EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Fawn R. Sharp Quinault Indian Nation
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
Aaron Payment
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
RECORDING SECRETARY
Juana Majel-Dixon
Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians
TREASURER
Clinton Lageson Kenaitze Indian Tribe
REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTS
ALASKA
Rob Sanderson, Jr.
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
EASTERN OKLAHOMA
Norman Hildebrand
Wyandotte Nation
GREAT PLAINS
Larry Wright, Jr.
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
MIDWEST
Shannon Holsey
Stockbridge Munsee Band of
Mohican Indians
NORTHEAST
Tina Abrams
Seneca Nation of Indians
NORTHWEST
Leonard Forsman
Suquamish Tribe
PACIFIC
Erica Mae Macias
Cahuilla Band of Indians
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
MARK POLLOCK
Blackfeet Nation
SOUTHEAST
Nancy Carnley
Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian
Tribe of Alabama
SOUTHERN PLAINS
Robert Tippeconnie
Comanche Nation
SOUTHWEST
Vacant
WESTERN
Alan Mandell
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KEVIN ALLIS
Forest County Potawatomi Community
NCAI HEADQUARTERS
1516 P Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20005
202.466.7767
202.466.7797 fax
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
The National Congress of American Indians
TITLE: Calling on Congress to Support and Pass Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, or Similar Legislation with a Tribal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account
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, tribal nations have been wildlife managers since time- immemorial and many tribal governments now operate fish and wildlife programs, promote conservation and recovery of fish and wildlife, and regulate hunting and fishing within their traditional lands and areas; and
WHEREAS, tribal nations collaborate,
WHEREAS, proactive tribal engagement in wildlife management is necessary to conserve, protect and restore wildlife resources and prevent the demise of species to the point of requiring listing under the federal Endangered Species Act; and
WHEREAS, NCAI supports federal legislation meant to protect and restore wildlife species that includes tribal nations, and that resources are obligated to tribal nations for law enforcement, fish and wildlife programs, range and habitat management, and other conservation and recovery efforts that tribal nations deem necessary.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) calls on Congress to
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NCAI respectfully requests that the legislation ensure a minimum of $97.5 million as an annual allocation for tribal fish and wildlife programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NCAI further supports Congressional direction be provided to the federal government to ensure consultation with tribal nations on the development of an allocation process for distribution of these funds; 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 2019 Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, October
Fawn Sharp, President
ATTEST:
Juana Majel Dixon, Recording Secretary