Resolution #SAC-12-054
TITLE: Increase Funding for Prevention of Methamphetamine and Suicide in Indian Country
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 problem of the illegal manufacture, sale and use of methamphetamine on American Indian reservations, Alaska Native villages and urban Indian communities represents a dangerous and intolerable environment, causing death and disability to our most vulnerable tribal citizens; and
WHEREAS, the escalating problem of suicide among our youth and young adult populations in American Indian reservations, Alaska Native villages and urban Indian communities continues to plague our communities; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress recognized the need to take immediate action to attempt to intervene and prevent the spread of methamphetamine and suicide among our tribal youth populations by providing to the Indian Health Service specific targeted appropriations for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service after consulting with Tribal Leaders through its National Tribal Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health distributed these targeted funds to the 12 Areas and national initiatives which funded tribes, IHS and urban Indian health providers through grants and contracts; and
WHEREAS, while helpful, the limited funding for methamphetamine and suicide prevention at $16 million and special funding for domestic violence prevention at $9.4 million fall far below what is needed to sustain prevention efforts; and
WHEREAS, only 125 programs are currently being funded and many tribal communities, Alaska Native villages, and urban Indian communities did not receive funding during the preliminary round of funding; and
WHEREAS, the tribal communities, Alaska Native villages and urban Indian communities that were funded require more time to make lasting impacts to prevent methamphetamine, suicide and domestic violence in our communities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NCAI urges the United States Congress to continue to support and to increase the funding for Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative currently funded through recurring IHS funding; 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 2012 Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Sacramento Convention Center from October 21-26, 2012 in Sacramento, California, with a quorum present.
President
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary