Alaska Inter-Tribal Council : Advocating for Alaska Tribal Governments

Alaska Inter-Tribal Council

“Protecting Sovereignty & Our Way of Life”

Resolution # 09-05-01

Title: The Repeal of Section 4B of PL92-203, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and the vacation, by Congressional Act, of the Supreme Court decision in Alaska vs the Native Village of Venetie

Whereas, the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council is a statewide consortium of federally
recognized tribes in Alaska, which share a common bond with unique cultures,
languages, spirituality, and traditional values,

Whereas, the Alaska Inter-Tribal Council (AI-TC) was established in 1992 and is
charged to advocate for, protect, defend, and enhance the inherent rights of tribes in
Alaska,

Whereas, we remain committed to preserving and protecting our indigenous livelihood traditions of hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering,

Whereas, Alaska Native Tribes, Tribal organizations and Alaska Native corporation representatives attended the “Protecting Sovereignty and Our Way of Life” Conference held in Anchorage Alaska from May 26 – 28, 2009 to discuss and assess threats to the survival of our Peoples and our way of life;

Whereas, we heard reports on a range of critical related situations including: Subsistence Rights, Global Warming, Environmental Protection, Resources Extraction, Health, Education, Housing, Tribal Infrastructure, Youth Suicide, Criminal Justice, Tribal Governance, Land and Water Rights, Language Preservation and Culture, among others;

Whereas, since time immemorial the Native Villages of Alaska have successfully utilized and managed our fish and wildlife subsistence resources;

Whereas, the State and Federal Governments have taken over control and regulation of subsistence from our Sovereign Tribes to our detriment and peril;

Whereas, in the assessment of the participants, all of these critical concerns have been directly impacted by a series of laws and acts imposed on Alaska Native Peoples by the state and federal government without our full participation or agreement which have undermined our sovereign tribal jurisdiction and our ability to effectively address and defend the survival and well being of our Peoples;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, We call upon the United States Federal government to implement their commitment to fulfill their trust responsibility to a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes by taking immediate action responding the following vital concerns, as follows:

1. REPEAL LANGUAGE IN SECTION 4(B) PL 92-203, THE “ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT”, THAT “EXTINGUISHED” ABORIGINAL HUNTING & FISHING RIGHTS OF ALASKA NATIVES

2. VACATE THE US SUPREME COURT DECISION IN “STATE OF ALASKA VS. VENETIE” BY CONGRESSIONAL ACT

Be It Further Resolved, that we commit to submit this resolution to our Peoples, Tribal Governments, and Tribal Entities for their support, and in so doing, breathe life into this document, and;

Be It Finally Resolved, that we call upon the National Congress of American Indians to urgently take action to support these recommendation at their mid –year Conference in Niagara Falls June 14th – 17th, 2009.