WHEREAS, for thousands of years the Gwich'in Athabascan Indians of northeast Alaska and northwest Canada have relied on caribou for subsistence, and continue to day to depend on the Porcupine (River) Caribou Herd to meet the nutritional, cultural and spir itual needs of their people; and
WHEREAS, the health-and productivity of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and the very future of the Gwich'in people are threatened by proposed oil development in the caribou calving and nursery grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and
WHEREAS, the Gwich'in have the inherent right to continue their own way of life, and this right is recognized and affirmed by civilized nations in Article l of both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant o n Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which read in part "...In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence."; and
WHEREAS, the Gwich'in people of every community from Arctic Village, Venetie, Fort Yukon, Chalkytaik, Birch Cree, Steven's Village, Circle, and Eagle Village in Alaska; and from Old Crow Fort McPherson,.Arctic Red River, Aklavik and Inuvik in Canada have reached consensus in their traditional way and now seek the support of NCAI and Every tribe to defend their culture and way of live; and < p> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Congress of American Indians calls on the United States Congress and President to recognize the rights of the Gwicht'in people to continue their own culture and way of life by permanently protecting the cal ving and nursery grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd from oil development; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be designated wilderness to achieve this end; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NCAI work with the Gwich'in Steering Committee to bring this issue to the attention of other Indian tribes, indigenous and human rights organizations, churches and religious groups, and the press, and seek their support.
Adopted by the Esecutive Committee during the 47th Annual Convention, November, 1990, Albuquerque, New Mexico.