First Flag of America

Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                    Pass →                     YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
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. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

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

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 

RES 18 37

Support for the National Native American Veteran Memorial

Res #: Committee: Submitted by: Title:                                    Pass →                     Yes No Amended/Tabled To NCAI
Res-18-37 Veterans Joseph Turrey Support for the National Native American Veteran Memorial X yes

WHEREAS, the ATNI Veteran Committee supports the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indians (NMAI) efforts to construct a National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indians are now reaching out to Native Veterans of the Northwest Tribes for inclusion in the organization; and

WHEREAS, the NMAI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and the Veterans Memorial project cannot use federal funds and can only be constructed with private contributions; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby support the NMAI organization and to provide an opportunity to begin networking within Indian Country on this project to honor Native American Veterans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI supports the NMAI efforts to build the National Native Veterans Memorial and related programming to honor the service of all Native American Veterans; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the ATNI Veterans Committee encourages all Tribes of ATNI to provide financial support for completing construction and continued maintenance of this project.