Title
A RESOLUTION TO WITHDRAW FROM CHEROKEE TRI-COUNCIL
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people; and,
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America; and,
WHEREAS, the Nation has exclusive tribal jurisdiction over the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the geographic scope of which is defined in federal and Cherokee Nation law; and,
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation has participated in Tri-Council, which was formed on the basis that it "...unites the Legislative Branches of government of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma..." (See Tri-Council Resolution 1 (2012); and
WHEREAS, in practice Tri-Council does not achieve its legitimate objectives but instead serves as a forum for the UKB to attack the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation and to falsely claim rights under Cherokee treaties, including but not limited to jurisdictional rights within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.
WHEREAS the Council has determined that Cherokee Nation's withdrawal from Tri-Council is warranted and that it is in the Nation's best interest to pursue collaboration with EBCI and/or UKB in forums and by means that are not divisive and which do not provide UKB with a platform for its attacks on Cherokee Nation tribal sovereignty; and
WHEREAS any legislation, including but not limited to Tri-Council organizational resolutions, contrary to this formal withdrawal of Cherokee Nation from Tri-Council are repealed or otherwise void insofar as such legislation authorizes Cherokee Nation's participation in Tri-Council and no Cherokee Nation funds may be expended in relation to the participation of Cherokee Nation or any representative thereof in Tri-Council should it continue as an entity.
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