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RESOLUTION NO. 15 AREA OFFICES (TABLED. SEE BELOW)

THIS RESOLUTION WAS TABLED AFTER IT WAS BROUGHT OUT ON THE FLOOR ON A MOTION BY MR. HIRAM N. CLARK WHICH LED TO CLARK’S NOMINATION TO VICE PRESIDENCY BEING QUESTIONED BY RANK AND FILE MEMBERS OF NCAI.

The following resolution was suggested by Mr. Edward Wilson, Chairman of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Cass Lake, Minnesota. (Wilson's address is Ball Club, Minnesota.)

     WHEREAS, we have hretofore passed numerous resolutions recommending the discontinuance of District and Area Offices, and

     WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States have taken cognizance of such resolutions and made provision in bills for the gradual discontinuance of such offices, and

     WHEREAS, the Bureau of Indian Affairs have instead of following the wishes of the Indians and Congress have enlarged the activities of such District and Area offices, now

     THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we reiterate our position that all District and Area offices be at once abolished and their functions be transferred to local agencies and superintendencies, and 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to our Senators and Congressmen.

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     The resolution was presented at the request of Edward Wilson, President, Tribal Executive Committee, The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe

     Mr. Madrano presented the resolution for consideration. George N. Adams was presiding. The chairman told the delegates they had heard the resolution and he requested that they all be patient with one another and not take up too much time. He asked that personalities be kept out. He said that this resolution was controversial in nature. He called on Ed Wilson to explain the resolution.

     Ed Wilson said that this was not a new matter to them in the state of Minnesota. They had been fighting it in the state of Minnesota since they had been established. They were still against the area offices. The officials at Minneapolis were moving toward [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] abolishing the agency at Cass Lake and moving everying to Minneapolis. The people were scattered throughout the state. It was difficult to reach the agency at Cass Lake and it would still make it more difficult to reach the office if it was moved to Minneapolis. They wanted more authority delegated to the superintendent at the reservation level. [[strikethrough]] They felt [[/strikethrough]] The Indians felt that the area offices could do them no good. He said that there were a number of other resolutions on area offices, but his tribe had asked him to present this particular one and he was doing so.

     Mr. Hiram N. Clark moved to table the resolution until the next meeting because the question was a controversial subject. The motion was duly seconded. On the vote, a division was called for. By a standing vote, the motion passed by a vote of [[strikethrough]] 12 [[/strikethrough]] 23 to 12. (Attendance was small and several delegates did not vote.)