Senate Engrossed |
State of Arizona Senate Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012
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SENATE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 1010 |
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A CONCURRENT memorial
urging the governor of the state of arizona to establish a cabinet-level indian affairs department in this state.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
To the Governor of the State of Arizona:
Your memorialist respectfully represents:
Whereas, the State of Arizona is home to more than 294,000 American Indians and twenty-two American Indian Nations and Tribes; and
Whereas, American Indians occupied and cultivated what is today Arizona many years before the birth of this state a century ago; and
Whereas, American Indians today contribute tens of millions of dollars to the Arizona economy; and
Whereas, the Members of the Legislature and the citizens of Arizona recognize the substantial contributions American Indians have made to the prosperity and cultural diversity of this state and nation; and
Whereas, the State of New Mexico, with a smaller American Indian population than Arizona, established the cabinet-level Indian Affairs Department to ensure that the Indian people of that state would have the Governor's direct and ongoing consideration; and
Whereas, the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department assists in setting policy and acts as a clearinghouse for state programs affecting the Indian people of New Mexico, among other functions; and
Whereas, the establishment of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department demonstrates that state's commitment to ensuring a strong, respectful and productive relationship between the State of New Mexico and its Indian Nations and Tribes; and
Whereas, in this state, the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs has routinely lacked funding and support appropriate for its mission; and
Whereas, Arizona's leaders can make a stronger commitment to addressing issues of mutual interest and concern between the twenty-two Indian Nations and Tribes in Arizona and this state.
Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:
1. That the Governor of the State of Arizona work with the Legislature to elevate state-tribal policies and issues to a cabinet-level status for the mutual benefit of the American Indian people and the State of Arizona.
2. That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this Memorial to the Governor of the State of Arizona, the Chairman and each Member of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs and each American Indian Tribe and Nation in the State of Arizona.