Supporting the Washington State Legislature to Adopt the Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-13Natural Resources/LandsTaylor AalvikSupporting the Washington State Legislature to Adopt the Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 13 

“SUPPORTING THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT THE WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS 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, 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, Washington State has experienced catastrophic wildfires in recent years; and 

WHEREAS, such fires have destroyed life, property, and culturally significant resources; and

WHEREAS, Washington tribal trust resources and tribal rights are threatened by increased wildfire risks associated with forest disease and climate change; and 

WHEREAS, Washington tribal leaders have expressed concerns that wildfire extent and severity is destroying trust resources and impacting air and water quality for all species; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI Tribes have actively managed forests since time immemorial which has provided the knowledge base to restore current forest health; and 

WHEREAS, the Washington State legislature has drafted legislation which may be known as the “Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act;” and 

WHEREAS, forest health conditions will require sustained and long-term investments in order to reverse our forest health and wildlife crisis; and 

WHEREAS, the proposed act would dedicate funding to improve the health and resiliency of Washington’s forests; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI supports state-wide forest health and fire protection activities on all Tribal, Federal, State, and private forests with the knowledge that these activities will be conducted in part with tribal governments and protect tribal resources from catastrophic fire loss; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI supports and encourages the Washington State Legislature to adopt a “Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act.” 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Calling on the Council on Environmental Quality for Consultation on Proposed Regulation Changes Under the National Environmental Policy Act

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2020-12Natural Resources/LandsTaylor AalvikCalling on the Council on Environmental Quality for Consultation on Proposed Regulation Changes Under the National Environmental Policy Act


X

 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 12 

“CALLING ON THE COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED REGULATION CHANGES UNDER THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA)” 

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, the Council on Environmental Quality proposed major regulatory changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on January 10, 2020; and

WHEREAS, tribal trust resources and tribal rights could be threatened by the proposed changes to environmental review by the January 10, 2020 rule changes; and 

WHEREAS, the Council for Environmental Quality cites a need to facilitate more efficient, effective, and timely NEPA reviews; and 

WHEREAS, NEPA regulations and guidance have in fact been frequently updated with focus on clarification, timeliness, and brevity; and 

WHEREAS, the Council on Environmental Quality proposal shows an attempt to significantly restrict reviews spatially and temporally; and 

WHEREAS, the proposed changes are likely to substantially restrict environmental review and consideration of related impacts; and 

WHEREAS, the Council on Environmental Quality proposal can likely be contrary to the meaning and intent of NEPA; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI would like to understand how the Council on Environmental Quality has established its legal burden to make substantive changes to the meaning and intent of lawfully approved Congressional legislation; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, pursuant to Executive Order 13175, ATNI does hereby respectfully call upon the Council on Environmental Quality to consult with tribes on its regulatory proposal to change regulations under NEPA; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI wants to know how the proposed NEPA regulatory changes may impact treaty and/or trust resources of the tribes; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI is opposed to NEPA regulatory changes that would diminish protections for culturally significant resources of the Tribes. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Reaffirmation of Prior Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indian’s Emergency Services Assistance Requests to the Washington State Military Department

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-11Law & JusticeTimothy D. ReynonReaffirmation of Prior Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indian’s Emergency Services Assistance Requests to the Washington State Military Department



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION # 2020 – 11 

“REAFFIRMATION OF PRIOR AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIAN’S EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSISTANCE REQUESTS TO THE WASHINGTON STATE MILITARY DEPARTMENT” 

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, there are concerns as to tribal/state/federal interoperability, and the lack of planning relating to Natural and other disasters that have affected, and will affect Tribal governments, tribal members, property, resources, and cultural sites during large scale emergency situations; and 

WHEREAS, there continues to be an operational lack of understanding regarding tribal/state/federal/ and local emergency service responsibilities and coordination efforts, especially as it relates to the individually unique sovereignty and jurisdiction(s) that apply to all the Tribes in Washington, and addressing the needs of tribal communities in declared emergencies; and 

