September 30, 2019
Open Letter to All Washington State Legislature:
The sovereign Tribes of Washington and non-government organizations urge the government body of Washington State including Natives in Washington Legislature, John McCoy (Tulalip), Deborah Lekanoff (Tlingit) and Natives in Congress, Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) and Deborah Haaland’s (Laguna Pueblo) to launch Truth and Reconciliation.
In the spirit of public participation, we ask you to join the State of Maine and Canada and begin the process to fully implement this global, consensus instrument of healing, protection and realization of the human rights of Indigenous peoples and nature. It is critical that the laws of Washington State align with principles that support the Declaration which meet the minimum global standards for the “survival, dignity and well-being” of Indigenous peoples.
We ask legislature to redress the legacy of the root cause (s) of trauma that have impacted our Indigenous peoples and advance proposed actions that will foster reconciliation.
As inherent right holders, we have a sacred responsibility to protect our inherent birth rights to the land, water, life and democracy for our future generations. In efforts to mitigate the human and environmental disaster, it is critical that we move swiftly to found and enforce policy, education and cultural knowledge that is in alignment with the global and international framework for reconciliation at all levels and sectors.
We ask the federal and state government and organizations to stand with us as we begin the process to acknowledge the past, the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the cause and action to change the behavior.
Contact: Shirley Williams, RN at shirley.williams.we@gmail.com or text 360-815-2409. Co-Founder of Whiteswan Environmental, WE (One Mind for the Purpose of the Work)
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Chair, Rodney Cawston
Quinalt Indian Nation
Fawn Sharp
Confederated Tribes of The Chehalis Reservation
Chair, Harry Pickernell Sr.
Samish Indian Nation
Chair, Tom Wooten
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Chair, Bill lyall
Sauk-Suaittle Indian Tribe
Chair, Benjamin Joseph
Hoh Tribe
Chair, Bernard Afterbuffalo
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
Chair, Charlene Nelson
Jamestown S’Klallum Tribe
Chair, W. Ron Allen
Skokomish Indian Tribe
Chair, Charles ‘Guy’ Miller
Kalispell Tribe of Indians
Chair, Glen Nenema
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
Chair, Robert de los Angeles
Lower Elwha Klallum Tribe
Chair, Francis Charles
Spokane Tribe of Indians
Chair, Carol Evans
Lummi Nation
Chair, Jeremiah ‘Jay’ Julius
Squaxin Tribe
Chair, Arnold Cooper
Makah Tribe
Chair, Nathan Tyler
Stilliguamish Tribe of Indians
Chair, Shawn Yanity
Muckleshoot Tribe
Jaison Elkins
Suquamish Tribe
Chair, Leonard Forsman
Nisqually Tribe
Chair, Farron McCloud
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Chair, Brian Cladoosby
Nooksack Tribe
Chair, Roswell “Ross” Cline
Tulalip Tribes
Chair, Teri Gobin
Port Gamble S’Klallum Tribe
Chair, Jeremy Sullivan
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Chair, Jennifer Washington
Puyallup Tribe
Chair, David Bean
Yakima Nation
Chair, JoDe Goudy
Quileute Tribe
Chair, Douglas Woodruff, Sr.
Open Letter to All Washington State Legislature:
The sovereign Tribes of Washington and non-government organizations urge the government body of Washington State including Natives in Washington Legislature, John McCoy (Tulalip), Deborah Lekanoff (Tlingit) and Natives in Congress, Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk) and Deborah Haaland’s (Laguna Pueblo) to launch Truth and Reconciliation.
In the spirit of public participation, we ask you to join the State of Maine and Canada and begin the process to fully implement this global, consensus instrument of healing, protection and realization of the human rights of Indigenous peoples and nature. It is critical that the laws of Washington State align with principles that support the Declaration which meet the minimum global standards for the “survival, dignity and well-being” of Indigenous peoples.
We ask legislature to redress the legacy of the root cause (s) of trauma that have impacted our Indigenous peoples and advance proposed actions that will foster reconciliation.
As inherent right holders, we have a sacred responsibility to protect our inherent birth rights to the land, water, life and democracy for our future generations. In efforts to mitigate the human and environmental disaster, it is critical that we move swiftly to found and enforce policy, education and cultural knowledge that is in alignment with the global and international framework for reconciliation at all levels and sectors.
We ask the federal and state government and organizations to stand with us as we begin the process to acknowledge the past, the harm that has been inflicted, atonement for the cause and action to change the behavior.
Contact: Shirley Williams, RN at shirley.williams.we@gmail.com or text 360-815-2409. Co-Founder of Whiteswan Environmental, WE (One Mind for the Purpose of the Work)
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Chair, Rodney Cawston
Quinalt Indian Nation
Fawn Sharp
Confederated Tribes of The Chehalis Reservation
Chair, Harry Pickernell Sr.
Samish Indian Nation
Chair, Tom Wooten
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Chair, Bill lyall
Sauk-Suaittle Indian Tribe
Chair, Benjamin Joseph
Hoh Tribe
Chair, Bernard Afterbuffalo
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe
Chair, Charlene Nelson
Jamestown S’Klallum Tribe
Chair, W. Ron Allen
Skokomish Indian Tribe
Chair, Charles ‘Guy’ Miller
Kalispell Tribe of Indians
Chair, Glen Nenema
Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
Chair, Robert de los Angeles
Lower Elwha Klallum Tribe
Chair, Francis Charles
Spokane Tribe of Indians
Chair, Carol Evans
Lummi Nation
Chair, Jeremiah ‘Jay’ Julius
Squaxin Tribe
Chair, Arnold Cooper
Makah Tribe
Chair, Nathan Tyler
Stilliguamish Tribe of Indians
Chair, Shawn Yanity
Muckleshoot Tribe
Jaison Elkins
Suquamish Tribe
Chair, Leonard Forsman
Nisqually Tribe
Chair, Farron McCloud
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Chair, Brian Cladoosby
Nooksack Tribe
Chair, Roswell “Ross” Cline
Tulalip Tribes
Chair, Teri Gobin
Port Gamble S’Klallum Tribe
Chair, Jeremy Sullivan
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Chair, Jennifer Washington
Puyallup Tribe
Chair, David Bean
Yakima Nation
Chair, JoDe Goudy
Quileute Tribe
Chair, Douglas Woodruff, Sr.
