On November 4, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) will be hosting a webinar to discuss the history of the National Native American Veteran Memorial, and provide a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the memorial. Speakers will include Rebecca Trautmann, Alexandra Harris, and Betsy Gordon. If you have questions, or require special accommodations, please contact Pete Vicaire at peter.vicaire@va.gov.To register for the webinar, please click here.NCAI Contact: Nicholas Courtney, Policy Analyst, ncourtney@ncai.org
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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.
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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
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