https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/24/23613848/national-congress-american-indians-offshore-wind-moratorium-biden-administration

The largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments is calling on the Biden administration to pause offshore wind projects. They want to ensure that tribes are included in project planning and that there are measures in place to protect their territories and traditional resources.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVhOy1hXrFRg7SP4tYHKQmouOlw2-8qZ/view?usp=drivesdk


N A T I O N A L C O N G R E S S O F A M E R I C A N I N D I A N S 
The National Congress of American Indians
Resolution #ECWS-23-005
TITLE: Offshore Wind Moratorium
WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians 
of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and 
purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign 
rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with 
the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the 
laws and Constitution of the United States and the United Nations Declaration on the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of 
the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the health, 
safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following 
resolution; and
WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was 
established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American 
Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, the government has a legal obligation to consult with Tribal 
Nations on any activities that may affect their lands or resources; and
WHEREAS, the Biden administration encourages through the January 26,
2021 Memorandum, “Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation 
Relationships” to improve tribal engagements; and
WHEREAS, the Biden administration in the November 30, 2022 
Memorandum requires “Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation”; and
WHEREAS, the Biden Administration has embraced the need to expand tribal 
consultation to incorporate the essential importance of tribal co-stewardship and co-
managment of traditional tribal lands and waters as recently as Assistant Secretary 
Bryan Newland’s statement before the General Assembly of NCAI on February 22,
2023; and
WHEREAS, President Biden issued a Memorandum on December 1, 2022, 
titled, “Implementation of Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on 
Indigenous Knowledge,” requires federal agencies to integrate Indigenous Knowledge 
as a line of evidence in federal decision-making; and
WHEREAS, incorporating tribal Indigenous Traditional Ecological 
Knowledge, through co-management of traditional lands and the associated life forms 
is critical to protecting tribal environment and is essential to Biden Administrations’ 
stated goal of respecting and including Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge 
in decision making; and
WHEREAS, these policies must apply to energy development projects that may impact their
traditional territories, cultural resources, or sacred sites; and
WHEREAS, Tribal Nations must be included in the management, permitting and
development of power purchase agreements and both consulted and included in determining the terms
and conditions of the agreements; and
WHEREAS, this includes negotiating fair compensation for the use of their lands and
resources, inclusion in any revenues associated with such development of their traditional resources
as well as ensuring that the development does not harm their environment or cultural heritage.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NCAI resolves to support shared tribal
jurisdictional authority over and tribal management of offshore renewable energy activities, aimed at
empowering Native communities through socio-economic benefits such as job opportunities, revenue
sharing, and support for tribal energy development projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI strongly urges the Department of the Interior
and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt all scoping and permitting for offshore wind
projects until completion of a comprehensive and transparent procedure adequately protecting tribal
environmental and sovereign interests is developed and implemented; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is
withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.
CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2023 Executive Council Winter
Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held February 20-23, 2023, in Washington,
D.C., with a quorum present.
Fawn Sharp, President
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Stephen Roe Lewis, Recording Secretary