Oppose the Privatization of Municipal Watersheds

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:                                    Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
18-43	Natural Resources/Lands	Taylor Aalvik	Oppose the Privatization of Municipal Watersheds	X			yes

 2018 Annual Convention 

Worley, Idaho 

RESOLUTION #18 – 43 

“OPPOSE THE PRIVATIZATION OF MUNICIPAL WATERSHEDS” 

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, water is essential to all life; and 

WHEREAS, every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes; and 

WHEREAS, the demand for bottled water threatens the long-term ability of Municipal Watersheds to ensure a reliable source of water for residential, agricultural, and Tribal cultural uses, as well as to support salmon fisheries; and  

WHEREAS, the privatization of Municipal Watersheds threatens to ensure a reliable source of water for residential, agricultural, and Tribal uses, as well as to support the salmon fishery; and 

WHEREAS, both restrictions on bottled water production and the rejection of privatization of Municipal Watersheds are necessary to protect water supplies for present and future generations; and 

WHEREAS, water, and more broadly nature, are living beings that have the right to exist free from exploitation; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby: 

 Recognize that water is essential to all life; 

 Recognizes that every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water, adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes; 

 Recognizes the rights of nature to exist free from exploitation; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI opposes the privatization of Municipal Watersheds. 

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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