WHEREAS, in the planning for a possible catastrophic seismic event, and ensuing tsunami, the Tribes in the State of Washington need to be brought into the planning process in a manner consistent with the maintenance of tribal sovereignty, in order to ensure Tribal interests will be addressed, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are in place on how the Washington State Military Department (WSMD) interfaces with Tribal Emergency Management Departments, and a methodology is in place to assist in coordinating Tribal Emergency Services needs with Tribal, State, and Federal partners; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI, due to reoccurring catastrophic natural disasters which have, and will continue to affect tribal governments, property, communities, and tribal members in the State of Washington, reaffirms its support for ATNI Resolution #14-59 (requesting the development of a Washington National Guard Tribal Liaison) and the 2016 letter from ATNI President Fawn Sharp to Governor Inslee requesting increased Emergency Management coordination and assistance from the Washington State Military Department (both documents attached). 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Support for Ending the HIV Epidemic in Indian Country

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-10HealthNick LewisSupport for Ending the HIV Epidemic in Indian Country


X

 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 10 

“SUPPORT FOR ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN INDIAN COUNTRY” 

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, more than 700,000 lives, and at least 2,019 American Indian and Alaska Native lives, have been lost to HIV in the United States since 1981; and 

WHEREAS, more than 1.1 million Americans, and at least 3,035 AI/AN people, are currently living with HIV; and

WHEREAS, from 2013 through 2017 rates of new diagnosis of HIV for AI/AN people increased to 7.8 per 100,000 – although rates of new HIV diagnosis decreased or stayed stable for all other racial and ethnic groups; and 

WHEREAS, without intervention many more AI/AN people will be newly diagnosed over the next 10 years – despite the available tools to prevent infections; and 

WHEREAS, the United States has trust and treaty obligations to provide healthcare to AI/AN people; and 

WHEREAS, on February 5, 2019, President Donald J. Trump in his State of the Union announced his Administration’s goal to end the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years; and 

WHEREAS, to achieve the goal and address the ongoing public health crisis of HIV, the proposed Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America will leverage the powerful data and tools now available to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent in five years and by 90 percent by 2030; and 

WHEREAS, in order for tribes and AI/AN people to be included in the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America funding must be allocated to tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs to develop infrastructure and systems to diagnose, treat, prevent and respond to the HIV Epidemic; and 

WHEREAS, $25 million was proposed in the President’s Indian Health Service budget for FY 2020 for HIV and viral hepatitis C (HCV) as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America and final appropriations for the Indian Health Service for FY 2020 did not include HIV and HCV funding; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI is deeply concerned that lack of funding for Ending the HIV Epidemic in Indian Country will likely lead to continued HIV and HCV health disparities and health outcomes for AI/AN people; and 

WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Human Services is subject to trust and treaty obligations and must ensure funding is available to tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI fully supports HIV and viral hepatitis C (HCV) funding as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America in Indian Country; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI calls on the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Indian Health Service and its other agencies, for inclusion of tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs in future budgets and national initiatives; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI calls upon Congress to fully fund tribes and the Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Programs to develop infrastructure and systems to diagnose, treat, prevent and respond to HIV and HCV as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Support for Quality Care and Improved Health Outcomes for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ People

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-09HealthNick LewisSupport for Quality Care and Improved Health Outcomes for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ People


X

 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 09 

“SUPPORT FOR QUALITY CARE AND IMPROVED HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR TWO SPIRIT AND LGBTQ+ PEOPLE” 

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 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 ATNI; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI supports the health and wellbeing of all Native people, including those who are Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or another identity (LGBTQ+), and 

WHEREAS, prior to contact with settlers, many tribal nations across the country and continent had long histories of respect and inclusion of those in their communities who might today identify as Two Spirit or LGBTQ+; and

WHEREAS, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionately experience refusal of care, discrimination, and insufficient provider knowledge in healthcare settings; and 

WHEREAS, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals who fear discrimination or harassment in healthcare settings are more likely to postpone necessary treatment and report lack of access to care; and 

WHEREAS, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionately experience discrimination and harassment in many communities, including healthcare settings; and 

WHEREAS, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals are important members of their communities who desire to participate in community gatherings and ceremonies without fear of discrimination or harassment; and 

WHEREAS, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals experience health disparities including increased risk of anxiety, depression, HIV, exposure to violence, and suicidality; and 

WHEREAS, access to gender-affirming healthcare is critical and lifesaving for transgender individuals; and 

