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