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A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING INTERVIEWS AND RESEARCH FUNDED BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES/VIOLENCE AGAINST INDIAN WOMEN WITHIN THE CHEROKEE NATION
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WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government in behalf of the Cherokee people;
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;
WHEREAS, the U.S. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is funding a National Baseline Study (NBS) research project aimed at estimating an accurate national rate of violence against Indian Women living in tribal communities; and,
WHEREAS, NIJ has contracted with American Indian Development Associates (AIDA) LLC with Ada Pecos Melton serving as the Project Director and along with her team, implementing NBS, which involves interviews with American Indian and Alaska Native women living in the Cherokee Nation communities; and,
WHEREAS, Ada Pecos Melton met with the Cherokee Nation’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) to discuss National Baseline Study (NBS) and request review and consideration for these interviews. The Cherokee Nation’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), Chaired by Sohail Kahn, has conducted research and more discussions with Ms. Melton and the IRB has approved this activity; and,
WHEREAS, American Indian Development Associates is also requesting that the Council of the Cherokee Nation pass a resolution to agree and approve this activity pursuant to the IRB’s approval; and, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, the Council of the Cherokee Nation hereby approves Cherokee Nation’s participation in the National Baseline Study.
FURTHERMORE, The Cherokee Nation authorizes and assigns the Cherokee Nation One Fire Victims Task Force Victim Services to jointly assist the National Institute of Justice contracted researcher, American Indian Development Associates, to obtain relevant tribal data, identify interview sites, provide support services to respondents, and other onsite research activities as needed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council hereby authorizes Principal Chief Baker or his designee to sign all pertinent documents thereof.