Resolution #SAC-12-004
TITLE: Support for the Indian Health Service to Provide Recurring Funding for Ambulance Services
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 federal government of the United States has a unique and special relationship with American Indians and Alaska Natives to provide health care as established through the U.S. Constitution, treaties with Indian tribes, U.S. Supreme Court decisions and federal legislation; and
WHEREAS, the federal government carries out its trust responsibility to provide health care and other federal benefits through a government to government relationship with Indian Tribes as established by Presidential Executive Order 13175; and
WHEREAS, the tribes have limited opportunities to request financial assistance from the Indian Health Service to pay for ambulance service for tribal communities; and
WHEREAS, many reservations are located in rural areas that require long distance travel to the nearest hospital; and
WHEREAS, current tribal ambulance operations provide services for tribal citizens and non-citizens in tribal communities and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, the ambulance services are critical and essential services for tribal members, members of neighboring Tribes, and the community.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NCAI calls upon the Indian Health Service to identify recurring funds for ambulance services for Native populations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the financial support of tribal ambulance services from the Indian Health Service should factor in operational history of an ambulance service, financial investment by the Tribe, and whether there is limited or no access to emergency rooms or Indian Health Service hospitals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Indian Health Service is called upon to develop and release criteria for Tribes to access funding to provide ambulance services on an Indian reservation; 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 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