Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 19, Number 8, 1 August 2002 — Federal Roundtable in Washington, D.C., sheds light on indigenous status in U.S. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Federal Roundtable in Washington, D.C., sheds light on indigenous status in U.S.

Editor's note: This month, Trustees Maehaāo and Stender shaie their eolumn space with Chairperson Apoliona who highlights the July 15-16 Federal Roundtable in Washington, D.C. Aloha mai kakou e nā 'ōiwi o Hawai' i, this 20th article in a series of 48 highlights the July 15 and 16 National Roundtable events in Washington, D.C, "For The Love of Our Country, America's First Citizens and their Contributions to the United States ." Purposes for the Roundtable, at this time in the schedule of the 107th Congress, included: a) showing solidarity and support within the indigenous, native communities for the passage of S 746 that will reaffirm Native Hawaiians' right to self-governance as is consistent with existing fedaral policy; b) raising awareness in Congress and across the nation, in Alaska and the other 48 states, that Native Hawaiians as indigenous people of this eountiy have not been extended the legal and political status as have Alaskan natives and American Indians of this country, and e) recognizing that Native Hawaiians along with Alaskan natives and American Indians, as veterans, have served this country's military in proportionately greater numbers than any other ethnic group. The National Roundtable whieh included participation by Alaskan natives, American Indians and Native Hawaiians was convened and sponsored by the Senate Committee on Indian Affaim. In opening remarks on July 15, Sen. Inouye said, "the United States Committee on Indian Affairs is pleased to convene this important roundtable honoring the contributions of Native American veterans to the United States and addressing the Federal policy, first articulated by President Nixon in 1 970 and reaffirmed by e\fery succeeding president, of the rights of America's native people to self-determination and self-gover-nanee. f/Iany Americans are not aware that on a per capita basis, more Native Amaricans — American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians — have volunteered to put themselves in harm's way in the sendce of our country than any other group. We honor them today, not only because of their contributions and sacrifice, but importantly, because of their patriotism to a country that has not always treated them fairly orwell. As we stand at the threshold of this new millennium, it is appropriate thatthis nation examine its policies, its practices, and its course of dealing with America's First Citizens — Native Americans. Looking back on our history, we see that the founding fathem not only recognized the pre-existing sovereignty of the native people, but made specific provision in the U.S. Constitution for the manner in whieh the United States would conduct relations with the

sovereign native nations.Later however, it seems that we conveniently forgot that the native people played such an instrumental role in the war for this nation's independence — fighting alongside revolutionary soldiers and providing sustenance to the troops such as those of Gen. George Washington who would not have survived the winter at Valley Foige with the help . of native people. America entered into treaties with the Indian nations for the acquisition of hundreds of millions of acres of tribal lands, and then proceeded to violate provisions of eveiy treaty. Thereafter. , Federal policies vacillated. Forced assimilation was the prevailing Federal policy for a number ofyears. But in 1970, President Nixon announced the Federal policy of the rights of America's native people to self-determination and self-governance and over the course of the ensuing years, the F irs t Americans have made enormous strides in assuming responsibility for the provision of programs andservices previously administered exclu-

sively by the Federal government. Today, we focus on the efforts of the last group of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, to achieve the long-sought-for status that America's other first people have under Federal law. This is an historic gathering of America's native sons and daughtem around a eommon goal that all support — the Federal recognition of the rights of Native Hawaiians to self-determination and self-gov-emanee." Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and Secretary Anthony Piineipi of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affaim preceded a panel of Native Ameiiean veterans that included Tom Holm, American Indian (CherokeeCreek) f/Iarine, Vietnam War

veteran, professor of Amenean Indian Studies at the University of Arizona and author of " Strong Hearts, Wounded Souls: Native American Veteransof the Vietnam WarJ and Walter Sampson, Alaska Native (Inupiat), raised by his grandmother, Effie K. Sampson, in Noonuk, Ak, the plaee of his birth. A U. S. Army Vietnam veteran, Sampson received two Bronze Stars, but found that medals could not erase the pain of combat. Today, he is a community leader in both business and civic matters. The third panel member, Isaac Ho'opici, NatVe Hawaiian, U.S. Army, Pentagon Defense Protective Service, born and raised in Wai'anae, currently a member of the Defense Protective Service attached to the Pentagon's bombsniffmg eanine unit was one of the firs t on the scene whenFlight7 7 crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 1 1 . He carried eight people from the burning building. And when the smoke-filled corridom became too dark to navigate, he called for anyone to eome toward his voice. Seven people responded to his calls and were guided safely out of the burning Pentagon. In recognition of his courage and valor Ho'opi'i was awarded the Medal of Valor, the highest award in the Department of Defense for a civilian. The fourth panel member, Native Hawaiian, Brigadier General Irwin K. Cockett Jr., U.S. Army, born on Kaua'i,

served 36 yeam in service to his countiy. He is a veteran of the Korean War, did three combat tours in the Republic of Vietnam, received the Silver Star fromtheU.S. Mlaiine Corps, was awardedthe Legion of MIerit, received two Distinguished Flying Medals, 22 awards of the Air VIedal, two awards of the Army Commendation medal, two awards of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star and numerous service and campaign medals. These Native veterans spoke of their personal, family and community sacrifice in service to our homeland and their investment made in America. They spoke also of the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination and self-governance and their support forNative Hawaiian federal recognition. The Roundtable session then turned to Sen. Akaka who provided comments before introducing American Indian, Alaska native andNatVe Hawaiian speakers. In part, Sen. Akaka said, "I want to begin onee again by thanking all who are here for attending today's

