TITLE: Calling for all Federal Agencies to Recognize and Adhere to Tribal Employment Rights Laws for Federal Projects on or Near Reservations, Tribal Lands, and Ceded Areas of Each Tribe
WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American 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 the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the health, safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and
WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, the unemployment and poverty rates on tribal land are consistently higher than in the states or the nation, due in large measure to the lack of employment opportunities on tribal land; and
WHEREAS, Tribal governments have enacted and enforced tribal employment rights laws to provide greater opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives to be hired for jobs within the boundaries of their reservations, tribal land, ceded areas, or within a reasonable commuting distance of the boundaries of those lands; and
WHEREAS, these tribal employment rights laws have not been consistently recognized and followed by federal agencies which either manage or contract for projects or other programs on tribal land, limiting opportunities for employment of qualified tribal members and contributing to high rates of unemployment and poverty; and
WHEREAS, by unanimous vote, the Tribal Employment Rights Committee has agreed that this issue is one requiring immediate attention and action by the President and Congress of the United States.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NCAI does hereby call for President Barack Obama to issue an Executive Order requiring federal agencies to recognize and follow the tribal employment rights laws of the tribal government for federal projects and programs occurring on the reservation, tribal land, ceded areas, or within reasonable commuting distance from the boundaries of those lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.
CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2015 Midyear Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the St. Paul River Centre, St. Paul, MN, June 28 to July 1, 2015, with a quorum present.