TITLE: Recognition of Tribal Government and Tribal Veteran Representatives CFR 38, 14(d)
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, Tribes now support the amendments to the law, CFR 38,14(d), where the Federal Department of Veteran Affairs will recognize Tribal governments to be accredited as an individual organization, and provide accreditation for a tribal employee to provide VA claims for benefits and services provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs, or to be in a partnership with an established State Department of Veterans Affairs and become accredited by that organization, recognizing that this law amendment is moving forward; and
WHEREAS, Tribes would like to respectfully request a face-to- face consultation for all tribes to respond, as this will become a national amendment; and the Tribes feel that the “Dear Tribal Leader Letter” did not receive the adequate response to forgo this law.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians does hereby respectfully request a face-to-face consultation with all Tribal leaders and the Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with the Executive Order 13170; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI respectfully requests a face-to-face consultation in regards to the amendment of CFR 38,14(d) to include all Tribal leaders and the Department of Veterans Affairs; 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BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.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 2016 Midyear Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Spokane Convention Center, June 27 to June 30, 2016, with a quorum present.