TITLE: Supporting the General Principles Expressed in the Native American Cultural Wisdom Declaration
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, Native Americans experience disproportionately high rates of cancer, diabetes, trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, suicide, and unintentional injury; and
WHEREAS, federal, state, private and non-profit programs focused on prevention, treatment, or research of the health issues affecting Native Americans oftentimes exclude or overlook culturally relevant and culturally tailored health promotion and healing interventions; and
WHEREAS, the principles expressed in the Native American Cultural Wisdom Declaration, which is incorporated by this reference, provide a framework for federal, state, private and non-profit programs to incorporate and better understand and recognize the cultural knowledge and traditional practices inherent and unique to individual tribes; and
WHEREAS, NCAI supports the principles expressed in the Native American Cultural Wisdom Declaration, with the understanding that the Declaration is an evolving document subject to amendments in the future.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians supports the principles expressed in the Native American Cultural Wisdom Declaration with the understanding that the Declaration is an evolving document subject to amendments in the future; 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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.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 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.