WHEREAS, healthcare settings are uniquely positioned to affirm Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ identities; and 

WHEREAS, Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ individuals thrive in settings which demonstrate respect and inclusion of their identities; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI supports initiatives that promote quality care and improved health outcomes for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ people, including but not limited to: 

  • • Creating gender-affirming clinical and community spaces, 
  • • Working to destigmatize minority sexual orientations and gender identities, 
  • • Ensuring healthcare providers and community members respect all individuals their identities; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI supports advocacy for the continued dissemination and implementation of this work within the Northwest and throughout Indian Country to ensure that our healthcare facilities and communities affirm all sexual orientations and gender identities and adopt non-discrimination policies; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI calls on Congress and the Administration to fund initiatives that support and protect Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ people.

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Urge the University of Washington to be Accountable for the Annual First Nations at UW Spring Pow Wow

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-08EducationPatricia WhitefootUrge the University of Washington to be Accountable for the Annual First Nations at UW Spring Pow Wow



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 08 

“URGE THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TO BE 

ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ANNUAL FIRST NATIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SPRING POWWOW” 

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, the University of Washington (UW) sits on the occupied land of the Coast Salish peoples; and

WHEREAS, the land on which the UW sits has been the site of potlatches, powwows, coastal jams and many cultural celebrations for millennia; and 

WHEREAS, the United States educational system have continued histories of institutional erasure and cultural genocide; and 

WHEREAS, the increasing inability to engage and practice American Indian/Alaskan Native cultural traditions as a result of the increase of on-campus venue costs and recent decrease of support to host these events is a covert display of institutional erasure; and 

WHEREAS, the First Nations (FN) @ UW Registered Student Organization (RSO) had a now fifty-year tradition of expressing and practicing their cultural identities through powwow at the UW; and 

WHEREAS, the FN@UW Spring Powwow is consistently cited and displayed by the UW for advertising its diversity without acknowledgement or compensation of the students who host this event; and 

WHEREAS, the cost of the annual Spring Powwow has become too great for students to afford; and 

WHEREAS, First Nations students are expected to fundraise without the University Advancement support of $50,000+ currently, and continues to increase annually; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI urges the UW to be responsible for securing and supporting a venue space in perpetuity on campus for the second weekend of April for American Indian/Alaskan Native students, faculty, staff, community and Indigenous allies to express, practice, and uphold their identity and traditional ways of life; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI urges higher education institutions to be responsible for understanding and respecting the importance of cultural connection for American Indian/Alaskan Native students on campus; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI urges the UW to be responsible for guaranteeing First Nations @ UW a date and venue for all future FN@UW Spring Powwows as reconciliation for their past negligence. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Annual Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at DoubleTree by Hilton, Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Opposition to Proposed Imminent Closure and Sale of the Northwest Regional Branch of National Archives Facilities, Sandpoint Way, Seattle

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-01Off the Floor
Opposition to Proposed Imminent Closure and Sale of the Northwest Regional Branch of National Archives Facilities, Sandpoint Way, SeattleX


 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 01 

“OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED IMMINENT CLOSURE AND SALE OF THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL BRANCH OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES FACILITIES, SANDPOINT WAY, SEATTLE” 

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, the National Archives maintains the Federal Archives and Records Center in Seattle, Washington (known as the “Sand Point Archive”); and

WHEREAS, the Sand Point Archive contains historical records from all federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service and other agencies that have had dealings with Indian tribes; and 

WHEREAS, the Sand Point Archive safeguards many historical materials important to Indian tribes, such as original copies of correspondence between treaty authors, Indian agents, and tribal leaders during treaty negotiations in the mid-19th Century, as well as original drafts of the treaties themselves; and 

WHEREAS, the Sand Point Archive houses tribal and individual tribal member records which detail family medical histories, household composition and other census/membership records, land assignments and losses; and 

WHEREAS, there is a federal Trust responsibility to maintain records of Trust Assets and to continue to make them available for tribal use; and 

WHEREAS, the Sand Point Archive obtained all the information related to Alaska tribes when the Anchorage archives were closed in 2014; and 

