09-41 Reaffirm important role that Elders and Youth Conference-goers have at AFN

Published on November 10th, 2009

By ALEX DEMARBAN

Summary

AFN should allow Elders and Youth participants the privilege of addressing the main AFN delegation, and should confirm that Elders and Youth resolutions are included in AFN priorities.

---

Full Text

RESOLUTION 09-41

REAFFIRM THE INTEGRAL ROLE THAT ELDERS & YOUTH CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR RESOLUTIONS HAVE IN AFN

WHEREAS: For 26 years, AFN has recognized the integral role that the voice of Alaska Native Elders & Youth have in the Native community; and

WHEREAS: This support has been shown by Elders & Youth Conference participants being welcomed and engaged in AFN in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, attendance at AFN, time on the main floor agenda to report on the Conference, and by incorporating Elders & Youth Resolutions into the AFN Resolutions package; and

WHEREAS: The Elders & Youth Conference participants recognize and greatly appreciate this dedication and support from AFN; and

WHEREAS: As the Conference has evolved over the past 26 years into one of the longest running statewide Alaska Native conferences, so has the ability of its participants to grapple with the many issues and often difficult realties of contemporary Alaska Native life; and

WHEREAS: This competence and growth of knowledge is often exemplified through the resolutions brought to AFN from the Conference; and

WHEREAS: Resolutions from the Conference participants have resulted in local, state, and Congressional action, including influencing and supporting the War on Alcohol and Drugs, Veterans receiving 160 acre allotments, ROSE UrbanlRural Youth Exchange, to name a few; and

WHEREAS: The Elders and youth want to ensure that continued emphasis is placed on the inclusion of this vital voice of our Native peoples in AFN; and

WHEREAS: Over the past few years, the role and relationship that the Elders & Youth Conference participants and their resolutions have in AFN has changed and is in need of reaffirmation of its importance to AFN;

WHEREAS: Efforts must be made to unite, clarify, and empower the Elders & Youth Conference participants and the resolutions with AFN to help promote leadership, knowledge building, and engagement in the issues that affect Alaska Native peoples by our culture bearers and our leaders of tomorrow.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the delegates of the 2009 Elders and Youth Annual Conference that AFN is hereby recognized and honored by the 26th Annual Elders and Youth Conference for their dedication, support and recognition of the integral role of the Elders and Youth Conference, its participants, and resolutions over these many year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this dedication, support and recognition be reaffirmed by the AFN Voting Delegation by adoption of this resolution; and

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that by adopting this resolution as its own, the AFN Voting Delegation emphatically reinforces to AFN and its leadership the continuing need for the recognition and active participation of the Elders & Youth participants and resolutions into AFN; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this participation includes at a minimum, allowing Elders and Youth participants the privilege to address the main AFN delegation, confirming that all Elders & Youth resolutions will be included in the AFN priorities, and the Elders and Youth are allowed to be active participants in the main convention Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to speak to issues and resolutions offered from the Elders & Youth Conference.

SUBMITTED BY: 2009 STATEWIDE ELDERS AND YOUTH COUNCIL

COMMITTEE ACTION: TO FLOOR

CONVENTION ACTION: PASSED