N A T I O N A L C O N G R E S S O F A M E R I C A N I N D I A N S

Resolutions Committee Recommendation Resolution #: 17-039 Title: Support to Maintain the Bears Ears National Monument and all National Monuments under the Antiquities Act

Comments: The resolution supports the designation of the Bears Ears National Monument. NCAI resolution EC- 15-002 supports the designation of Bears Ears and supports protecting the tribal historic and cultural properties located in the area. This resolution remains the policy of NCAI no new resolution is needed for NCAI to advocate on this resolution. Since passage of the prior resolution, NCAI has taken the following actions: • Letter to Secretary Zinke Urging the Protection of Bears Ears National Monument, April 26th, 2017. (attached) • NCAI submitted comments to the Department of Interior in support of the Bears Ears National Monument designation for the public comment period following Executive Order 13792 (attached) • NCAI plans to submit comments to the Department of Interior in support of all other National Monument designations by July 10th, 2017. Resolution MOH 17-029 also covers the Bears Ears National Monument and is duplicative relating to this resolution and the prior NCAI resolution on Bears Ears EC 15-002. MOH 17-006 is more national in scope and contains broader language.

Recommendations:

This resolution should be referred to the Committee on Land and Natural Resources and the

subcommittee on Environmental Protection and Land Use with the recommendation that it be tabled

because NCAI has existing resolutions on this topic that remain in effect that allow NCAI to continue

to advocate on the issues in this resolution. In addition, NCAI Resolution MOH-17-006 relating to

the Executive Order on the Antiquities Act and National Monuments will be considered which is

broader than the language contained in this resolution. Resolution MOH 17-029 covers the same topic

and is recommended to be tabled and to consider MOH 17-006 instead.

Sponsor a member in good standing (yes/no)?: _____

Yes

N A T I O N A L C O N G R E S S O F A M E R I C A N I N D I A N S

The National Congress of American Indians Resolution # MOH-17-039 DRAFT TITLE: Support to Maintain the Bears Ears National E XECUTIVE C OMMITTEE

PRESIDENT Monument and all National Monuments under the Brian Cladoosby Swinomish Indian Tribal Community Antiquities Act

FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Michael O. Finley Confed. Tribes of Colville Reservation WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians RECORDING SECRETARY Robert Shepherd of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign TREASURER Dennis Welsh rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with River Indian Tribes the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the

R EGIONAL V ICE- laws and Constitution of the United States, to enlighten the public toward a better P RESIDENTS

ALASKA understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise Jerry Isaac Tanana Chiefs Conference promote the health, safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and

EASTERN OKLAHOMA submit the following resolution; and S. Joe Crittenden Cherokee Nation

GREAT PLAINS WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was Leander McDonald Spirit Lake Tribe established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American

MIDWEST Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and Aaron Payment Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

NORTHEAST Randy Noka WHEREAS, the Bears Ears National Monument was established in 2016 Narragansett Tribe encompassing 1.35 million acres of public lands surrounding San Juan County's Cedar NORTHWEST Fawn Sharp Mesa, located in the state of and southwest region, and named after the pair of buttes Quinault Indian Nation protruding from a ridge joining the mesa and the Abajo Mountains; and PACIFIC Rosemary Morillo Soboba Band of Mission Indians WHEREAS, the Bears Ears National Monument is considered a sacred site to ROCKY MOUNTAIN Ivan Posey Native American Tribes with its ancient cliff dwellings, abundant rock art, ceremonial sites Eastern Shoshone Tribe

SOUTHEAST and countless artifacts which provide an extraordinary archaeological and cultural record of Ron Richardson Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe our Native life, our culture, our history, and the protection sacred lands and the natural

SOUTHERN PLAINS resources of the Tribe, , Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah , Stephen Smith Tribe of Oklahoma Hopi Nation, and the Zuni Tribe; and

SOUTHWEST Manuel Heart WHEREAS, these Tribes are the inhabitants of a land that was once covered by

WESTERN water where coral reefs grew, and where paleontological resources in the Bears Ears Arlan Melendez Reno Sparks Indian Colony National Monument are among the richest and most significant in the United States; and

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jacqueline Johnson Pata Tlingit WHEREAS, from earth to sky, the Bears Ears National Monument is unsurpassed

in wonders with the oral history of Tribal creation stories and scientific documentation of NCAI HEADQUARTERS 1516 P Street, N.W. artistry and architecture that has withstood thousands of seasons in harsh climates and where Washington, DC 20005 202.466.7767 today Tribal members still hunt and forage for food and medicine; and 202.466.7797 fax www.ncai.org WHEREAS, the United States Antiquities Act authorizes the President of the United States to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric

NCAI 2017 Mid-Year Session Resolution MOH-17-XXX

structures, and other landmarks, objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be a national monument; and

WHEREAS, the Bears Ears National Monument was established utilizing the collaborative government to government relationship with the affected Tribes.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI stands with the five Tribes of the Utah area as they fight to protect the Bear Ears Monument to preserve this prehistoric site, this sacred land, this ceremonial site, this cultural legacy, and maintain its diverse array of natural and scientific resources for the Tribes and all future generations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI supports the proclamation establishing the Bears Ears National Monument and opposes any further congressional action to reverse any National Monuments established under the Antiquities Act; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution be transmitted to members of Congress from the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Alaska; the Ute Mountain Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah Ouray, Hopi Nation, and the Zuni Tribes; and to the President of the United States.

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2017 Midyear Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center, June 12 to June 15, 2017, with a quorum present.

Brian Cladoosby, President ATTEST:

Aaron Payment, Recording Secretary

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