WHEREAS, the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act of 2016 (“FASTA”) empowers the Public Buildings Reform Board (“PBRB”) to identify specific Federal properties for disposal in a manner that will “obtain the highest and best value for the taxpayer” and to accomplish the goal of “facilitation and expediting the sale or disposal of unneeded Federal civilian real properties”; and 

WHEREAS, the PBRB issued a report in December 2019 recommending the sale of the Sand Point Archive; and 

WHEREAS, neither the PBRB nor any federal agency conducted any formal consultation with potentially impacted Indian tribes about the decision to close the Sand Point Archive; and 

WHEREAS, the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) has identified concerns with an earlier version of the PBRB report which also identified sale of the Sand Point Archive; and 

WHEREAS, the transportation to another locale of irreplaceable historical documents and materials relating to Indian tribes threatens their damage, deterioration and total loss; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby call upon the Office of Management and Budget to immediately halt any decision regarding the potential closure of the Sand Point Archive until formal government-to-government consultation has been conducted with affected and interested Indian tribes, as provided for under Executive Order 13175. AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS RESOLUTION # 2020-01 

2020 WINTER CONVENTION PAGE 3 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

First Flag of America

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18-49VeteransLavada AndersonFirst Flag of AmericaX

yes

 2018 Annual Convention 

Worley, Idaho 

RESOLUTION #18 – 49 

“FIRST FLAG OF AMERICA” 

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 Native American Eagle Staff is historically the First Flag of America and represents the stature and honor of Native American Tribes; it resembles a shepherd’s staff, usually wrapped in animal skin and features Eagle Feathers; and 

WHEREAS, pre-dating colonization, the Eagle Staff was the indicator of a tribe’s accomplishments in battle and peace and, the integrity and honor of its people; and 

WHEREAS, today, it represents tribal communities, Native Americans and First Nations organizations, or a member of an honor society, or an Native American Veteran; and

WHEREAS, the Eagle Staff represents Tribal sovereignty, unity, spirituality, culture, and traditions, which reflects the honor bestowed upon an individual, Tribal organization, or Tribal Elder; and 

WHEREAS, the Eagle Staff is typically carried by Native American Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, who have served in greater numbers per capita than any other ethnicity across all branches of the United States Military; and 

WHEREAS, the Eagle Staff is a proud legacy of the Native American people; and it is the embodiment of the warrior and of enduring fortitude which together have enabled the Native American Tribes to survive federal, state, and local government legislation and policies intended to terminate their race, culture, language, and traditions; and 

WHEREAS, the Eagle Staff is adorned with Eagle Feathers symbolizing the remembrance of both fallen and respected Warriors; and 

WHEREAS, because Eagles and Eagle Feathers are highly revered and federally protected, only a few federal agencies and Native Americans may carry Eagle Feathers as the Eagle Feather is the highest award that can be given by a Native American Tribe to its Members; and 

WHEREAS, the Eagle Staff is welcomed into all Native American and First Nations of Canada with a flag song or victory song and is always presented ahead of all flags; and 

WHEREAS, the Eagle is honored on the National Seal of the United States of America or, standard that bears an Eagle as a symbol; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that this resolution be presented to the United States government, including the Department of Interior, all departments and branches of military affairs, and the Department of Veteran Affairs; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI supports and approves requesting the United States government and the President of the United States of America sign a Resolution making the Native American Eagle Staff the First Flag of America and to respect the use and wearing of the Eagle Feather or tribal clothing as a representation of our heritage/culture and allowed to be worn or carried within any office of the United States government. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2018 Annual Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the Coeur D’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – Worley, Idaho, on September 17-20, 2018, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Bureau of Indian Affairs Road Maintenance Program

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18-48TransportationKirk VinishBureau of Indian Affairs Road Maintenance ProgramX

no

 2018 Annual Convention 

Worley, Idaho 

RESOLUTION #18 – 48 

“BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS ROAD MAINTENANCE PROGRAM” 

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, Construction activities for Tribal Transportation facilities is administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Federal Highway Administration and is funded pursuant to USDOT (23 USC 202).; and 

WHEREAS, the BIA Road System consists of those roads which are important to the overall public transportation needs of the tribes for which the BIA has primary responsibility for

maintenance and improvements and whose designation criteria are in the BIA Manual Section 57 BIAM 4.2; and 

WHEREAS, the BIA is mandated to maintain roads and transportation facilities constructed with Highway Trust Funds; and 

WHEREAS, the BIA provides transportation maintenance funding pursuant to “historical shares” which excludes many tribes; and 

WHEREAS, the Tribal Transportation Program uses a tribal shares formula method for distributing road funding which ensures that all tribes receive some funding; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby urge the Department of Interior to eliminate the historical shares method for allocating Indian road maintenance funding and instead use the same statutory formula found in the Tribal Transportation Program. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2018 Annual Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the Coeur D’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – Worley, Idaho, on September 17-20, 2018, with a quorum present. 

