VA TAC would provide an opportunity for meaningful tribal consultation and deliberation on issues that pertain to the complex and varying infrastructure of Indian Health Service and Tribal health care facilities for the 573 federally-recognized tribes in the United States; and 

WHEREAS, the VA TAC is needed to ensure that effective collaboration and informed decision-making with tribes occurs before, during, and after VA policy decisions are made; and 

WHEREAS, the VA TAC should be comprised of designated tribal representatives to ensure-ongoing communications with the leadership of the VA regarding broad policy decisions that significantly impact the healthcare and well-being of AI/AN Veterans; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI supports legislation that establishes a VA TAC with these provisions: 

 Membership must be based on Indian Health Service Areas; 

 Tribes must be able to select their own representatives to participate on the VA TAC, and such representatives may or may not be elected tribal leaders; 

 Include “Alternate Representatives” and Technical Advisors for each Area; 

 No term limits on TAC membership except that a TAC member may be replaced if the TAC member is unable to attend two of four meetings in year; 

 Membership must include non-voting representatives from the VA Office of Tribal Government Relations and the Indian Health Service; 

 Quarterly meetings must be held along with monthly calls, as necessary; 

 Inclusion of Subcommittees within the VA TAC to enhance the work of the TAC on various issues impacting AI/AN veterans; and 

 Inclusion of an annual report from the VA to tribes as well as Congress. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the Doubletree by Hilton – Portland Oregon, on January 28-31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Leonard Forsman, President Norma Jean Louie, Secretary 

Tribal Membership in Washington State Regional Transportation Planning Organizations

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Res #: Committee: Submitted by: Title:         Pass → Yes No Amended/Tabled To NCAI
19-14 Transportation Kirk Vinish Tribal Membership in Washington State Regional Transportation Planning Organizations X


 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 14 

“TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP IN WASHINGTON STATE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties 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 the 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, Oregon, Montana, 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 the Northwest Indians; and 

WHEREAS, effective regional transportation planning requires participation from all affected governments; and 

WHEREAS, HB 1584 in the Washington State Legislature ensures that tribes shall be allowed to have voting membership in Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO’s); and 

WHEREAS, many tribal governments wish to participate in the RTPO’s; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby urge its members to make it known to the Washington State Legislature that all tribes should be allowed to become a voting member in Regional Transportation Planning Organizations. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 28-31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Leonard Forsman, President Norma Jean Louie, Secretary 

Calling on the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior to Conduct Meaningful Government- to-Government Consultation with Pacific Northwest Tribes Regarding the Proposed Endangered Species Act Rule Changes

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Res #: Committee: Submitted by: Title:         Pass → Yes No Amended/Tabled To NCAI
19-06 Natural Resources/Lands Taylor Aalvik Calling on the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior to Conduct Meaningful Government- to-Government Consultation with Pacific Northwest Tribes Regarding the Proposed Endangered Species Act Rule Changes X

X

 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 06 

“CALLING ON THE SECRETARIES OF COMMERCE AND THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT MEANINGFUL GOVERNMENT–TO-GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION 

WITH PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIBES REGARDING THE PROPOSED 

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT RULE CHANGES” 

PREAMBLE 

We the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, 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 to 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, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, 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 the ATNI; and 

WHEREAS, the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior proposed three major rule changes to Endangered Species Act on July 25, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Secretarial Order 3206, “American Indian Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act,” requires the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to conduct government-to-government consultations when proposed Endangered Species Act regulations may affect Indian lands, tribal trust resources, or the exercise of American Indian tribal rights; and 

WHEREAS, tribal trust resources and tribal rights are threatened by the proposed July 25, 2018 rule changes; and 

WHEREAS, tribal leaders have expressed that proposed rule changes threaten tribal trust resources and tribal rights through public comment, as Agencies have not appropriately used tribal consultation; and 

WHEREAS, tribes requesting government-to-government meetings have been offered staff-to-staff meetings; and 

WHEREAS, additional requests for government-to-government meetings have been repeatedly delayed; and 

WHEREAS, Agency staff have indicated that Agency directives are to propose final rules in early 2019; and 

WHEREAS, Agency staff cannot confirm that Agencies will fulfill tribal trust responsibilities by adequately reviewing and responding to tribal concerns prior to proposing final rules; and 

WHEREAS, the Departments of Commerce and Interior have federal trust responsibilities to take into consideration the impacts of their actions and policies under the Act on Indian use of listed species for cultural and religious purposes; and 

