Resolution #SAC-12-078
TITLE: United Nations World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, 2014
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 conservation of Tribal resources and promotion and preservation of Tribal members’ health, welfare and human rights is a priority for all Tribes; and
WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples, Nations and Tribes played a critical role in the development of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as well as the establishment of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which recognize, uphold, defend and protect the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples in the United States and around the world; and
WHEREAS, in December 2010 the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution to convene a high level plenary session to be known as the UN World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP), now planned to take place in September 2014 in New York; and
WHEREAS, the WCIP will provide important opportunities for Tribal Nations in the US and elsewhere to dialogue with States, present their concerns and advance the full and effective implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI encourages Tribal government leaders and members to become informed about this process and opportunities to participate in the preparatory activities and the WCIP in 2014; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI will assist in the dissemination of information about the WCIP and preparatory activities in North American and globally to its members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI immediately calls upon the United States, the United Nation system and all UN member States to ensure and advance the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other international standards that recognize, uphold, defend and protect the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to participate in decision-making and the rights of Indigenous Nation governments to participate as such, in all stages of this process; 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