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A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LEGAL AID SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA, INC., TO RE-APPLY FOR AMERICORPS FUNDING ON BEHALF OF CHEROKEE NATION TO CONTINUE THE 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 continue operation of the current medical-legal partnership with Cherokee Nation, which has been in effect since 2016, that will continue to 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 are reflected in the Memorandum of Understanding signed and dated December 21, 2016.
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 to continue the current medical-legal partnership efforts.
WHEREAS, LASO must be identified as a “tribal organization” and must be authorized to act on behalf of and include the tribe in the grant application for 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.
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.