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WHEREAS, reference is made to the fact that some thirty-five years ago the Bureau of Indian Affairs found it necessary, in order to save Indian lands from going out of Indian ownership, to then stop the same policy of making it easier for Indians to sell their trust lands, and

WHEREAS, the re-adoption of this same policy cited above is again resulting in the rapid alienation of Indian trust lands, and

WHEREAS, the Indian people of the United States know that if the Bureau of Indian affairs is allowed to continue under this policy and under the guise of recognizing individual Indian's rights above all others, then termination, in fact, is being accomplished without fulfillment of treaty obligations, and without the knowledge and consent of the Indian people themselves, and

WHEREAS, we know that if this situation wherein the Indian heritage is being dissipated were known generally throughout the United States it would not be allowed to happen,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the National Congress of American Indians assembled at Salt Lake City, Utah, at its 13th Annual Convention of September 24 to 28, 1956, that the Bureau of Indian Affairs be asked to stop immediately the sale of trust land to non-Indians without first givng the tribal governing body of each reservation a prior right and opportunity to purchase same and making funds available for such purchases. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if it is necessary to sell individually owned trust land that it be sold to the tribes involved in order that what little land is left may continue to be held in Indian ownership.

Educational Loans RESOLUTION NO. 9

WHEREAS, the greatest single need of the Indian pele is for additional education at all levels, including vocational training; and 

WHEREAS, this field of special educational assistance has long been a neglected one, as evidenced by the fact that in the last fiscal year not over $10,000 was available for educational loans in the States of Arizona and New Mexico, where one-third of the Indian population of the United States resides, a sum totally inadequate to take care of the reasonable needs for such assistance,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that educational loans be made available to meet the legitimate needs of Indians in all sections of the country, at low interest rates and with reasonable payment plans.

Re-examination of Land Purchase Programs RESOLUTION NO. 10

WHEREAS, a number of Indian tribes have land-purchase programs using tribal funds to purchase heirship and necessary or key tracts; and

WHEREAS, present procedures of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and local agencies are cumbersome and time-consuming, often resulting in frustrating tribal programs through delay and forcing the tribe to pay higher prices than might otherwise be necessary;

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Congress of American Indians in convention assembled in Salt Lake City, September 28 to 28, 1956, that land-purchase procedures be examined with a view to eliminating unnecessary red tape and delays.