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Protect and Restore Snake River Salmon, Southern Resident Orcas, and Treaty Rights

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                    Pass →                     YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
18-44Natural Resources/LandsTaylor AalvikProtect and Restore Snake River Salmon, Southern Resident Orcas, and Treaty Rights

TABLED

 TABLED 

2018 Annual Convention 

Worley, Idaho 

RESOLUTION #18 – 44 

“PROTECT AND RESTORE SNAKE RIVER SALMON, SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS, AND TREATY RIGHTS” 

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; now 

WHEREAS, as indigenous peoples we honor in all ways our relation to Creation and in that spirit acknowledge a sacred obligation to ensure all our relations are treated in a dignified manner that reflects tribal cultural values that have been passed down for countless generations; and

WHEREAS, the Nez Perce Tribe has been party to a number of lawsuits under the Endangered Species Act and has attempted many methods to develop, continue and/or restore the native Salmon runs that fall within its Treaty of 1855 and Usual and Accustomed areas; and 

WHEREAS, the Nez Perce Tribe has been attempting to bring back the Salmon runs to pre-dam levels; and 

WHEREAS, the Nez Perce tribe has, along with a number of states and federal agencies, taken action to ensure that the Native Salmon runs are available for the future generations of Nez Perce including spending enormous sums of money on this effort; and 

WHEREAS, the efforts by the numerous agencies and the tribe have achieved limited success in restoring the native Salmon runs; and 

WHEREAS, Snake River wild spring/summer chinook salmon have not met the Northwest Power Conservation Council’s recovery objectives, with smolt-to-adult returns at 1.1 percent since the year 2000 despite salmon recovery efforts; and 

WHEREAS, the Army Corps of Engineers agrees that breaching the dams has the highest probability of meeting federal salmon recovery objectives criteria, and since 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service’s results demonstrated that Snake River dam breaching by itself is likely to lead to recovery of fall chinook and steelhead; and 

WHEREAS, chinook salmon comprise at least 80% of the diet of endangered southern resident orcas – more than 50% of it from the Columbia River basin (which includes the Snake River watershed) – and dwindling chinook runs are the leading cause for the decline of those orcas to a critically low breeding population of fewer than 30 individuals; and 

WHEREAS, the four lower Snake River dams have a benefit to cost ratio of 15¢ on the dollar, and sacrifice thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in potential benefits of a free-flowing river; and 

WHEREAS, power from the lower Snake River dams is rarely available to meet peak power demands and maintaining them diverts funds from other more reliable dams and restoration work; and 

WHEREAS, the Army Corps of Engineers needs no new authority to place the lower Snake River dams into a “non-operational” status and, further, has a fiduciary responsibility to do so; and 

WHEREAS, breaching the dams can be financed through existing debt reduction and credit mechanisms as a fish mitigation action by Bonneville Power Administration and is significantly easier and less costly than originally planned; and 

WHEREAS, the southern resident orcas and wild Snake River salmon are an integral part of the Pacific Northwest tribal culture and economy, and after 30 years of failed mitigation

efforts further delays will risk the extinction of our Southern Resident Orcas and wild Snake River salmon; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the ATNI hereby call upon the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, and federal trustees to begin removal of the earthen portions of the four lower-Snake River dams to restore Snake River salmon, southern resident orcas, and tribal treaty rights to take fish in all Usual and Accustomed areas; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the ATNI calls upon Washington state congressional delegation and state elected officials to support the dam breaching process and to ensure a positive transition for the communities affected by the removal. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2018 Annual Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the Coeur D’Alene Casino Resort Hotel – Worley, Idaho, on September 17-20, 2018, with a quorum present. 

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