TITLE: Support the Restoration of Pacific Lamprey and the Pacific Lamprey National Fish Habitat Partnership
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 recognizes the importance of Pacific Lamprey as a traditional food and cultural resource that has been decimated by the loss and degradation of its natural habitat; and
WHEREAS, the restoration of Pacific Lamprey and its natural habitat is high priority of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, a Pacific Lamprey Conservation Agreement has been signed by eleven tribes, five states, and seven federal agencies to create regional consensus around the need for national attention and funding to be directed at Lamprey restoration throughout the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, the restoration of Pacific Lampreys, because of their unique life history and critical ecological role, should broaden the natural diversity and improve habitat for other aquatic species in rivers along the west coast of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan identifies the importance and value of increasing the quality and quantity of fish habitats that support a broad natural diversity of fish and other aquatic species, and is a tool to enhance protection and restoration of these aquatic habitats; and
WHEREAS, establishing a National Fish Habitat Partnership for Pacific Lamprey will elevate national attention to the restoration needs for Pacific Lamprey and their importance to tribal cultures; and
WHEREAS, the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Agreement, in conjunction with the National Fish Habitat Partnership represents a commitment of a diverse coalition of parties to collaborate in a variety of ways and means to restore Pacific Lamprey, but is not binding on any party and does not in any way limit the tribes of the Pacific Northwest to act independently to restore Pacific Lamprey; and
WHEREAS, NCAI recognizes that the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Agreement, as a full Partner within the National Fish Habitat Partnership, will significantly increase the national awareness of the rapid decline of Pacific Lamprey populations throughout the Pacific Northwest and will increase national awareness of the Native American self-determination to restore these culturally important populations.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians does here by support the Pacific Lamprey Fish Habitat Partnership as a full partnership in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI calls upon the United States and all of its appropriate governmental branches and agencies to work with tribes on a government-to- government basis to restore Pacific Lamprey; 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.