Resolution #DEN-18-041
TITLE: Support for the National Native American Veteran Memorial
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, NCAI supports the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) efforts to construct a National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and the NMAI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and the Veterans Memorial project cannot use federal funds, and can only be constructed with private contributions.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) does hereby support the NMAI organization to provide an opportunity to begin networking within Indian Country on this project to honor American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Veterans; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NCAI supports NMAI efforts to build the National Native Veterans Memorial and related programming to honor the service of all American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Veterans; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NCAI encourages all Native Nations to provide financial support for completing construction and continued maintenance of this project; 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BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.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 2018 Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Hyatt Regency in Denver, Colorado October 21-26, 2018, with a quorum present.
Jefferson Keel, President
ATTEST:
Juana Majel Dixon, Recording Secretary