California Native American Chumash Resolution
Whereas Native Indigenous Americans are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among those are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness: Now, therefore, be it on this day ____of 2009, We the ____________________of the City/County (Church, Institute or Agency) of ________________ do here by adopt the following findings and resolution, pursuant to S.1200 Sec.301 Resolution of Apology to Native Peoples of United States, passed by the Senate February 26, 2008, ‘to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Native American tribes and offer an apology to all Native American People on behalf of the United States.’ (The wording was changed from the original to highlight and exemplify the Chumash Nation)
(a) Findings – we find that-
1. Whereas the ancestors of today’s Native American Chumash People inhabited the land of the present-day United States since time immemorial and for thousands of years before the arrival of peoples of European descent;
2. Whereas the Native American Chumash People have for millennia honored, protected, and stewarded this land we cherish;
3. Whereas the Native American Chumash People are spiritual peoples with a deep and abiding belief in the Creator, and for millennia their peoples have maintained a powerful spiritual connection to this land, as is evidenced by their customs, ceremonies, religion and legends;
4. Whereas the invasion of Europeans in North America opened a new chapter in the histories of the Native American Chumash People.
5. Whereas the foundational Spanish settlements in San Diego, Monterey, Morro Bay, and Santa Barbara, owed their survival in large measure to the compassion and aid of the Native American People in their vicinities;
6. Whereas in the infancy of the United States, the founders of the Republic expressed their desire for a just relationship with the Native American tribes, as evidenced by the Northwest Ordinance enacted by Congress in 1787, which begins with the phrase, `The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the Indians’;
7. Whereas Native American tribes provided great assistance to the fledgling Republic as it strengthened and grew, including invaluable help to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their epic journey from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Coast;
8. Whereas Native American People and non-Native invaders engaged in numerous armed conflicts;
9. Whereas the United States Government violated many of the treaties that were ratified and not ratified by Congress and other diplomatic agreements with Native American tribes;
10. Whereas this Nation should address the broken treaties and many of the more ill-conceived State and Federal policies that followed, such as extermination, termination, forced removal and relocation, the outlawing of traditional religions, and the destruction of sacred places;
11. Whereas the United States forced Native American Chumash to move away from their traditional homelands and onto federally established and controlled reservations, in accordance with such Acts as the Indian Removal Act of 1830;
12. Whereas many Native American Chumash suffered and perished—
13. Whereas the United States Government condemned the traditions, religion, ceremonies, beliefs, and customs of the Native American Chumash People and endeavored to assimilate them by such policies as the redistribution of land under the General Allotment Act of 1887 and the forcible removal of Native children from their families to faraway boarding schools where their Native practices and languages were degraded and forbidden;
14. Whereas the European came to this land for freedom of religion, but forbid the Native American to practice their traditions, customs, religion and ceremonies.
15. Whereas officials of the United States Government and private United States citizens harmed Native American Chumash People by the unlawful acquisition of recognized tribal land and the theft of tribal resources and assets from recognized tribal land.
16. Whereas the policies of the United States Government toward Native American tribes and the breaking of covenants with Native American tribes have contributed to the severe social ills and economic troubles in many Native American communities today;
17. Whereas, despite the wrongs committed against Native American Chumash Nation by the United States, the Chumash Native People have remained committed to the protection of this great land, as evidenced by the fact that, on a per capita basis, more Native American people have served in the United States Armed Forces and placed themselves in harm’s way in defense of the United States in every major military conflict than any other ethnic group;
18. Whereas Native American tribes have actively influenced the public life of the United States by continued cooperation with local Government, State and Federal Governments through the involvement of Native American individuals in official United States Government positions, and by leadership of their own sovereign Native American tribes;
19. Whereas Native American tribes are resilient and determined to preserve, develop, and transmit to future generations their unique cultural identities;
(b) Acknowledgment and Resolution- We, the __________________________of the City/County (Church, Institute or Agency) of __________________________
1. Recognizes the special legal and political relationship the Native American Chumash Nation has with United States and the State of California and the solemn covenant with the land we share.
2. Commends and honors the Native American Chumash Nation for the thousands of years that they have stewarded and protected this land.
3. Recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the U.S. government regarding Native American Chumash Nation.
4. Apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all Native American Chumash People for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on them by U.S. citizens.
5. Expresses the regret of the United States for the ramifications of former wrongs and its commitment to build on the positive relationships of the past and present to move toward reconciliation.
6. Urges the President to acknowledge the wrongs of the United States against Native American tribes in U.S. history.
7. Commends the state governments that have begun reconciliation efforts with Native American tribes located in their boundaries, and encourages all state governments to do the same.
8. To acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Native American tribes and offer an apology to all Native American People on behalf of the United States.
9. In acknowledgment of past and present Native American mistreatment, that any and all archaeological research, investigation or excavation concerning Native American lands, Native American Ancestors, Cultural Resources, will be accompanied by a Culturally affiliated Native American on site at all times.
northernchumash.org 