NAACP Support for Native American Indians and the Connecticut Golden Hill Paugussetts

WHEREAS, Native American Indians with African Ancestry have faced great difficulty in receiving federal recognition; and

WHEREAS, the Connecticut Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe is a state recognized tribe of predominately black Native Americans who settled in Connecticut in the early 1600's; and

WHEREAS, as with other Native American tribal nations in the United States, the history has been one of persecution, prosecution, oppression, relegation to Indian reservations and illegal taking of their lands; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP is established to advocate for people of color, including Native American Indians, and in 1993, the National NAACP voted to support the Golden Hill Paugussetts in their quest for federal recognition; and

WHEREAS, the Golden Hill Paugussetts are currently facing preliminary rejection of their twenty-two year quest for federal recognition, that would give them access to health care, economic development opportunities, educational and housing assistance, as well as the ability to sustain their members and preserve their cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, it is unlikely that a black Indian tribe will receive support from the Connecticut legislature or governor, to pursue their interest in becoming self-sustaining and economically viable.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP will continue to support federal recognition for Native American tribes in general, and the Golden Hill Paugussetts' federal recognition in particular, and will vigorously oppose, through legislation, public rallies and court action, any and all attempts to discriminate against Native Americans in the federal recognition process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP National Convention reaffirm its support of the federal recognition process for the Native Americans given at the 1993 Convention; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that all NAACP branches and state conferences work with Native American tribes as they seek federal recognition through administrative and legal processes