roundtable discussion to honor the military contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives, andNatVe Hawaiians and to discuss the need for parity in the federal policy towards native peoples in the United States. The military contributions of native peoples are often ignored and ' overlooked. As a Native Hawaiian, I believe it is essential to understand the ways of our ancestors. We must understand our culture and our tradition. In this day and age, however, it is also important to be multicultural. We must be able to appreciate all cultures and traditions, and as indigenous peoples, we must be able to function effectively in indigenous and non-indigenous settings. The federal policy of selfdetermination and self-governance and the partnerships formedbetween the U.S. and native governments is

the appropnate avenue to aeeomplish this goal. For that reason, I have worked with my colleagues to draft legislation whieh would extend the federal policy of self-deter-mination and self-governance to Native Hawaiians. As long as Hawai'i is part of the U.S., the United States must fulfill its responsibility to Hawai'i's indigenous people. While Congress has treatedNatVe Hawaiians in a manner similar to Ameiiean Indians and Alaska natives through the enactment of over 1 50 statutes, the federal policy of self-determination and self-governance has not been extended to NatVe Hawaiians. It is imperative to clarify the existing legal and political relationship between the U.S. and Native Hawaiians by providing Native Hawaiians with federal recognition for the purposes of a govern-ment-to-government relationship. Therefore, because this legislation is based on the poliheal and legal relationship between the United States and its indigenous peoples, whieh has been upheld for many, many years by the U.S. Supreme Court, basedon the Indian Commerce Clause, I vehemently disagree with the mischaracterization of this legislation as race-based. VIisinformation is being spread in Hawai'i regarding this bill as precluding sovereignty for Native See APOLIONA on page 12

'Because this legislation is based on the political and legal relationship between the United States and its indigenous peo - ples, whieh has been upheld for many, many years by the U.S. Supreme Court, based on the Indian Commerce Clause, I vehe - mently disagree with the mischaracterization of this legislation as race-based. ' — Sen. Daniel K. Akaka

[?]

Haunani Apoliona, MSW At-large

Colette Machado Trustee, Moloka 'i and Lana 'i

Oz Stender Trustee, At-large

APOLIONA from page 10 Hawaiians. This ean not be further from the truth. This legislation deals with the U.S.' legal and politieal relationship with Hawai'i's indigenous people within the eontext of federal law. As I stated before, as long as we are Americans and as long as Hawaici is part of the United States, I firmly believe the United States must fulfill its responsibility towards its indigenous people. This bi 11 accomplishes that goal." Following Sen. Akaka's remarks, Jacqueline Johnson, executive director of the National Congress of Amenean Indians, spoke in support of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians. She noted that over the last several years NCAI, in annual conventions, has passed resolutions in support of Native Hawaiian selfgovernance. The Alaska Natives were represented by Byron Mallot of the Alaska Federation of Natives, who similarly spoke in support of extending federal recognition to Native Hawaiians, and specifically,

about his long working relationship withNative Hawaiians, Nainoa and Mlyron "Pinky" Thompson, and the voyaging canoes Hōkūleca and Hawai'i Loa. Mlembers of the Native Hawaiian panel followed, including myself (Chairperson Apoliona), Raynard Soon, chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and Charles Rose, president of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs. Remarks by these three panelists were drafted in an effort to complement eaeh other. Soon spoke of Congress ional Delegate Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole and his efforts to enact the Hawaiian Hom.es Commission Act. Rose spoke of extending the legacy of Kūhiō through the mission and work of the cVic club movement. Following are excerpts of remarks by Chairpeison Apoliona: "There are other trustees of the Offi.ce of Hawaiian Affairs present today and I would like to take a moment to acknowledge them: Trustee John Waihe'e IV, Trustee Oswald Stender and Trustee Akana.

We are all elected by the people of Hawail and we all serve Native Hawaiians in our responsibilities as trustees. This National Roundtable is significant and inspiring to eaeh of us here. For us who have traveled from Hawai"i, this moment signals a resounding public recognition of the contributions by natVe peoples to the well~being of this country. Native culture and tradition honom the value of aloha, spiritual eonneetion, reverence of life and interde~ pendence that manifests in both personal and collective actions. These native veterans from Hawai'i, from the Cherokee Nation and the Inupiat from the North are the finest examples of aloha. President Grover Cleveland in an eloquent address to Congress reported on the illegal overthrow of our small island nation with the assistance of U.S. military forces. Our queen traveled many times to Washington, D.C., to present the wish.es of her people to retain their ihherent right to self~ governance. Lili'uokalani believed in the principles of America and she waited the rest of her life for the

U.S. government to make right the actions of that day in 1 893. She died in 1917 still believing and waiting for that reconciliation. Federal policy on self determination and self-governance currently extends to Alaska Natives and American Indians. Native Hawaiians, the third indigenous peoples in these 50 states, seek such inclusion. While Lili'uokalani may have stood alone in the 19th centuiy in reconciling history for her peo~ ple, Native Hawaiians in the 21 st centuiy are joined by American Indians and Alaska Natives, who stand with us in our puisuit of fed~ eral recognition andreconciliation." The Congress is yet to take further actionon S746/HR617. On July 1 5, a Senate Native American caucus was established composed of Senators Campbell, MlcCain, Stevens, Dominici, Inouye, Dorgan, Mlurray, Johnson to name a few. Excerpts from the Naiional Roundtable will be prepared for airing on loeal cable stations in the next month. ■