09-06 Recognizing the contributions of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

AFN recognizes the brotherhood and sisterhood for securing passage of the anti-discrimination act and supporting land claims efforts, and will create and deliver a plaque to show that appreciation.

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Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-06

SECURING ALASKA NATIVE CIVIL AND LAND RIGHTS AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ALASKA NATIVE BROTHERHOOD AND THE ALASKA NATIVE SISTERHOOD

WHEREAS: The Alaska Federation of Natives, Inc. (AFN) is the recognized voice of the Alaska Native peoples, and

WHEREAS: The AFN is comprised of all the Native organizations, including Alaska Native profit corporations, tribal non-profit organizations and tribes; and

WHEREAS: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood organized community camps in Southeast Alaska, Southcentral Alaska, Western and Northwestern Alaska to secure Native civil rights and to seek the settlement of aboriginal land claims; and

WHEREAS: Alaska Natives were not allowed to vote until 1922; and

WHEREAS: The Territory of Alaska supported and allowed discriminatory practices towards Alaska Natives and unequal benefits for Alaska Natives; and

WHEREAS: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood, which were formed in 1912 and are the oldest American Indian organizations in the United States, organized efforts to address Native civil and land rights; and;

WHEREAS: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood were successful in achieving citizenship rights for Alaska Natives in 1922; and

WHEREAS: The Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood were successful in obtaining the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 in the Alaska Territorial Legislature; and

WHEREAS: Through the initial efforts of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood, a monetary land settlement was awarded to the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and;

WHEREAS: The Tlingit and Haida Central Council was able to use its funds to offer a loan to the AFN to support the land claims effort that resulted in the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that by the delegates to the 2009 Annual Convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives Inc., with our deepest respect and gratitude, hereby recognize the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood for their dedication and contributions to Alaska Native Peoples for obtaining citizenship rights for Alaska Natives; securing the passage of the Anti-Discrimination Act and supporting the land claims effort through the Alaska Federation of Natives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The Alaska Federation of Natives of Alaska shall hereby develop and present a plaque that recognizes the contributions of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and the Alaska Native Sisterhood to all Alaska Native Peoples at the 2010 Alaska Federation of Natives convention, and

BE IT FINALLY BE RESOLVED that The Alaska Federation of Natives send copies of this resolution to Alaska Congressional Delegation, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, State of Alaska, Alaska Senator Albert Kookesh, and Alaska Representative Bill Thomas and to all members of the caucus known as the Bush Caucus.

SUBMITTED BY: BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES

CONVENTION ACTION: PASSED