TITLE: Support Need for Scientific Based Survey to Better Understand Elder Abuse and Protect Our Elders
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, Elder Abuse occurs in tribal communities and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Tribal Governments, communities and tribal families care for the health and welfare of our tribal elders; and
WHEREAS, NCAI understands the need for well designed, scientifically, fact-based surveys to have better strategies and management of elder abuse.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the NCAI requests that the United States Administration on Aging, United States Department of Justice and other involved entities design effective and relevant surveys to address elder abuse in our tribal communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI supports the resources necessary to carry out such a survey; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.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.