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

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:                                 Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
2020-11	Law & Justice	Timothy D. Reynon	Reaffirmation 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. 

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