Supporting the Washington State Legislature to Adopt the Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:                                 Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
2020-13	Natural Resources/Lands	Taylor Aalvik	Supporting the Washington State Legislature to Adopt the Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act

 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 13 

“SUPPORTING THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT THE WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS ACT” 

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, Washington State has experienced catastrophic wildfires in recent years; and 

WHEREAS, such fires have destroyed life, property, and culturally significant resources; and

WHEREAS, Washington tribal trust resources and tribal rights are threatened by increased wildfire risks associated with forest disease and climate change; and 

WHEREAS, Washington tribal leaders have expressed concerns that wildfire extent and severity is destroying trust resources and impacting air and water quality for all species; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI Tribes have actively managed forests since time immemorial which has provided the knowledge base to restore current forest health; and 

WHEREAS, the Washington State legislature has drafted legislation which may be known as the “Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act;” and 

WHEREAS, forest health conditions will require sustained and long-term investments in order to reverse our forest health and wildlife crisis; and 

WHEREAS, the proposed act would dedicate funding to improve the health and resiliency of Washington’s forests; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI supports state-wide forest health and fire protection activities on all Tribal, Federal, State, and private forests with the knowledge that these activities will be conducted in part with tribal governments and protect tribal resources from catastrophic fire loss; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI supports and encourages the Washington State Legislature to adopt a “Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Act.” 

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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