Commissiqnpf Indian Affairs. was established 111-1271. to ensure 

DRAFT RESOLUTIGN
Whereas North Carolina is home to the largest population of indigenous peoples east of the

Mississippi River, including more. than 120,000 members of inherently sovereign American
Indian tribes who have occupied this continent since time immemorial; and

 

and?err?aive dealings win 

 

right of American Indians to pursue cultural?and religious traditions; and

Whereas the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline w0u1d cross the traditional territories of American
Indian tribes recognized by the State of North Carolina, including landscapes and waterways of
spiritual, cultural, historical, environmental, and economic signi?cance to the Coharie, Haliwa?
Saponi; Lumbee, and Meherrin Tribes;-and 

Whereas approximately 30,000 American Indians live within one mile of the Atlantic Coast
Pipeline?s preposed route and constitute a highly disproportionate concentration of tribal citizens
subjected to any adverse impacts 'related'to the pipeline?s Construction and operation; and 

Whereas the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has not honored requests for consultatidn
by tribal governments, against the guidance of the Advisory Coitncil on Historic Preservation,

the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the North Carolina'Department of

Environmental Quality, and the North Carolina Cemmi'ssion of Indian Affairs; and -

Whereas the National Congress of American Indians, speaking on behalf of indigenous nations
throughout the United States, has resolved that. no federal permits should be issued for the
Atlantic Coast Pipeline until meaningful tribal consultation has occurred, resulting in a full and
complete environmental impact statement that fully considers the concerns of affected tribes; and

Whereas the United States government supports the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, which af?rms, among other rights, the right of indigenous peoples to give
?ee and informed consent prior to the development or use of their lands and territories; and

Whereas the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission?s Final Environmental Impact Statement

and Record of Decision do not acknowledge the highly disproportionate impacts of the proposed
pipeline On AmeriCan Indian tribes and Were nOt developed in consultation with tribal
governinents representing the indigenous peoples and original owners of the territories crossed
by the .-pr0posed pipeline; and 

Whereas the existing Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision lack culturally
relevant assessments of potential impacts of the proposed pipeline on the indigenous peoples of 
North Carolina; and - - - 

Whereas the Federal Energy Regulatory Conunission has asked the pipeline developer to discuss
traditional sites with tribal governments at a late stage in the decision-making process and 

without specifying the purposes of these discussions or how. sensitive information might be used
by outside parties.

Therefore be it resolved that the North Carolina Commission 0f Indian Affairs opposes the -

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission? 3 Record of DeCision concerning the Atlantic Coast
Pipeline; and

 

 

Be it further 131111311" 1115131115551 

Energy Regulatory Commission to rescind its Record of Decision until regulators have
accurately and thOroughly considered the impacts of the project on American Indians through
meaningful consultation With tribes and through preparation and evaluation of an appropriate
cultural Impact Assessment; and

Be it further resolved that the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs calls on Governor

Roy Cooper and all North Carolina g0vernment agencies to oppose any federal permits and
rescind or deny any state permits or certi?cates until federal and state governments have

accurately and thoroughly considered the impacts of the project on American Indians through
meaningful consultation with tribes and through preparation and evaluation of an appropriate
Cultural Impact Assessment; and

Be it finally resolved that until these actions cecur, the North Carolina Commission of Indian
Affairs considers all permits and approvals for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to be incompliant with
policy guidance from the United States Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the
United States Environmental Protection Agency, and directly opposed to Article 32 of the United
Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. .