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OPPOSING H.C.R. 108 and WITHDRAWAL BILLS

WHEREAS the National Congress of American Indians, in convention assembled  at Phoenix, Arizona, on December 7, 8, and 9, 1953 is gravely concerned for the future of the Indian people and the several Indian tribes, their property and their civil rights; and

WHEREAS House Concurrent Resolution 108 gives sweeping indication of Congressional intention to enact legislation to terminate Federal trusteeship over Indian property, force the liquidation of Indian property holdings, and abrogate federal responsibility for services to Indians, all of which trust and service responsibilities have their origins in treaty relations and should not be terminated or abrogated without concurrence by the affected Indians or Indian tribes; and

WHEREAS it is and should be the mutual concern of the Indian people and Federal trustee that there be progressive development toward the goal of full cultural assimilation and integration of the Indians into the community life about them, a development in which the Federal government by treaty and by law has played an important role and the Indian people, in their own way, have made their contribution, in spite of which there remains unfinished work which the states are not prepared to assume and which, if dropped, would leave the Indians stranded and without the the means of continued progress;


NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that all organizations, societies and individuals who are concerned about the rights, resources, status and progress of Indians (all of whom are now full citizens of the United States) examine the proposals for withdrawal of Federal trusteeship and services, with particular attention to the importance of continued and sustained programs in education, health, job placement, welfare, and other programs which the Indian Service provides, 

National Congress of American Indians
1953 Convention
Resolution No. 1 (Page 1 of 4 pages) 4