Council of the Cherokee Nation - File #: 20-018

• File #: 20-018
• Version: 1
• Name: N/A
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 2/12/2020
• In control: TRIBAL COUNCIL
• On agenda: 2/27/2020
• Final action: 4/29/2020
• Enactment date: 4/27/2020
• Enactment #: R-015-20
• Title: A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE RIGHTS SPECIFIED IN NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS RESOLUTION #ABQ-19-012
• Sponsors: Julia Coates, Mary Baker Shaw, Keith Austin, Harley Buzzard, Joe Byrd, Shawn Crittenden, Joe Deere, Mike Dobbins, Canaan Duncan , Rex Jordan, Daryl Legg, Wes Nofire, Dora Patzkowski, Mike Shambaugh, E. O. "JR." Smith, Janees Taylor, Victoria Vazquez
• Indexes: Indigenous Language Rights , National Congress of American Indians, NCAI, Resolution of Support
• Code sections: N/A - Not Applicable

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
4/29/2020	1	OFFICE OF THE CHIEF	Signed
4/27/2020	1	TRIBAL COUNCIL	Approved	Pass
2/27/2020	1	RULES COMMITTEE	Approved and Forwarded to Council	Pass

Title
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE RIGHTS SPECIFIED IN NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS RESOLUTION #ABQ-19-012
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 Cherokee Nation is committed to supporting and advocating for the protection of the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in our jurisdiction and around the world; and

WHEREAS, there is a humanitarian crisis in South and Central America that has resulted in thousands of Indigenous peoples fleeing extreme poverty, crime, political conflict and discrimination to seek refuge in the United States; and

WHEREAS, these indigenous migrants are often mistakenly identified as Latino or Hispanic when they enter the United States, creating a language barrier that prevents individuals from communicating their asylum request or even their most basic health care needs; and

WHEREAS, the inability of U.S. officials to communicate effectively with indigenous peoples contributes to the confusion and can lead to the denial of basic human and civil rights, including unnecessary deportations, detainment and family separation; and

WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation is dedicated to the preservation of our own native language and strongly supports the rights of indigenous peoples to communicate in their native languages; and

WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation, as a member of the National Congress of American Indians, supported the adoption of NCAI Resolution #ABQ-19-012 to protect and advance the human rights of indigenous peoples migrating to the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, given current practices under DHS, DHHS, DOJ, and Department of State and their immigrant serving agencies: Border Patrol (BP), Customs and Border Patrol (BP), Immigra...