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Corcerning House Report No. 2680 of the 83rd Congress

WHEREAS, House Report No. 2680 of the 83rd Congress, 2nd Session, makes the charge that there exists "no adequate channel for the expression of overall Indian public opinion within local communities, or in the nation as a whole", and this report further reflects unfairly on the sincerity of purpose, and the motives of private organizations devoted to Indian matters, including the National Congress of American Indians, and proposes an investigation of such private organizations; and

WHEREAS, Indian tribes, bands, and groups throughout the United States and Alaska select their spokesmen and governing bodies in accordance with customary law or written constitution, and in either situation such spokesmen or governing bodies are fully responsible to the people they represent, the Indian people having followed democratic forms of government since long before the United States Government was organized; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians invites and welcomes a fair and complete investigation of all of its activities, and does hereby urge that such a fair and complete investigation be conducted; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians meeting in its annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 9, 1953, did adopt a resolution "condemning organizations, groups and individuals affiliated with subversive movements, and un-American activities designed to undermine American institutions, which Resolution is attached and made part of this Resolution; and

WHEREAS, it is the intention and purpose of the National Congress of American Indians never knowingly to accept grants, or contributions from any individuals, or organizations of a subversive, or un-American nature; and 

WHEREAS, Report No. 2680 (supra) contains many misleading, ill-considered, and factually inaccurate statements pertaining to Indian affairs;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Congress of American Indians at convention assembled in Omaha, Nebraska, November 18-21, 1954, authorize and direct that the attached statement commenting on House Report No. 2680 be adopted as voicing the views of the convention and that this Resolution with the attached approved statement be submitted to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees of Interior and Insular Affairs. 

STATEMENT OF THE 11TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
CONCERNING REPORT NO. 2680, 83RD CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 89 TO INVESTIGATE
THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

The above-named report was prepared by some of the members of the Subcommittee on the Indian Affairs who were especially appointed and authorized by the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs to conduct an investigation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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