WHEREAS, the Departments of Commerce and Interior are failing to meet this basic obligation to Pacific Northwest tribes; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI tribes believe that Agencies’ consultation practices are currently highly flawed and biased towards deregulation rather than protecting endangered species, which overlap with trust resources and treaty rights, under established rules; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI tribes believe that absent significant tribal government-to-government consultation, the Agencies will prepare a final rule which does not protect Tribal trust resources and treaty rights; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby call upon the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to direct their staffs to immediately respond to tribal concerns associated with the July 25, 2018 proposed Endangered Species Act rule changes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI calls upon the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to immediately begin meaningful government-to-government tribal consultation to hear tribal leadership’s concerns and address those concerns in a manner ‘clearly stating the rationale for the recommended final decision and explain how the decision relates to the Services’ trust responsibilities. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton- Portland, Oregon, January 28 – 31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Leonard Forsman, President Jeanie Louie, Secretary 

Restore Affirmative Action

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Res #: Committee: Submitted by: Title:         Pass → Yes No Amended/Tabled To NCAI
19-05 Native Vote Julie Johnson Restore Affirmative Action X


 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 05 

“RESTORE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, 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 to 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, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, 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 the ATNI; and 

WHEREAS, Initiative 1000 has been developed to Restore Affirmative Action for women, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, veterans and the disabled in public education, employment and contracting; and 

WHEREAS, Diversity is America’s greatest asset, yet, since the passage of I-200 in 1998, Washington State has been prohibited from using Affirmative Action to address inequities arising from systemic racism, sexism, and other biases and is only one of 8 states in the country that bans Affirmative Action; and

WHEREAS, since the passage of Initiative 200 over 20 years ago: 

 Women and minority owned businesses have lost over $3.5 billion dollars in state contracts; Source: Office of Minority & Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE); 

 Before I-200, nearly 70% of qualified American Indian freshmen who applied to 

the UW were admitted. But in 2017, only 48% of qualified American Indian 

freshmen who applied to the UW were admitted. Source: UW; 

 Since the passage of I-200, American Indian teachers have dropped to 0.7% of the 

state’s nearly 54,000 teachers. Source: UW; 

 Since the passage of I-200, African-American unemployment has risen to nearly 

7%, the highest of any ethnic community in the state. Source: Washington State 

Employment Security; 

 Since the passage of I-200, Hispanic unemployment has risen to nearly 6%, the 

2nd highest in the state. Source: Washington State Employment Security; and 

 Since the passage of I-200, white males, who are only 38% of the state population, have received over 80% of the Washington State Department of Transportation contracts; Source: Washington State Depart. of Transportation; and 

WHEREAS, Initiative 1000’s goal is to remedy discrimination so everyone can benefit from our state’s prosperous economy. I-1000 has already attracted nearly 200,000 signatures from voters all across the state as this resolution supports the passage of I-1000 which will help educate and secure support for the passage of Initiative 1000 in the next election in Washington State; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the ATNI Native Vote Committee supports the I-1000 which would repeal I-200, seeking to mitigate racial, gender, and other imbalances by bringing equity, justice, and fairness back into public policy through Affirmative Action without the use of quotas or preferential treatment; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI values and welcomes diversity and joins multiple community groups, such as the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), Jamestown S’Kallam Tribe, Puyallup Tribe, Suquamish Tribe and other tribes from the northwest, the 34th District Democrats, and former Governors Christine Gregoire, Gary Locke, Dan Evans and countless Native Leaders in the northwest in endorsing I-1000; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby support the passage of Initiative 1000 to restore Affirmative Action for Women, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, veterans, the disabled and others, in public education, employment, contracting and equitable treatment of all disadvantaged populations.

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Annual Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon on January 28–31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Leonard Forsman, President Norma Jean Louie, Secretary 

Urge Support of SB 5709, Native American Opportunity Scholarship Act

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Res #: Committee: Submitted by: Title:         Pass → Yes No Amended/Tabled To NCAI
19-02 Education Patricia Whitefoot Urge Support of SB 5709, Native American Opportunity Scholarship Act X


 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 02 

“URGE SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 5709, NATIVE AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP ACT” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties 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 the 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, Oregon, Montana, 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 the Northwest Indians; and WHEREAS, on January 28, 2019 legislation was introduced by Senator John McCoy “…to provide scholarships to encourage Native American Washington residents to earn postsecondary degrees and credentials and remain in the state and their communities to work.;” and 

WHEREAS, the legislation is currently in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee and passage of SB 5709 will create the Native American Opportunity Scholarship as a step toward increased higher educational achievement in Washington among the diverse tribal citizens in the state; and 

WHEREAS, the program will be overseen by a newly created Native American Opportunity Scholarship Board which will provide oversight of a program administrator who will solicit and fundraise private and tribal funds for the program, which will include a state match that is earned for any and all private and tribal contributions for eligible students; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby endorse and support Senate Bill 5709 to establish the Native American Opportunity Scholarship in the State of Washington to help close the higher educational attainment gap for tribal communities and tribal colleges across the state; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI urges tribal leaders to contact and write letters of support to the Washington State Legislature to vote in favor of passage of Senate Bill 5709 in the 2019 Legislative Session. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 28-31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________