Smoke Signals February 1990 Page 14
AUTHORITY(cont.)
Indian Tribes is limited to regulating commerce unless
more authority has been granted by a treaty.
Government lawyers argued on November 28 that
Congress has unlimited authority over Indian tribes.
Attorneys for the tribes urged U.S. District Court
Judge Louis Oberdorfer to hold a trial on the lawsuit so
they could present evidence showing that tribes were
never intended to submit to state authority.
The lawsuit is supported by dozens of tribes all over
the country and every tribe in Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Michigan.
Oberdorfer called the case interesting and said he
would take the government's request for a dismissal
under advisement.
- Courtesy of the American Indian Report
NATIVE LANGUAGES BILL
INTRODUCED
On October 23,1989, legislation was introduced which
would establish as the policy of the United States the
preservation, protection and promotion of the rights of
Native Americans to use, practice and develop Native
languages. S. 1781 was sponsored by Sens Inouye Hi,
DeConcini AZ, Daschle SD, Reid NV, Conrad ND,
Cochran MS, Matsunaga HI, Murkowski AK, McCain
AZ and Burdick ND. Stated Senator Inouye in his
introductory remarks about the bill, "While some Native
languages had become virtually extinct before Native
people realized the magnitude of their loss, there are
now strong efforts nationwide among Native people to
recover and perpetuate this part of their cultural
heritage." S. 1781 draws on recommendations of the
Native American Languages Issues Institute, and is
similar to a resolution introduced and passed by the
Senate at the end of the 100th Congress.
S. 1781 would: encourage and support the use of Native
language as a medium of instruction; allow exceptions to
teacher certification requirements for federal programs
for the employment of teachers who teach in Native
American languages; recognize the right of Native
American governing bodies to use Native languages as a
medium of instruction in Department of the Interior
funded schools and to give official status to their
language for the purpose of conducting business; give
proficiency in a Native language the same academic
credit as coursework in a foreign language; encourage
the inclusion of Native languages in the curriculum of all
institutions of elementary, secondary and higher educa
tion; and provide that the use of Native languages may
not be restricted in any public proceeding; including
publicly supported education programs. S 1781 also
directs federal agencies to evaluate their policies and
procedures, in consultation with Indian tribes, to
determine changes necessary to bring those programs
into compliance with the Act; within one year after
enactment of the bill, the President would be required to
report to Congress on recommendations for amend
ments existing laws to accomplish such compliance.
Under S. 1781, the term Native American includes
Pacific Islanders as well as American Indians, Alaska
Natives and Native Hawaiians.
The Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs
approved S. 1781 on November 14. It is expected that
the bill will be brought to the Senate floor early in the
second session.
- Courtesy of the Friends Committee on National
Legislation
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Tribal elders Nora Kimsey and Pauline Johnson.
"IS MARIJUANA SAFE?"
The most recent National Institute on Drug Abuse
report shows the danger of thinking marijuana is safe.
, Sixteen of 19 cities surveyed for the report noted
increases in their already record number of marijuana
related hospital emergency room cases.
Many cases involve driving.
A 1988 Maryland study showed that more than one
third of the patient treated at the state's shock trauma
center had used marijuana shortly before their acci
dents. The number of marijuana-related injuries, by
the way, exceeded the number of alcohol-related
injuries.
It also should be noted that today's marijuana is five to
10 times more potent than the marijuana of 10 years
ago.
According to blood tests that detect marijuana use
within the past four hours.
Source: Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman
of the House Narcotics Committee.
-Jf. fK ; ' ; i , , lit
J-
Jed Meyers and Tribal youth Joe Mercier at the JOM
Program's first Free Book Fair held at the office.
WHAT IS NATIONAL
CONGRESS OF AMERICAN
INDIANS AND
WHO MAY JOIN?
The National Congress of American Indians, (NCAI),
founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most repre
sentative national Indian organization. NCAI serves the
needs of a broad membership of Indian and Native
governments, organizations and people.
The founding members of NCAI stressed the need for
unity and cooperation among Indian governments and
people, for the security and protection of treaty and
sovereign rights and for the betterment of the quality of
life for Indian people. From its modest beginning with
some 100 people, NCAI has become the leading Indian
membership organization, now serving a diverse net
work of nations with a combined citizenry comprising
more than three quarters of the American Indian and
Alaskan Native national population.
The NCAI is organized as a representative congress of
consensus on national priority issues. Indian and Native
governments pass laws to become members of NCAI,
selecting official delegates to the NCAI Convention and
Executive Council. The delegates deliberate issues of
pressing concern in accordance with their government
policies, goals and needs. NCAI has led and partici
pated in a myriad of coalitions with other Indian
national and regional organizations, business interests,
environmental and civil rights groups and legal and
other professional organizations, among others, to attain
the goals of NCAI's broad-based membership.
NCAIS FOUNDING PRINCIPLES:
Protect Indian and Native traditional cultural and
religious rights.
Seek appropriate, equitable and beneficial services
and programs for Indian and Native governments and
people.
Secure and preserve Indian and Native rights under
treaties and agreements with the U.S., as well as under
federal statues, case laws and administration decisions
. and rulings.
Promote the common welfare and enhance the quality
of life of Indian and Native people.
Promote a better understanding among the general
public regarding Indian and Native governments, people
and rights.
CURRENT NCAI ISSUES:
Protection of programs and servces to benefit the
Indian Elders and Children.
, Promotion of Indian education, jobs and housing
opportunities.
Enhancement of Indian health care and prevention of
juvenile drug and alcohol abuse. '
Advancement of environmental protection and
natural resource management.
Protection of Indian cultural resources and religious
freedom.
Development of Indian country cconcomies.
MEMBERSHIP:
NCAI membership consists of Tribes, organizations, and
individuals. Individual Indian membership is $10 per
year or $12 for an Indian Couple. For other member
ship rates and information contact: NCAI, 900 Pen
nyslvania Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C., 10003 - (202)
546-9404. Call or write today!