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A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA, INC., TO PURSUE AMERICORPS FUNDING ON BEHALF OF CHEROKEE NATION TO DEVELOP A MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP WITH 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, a goal of the Cherokee Nation is to address all the health needs, promoting the health and welfare of its citizens;
WHEREAS, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. (“LASO”) is a legal aid organization with offices located within the Cherokee Nation, and it provides qualifying individuals with free legal services.
WHEREAS, LASO seeks to operate a medical-legal partnership with Cherokee Nation that will serve hundreds of low-income patients per year, including but not limited to people with disabilities and elders.
WHEREAS, The terms and conditions of the partnership between Cherokee Nation and LASO will be subject to a Memorandum of Understanding.
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation recognizes that collaborative partnerships between legal services programs and healthcare institutions can provide low-income patients with means to address critical health-impacting legal needs.
WHEREAS, LASO seeks to submit an application on behalf of the Cherokee Nation to the Corporation for National and Community Services for an AmeriCorps Indian Tribes Program Grant in an effort to establish medical-legal partnership efforts and implement those efforts within the Cherokee Nation.
WHEREAS, LASO must be identified as a “tribal organization” and must be authorized to act on behalf of and include the tribe in a CNCS grant application for the purpose of conducting the activities and providing the services described in the application.
WHEREAS, both LASO and Cherokee Nation have demonstrated effectiveness to administer programs and activities in the delivery of services to Indian families through previously awarded grant awards;
WHEREAS, LASO will assume full responsibility for the fiscal integrity of this application, including full responsibility for any required matching funds.
WHEREAS, LASO will include Cherokee Nation Grant Services in the program development and implementation of this application.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION, that the Council hereby sanctions Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. as a tribal organization for purposes of applying for this grant and authorizes it to serve as the legal applicant for federal funding through the Corporation for National and Community Service, on behalf of and including the Cherokee Nation in the proposed grant activities. Further, Treasurer, Lacey A. Horn and/or her designee be authorized to sign documents necessary to facilitate the submission of said application on behalf of the Cherokee Nation.