<div class="xtend"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A resolution<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>relating to the sovereign status of federally recognized American Indian tribes and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>bands.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>WHEREAS, article 1, section 8, of the United States Constitution gives Congress the power <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>"to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>Tribes," thus recognizing American Indian tribes and bands as separate and independent political <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>communities within the territorial boundaries of the United States; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has interpreted the United States Constitution <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>as recognizing the sovereignty of American Indian tribes and bands by classifying treaties <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>between the United States and American Indian tribes as part of the "supreme law of the land," <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>and by establishing Indian affairs as a unique area of federal concern; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>WHEREAS, Congress has enacted measures that promote tribal economic development <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>and tribal self-government and self-determination; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>WHEREAS, previous U.S. presidents have affirmed tribal sovereignty and, thus, the rights <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>of American Indian tribes and bands in the following ways:<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized "the right of the first Americans to freedom of <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>choice and self-determination"; President Nixon strongly encouraged self-determination among <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>American Indian people; President Reagan pledged "to pursue the policy of self-government" <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>for American Indian tribes and reaffirmed "the government-to-government basis" for dealing <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>with American Indian tribes; President George Bush stated that a government-to-government <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>relationship between the American Indian tribes and the federal government was "the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>cornerstone of [his] Administration's policy of fostering tribal self-government and <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>self-determination"; President Clinton issued an executive order to strengthen the United States' <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>government-to-government relationships with American Indian tribes and to establish regular <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of federal <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>policies that have tribal implications; and President George W. Bush issued a proclamation <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>indicating that his administration will "continue to honor tribal sovereignty by working on a <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>government-to-government basis with American Indians"; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>WHEREAS, Governor Tim Pawlenty issued Executive Order #03-05 on April 9, 2003, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>recognizing the unique legal status of American Indian tribes and their right to existence, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>self-government, and self-determination and directing cabinet agencies to maintain the unique <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>government-to-government relationship between the state of Minnesota and American Indian <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>tribes; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>WHEREAS, the state of Minnesota is committed to honoring federal laws, executive <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>orders, and treaties pertaining to federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands in the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>state in order to strengthen and assist tribal governments in their development and to promote <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>tribal self-governance; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature supports and is committed to the enforcement of the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, United States Code, title 25, sections 1301 and following, which <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>safeguards tribal sovereignty while simultaneously ensuring that the civil rights of American <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>Indians are protected; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature recognizes and respects tribal customs and <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>traditions and considers it important that state government work to preserve tribal cultures; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature wishes to promote positive <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>government-to-government relations between the state of Minnesota and the 11 federally <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>recognized American Indian tribes located within the state; NOW, THEREFORE,<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>(1) that it affirms recognition of the sovereign status of federally recognized American <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>Indian tribes and bands as separate and independent political communities within the territorial <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>boundaries of the United States to the fullest extent provided by federal law; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>(2) that it urges all state departments and agencies to continue to reevaluate and improve the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>implementation of laws that affect American Indian tribal rights and, when engaging in activities <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>or developing policies affecting American Indian tribal rights or trust resources, to do so in a <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>knowledgeable manner that is respectful of tribal sovereignty.<br />
         		<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the 11 federally recognized <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>American Indian tribes and bands in Minnesota, the Governor, the departments and agencies in <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>the executive branch, Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress, and the President <br />
         		<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>of the United States.<br />
         		
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