RESOLUTION
OF THE
TRIBAL COUNCIL OF
THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES
OF THE FLATHEAD RESERVATION, MT

A RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE HUMAN GENOME DIVERSITY PROJECT AND CONDEMNING UNETHICAL GENETIC RESEARCH ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TRIBAL COUNCIL OF THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND
KOOTENAI TRIBES THAT; scientific research and genetic exploitation of indigenous peoples represents the greatest threat to American Indians since the European colonization of the Americas, and

WHEREAS, the Tribal Council has the authorities and duty to protect the health, security and general welfare of the Confederated Tribes; and

WHEREAS, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes support the Indigenous Peoples Coalition on Biopiracy in their efforts to stop genetic piracy and human rights violations against indigenous peoples throughout the world, and

WHEREAS, we declare absolute opposition to the Human Genome Diversity Project or other studies that violate the genetic integrity of indigenous peoples, and demand the immediate suspension of any activities to collect genetic samples, cell lines, or data of indigenous peoples, including our deceased ancestors; and

WHEREAS, we demand the fullest cooperation of any government agency or independent research institute for the return of all genetic materials, cell lines, and data they may have in their possession to the appropriate governing authorities of Tribal Governments; and

WHEREAS, we oppose any attempt to monopolize or commercialize the genetic samples, cell lines, or data derived from the cell lines of indigenous peoples, through the application of intellectual property law and patent systems; and

WHEREAS, we demand the international scientific community condemn any research that has been carried out contrary to recognized human values and moral principles, and that violates the international codes of ethics described in the Nuremberg Code and the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki; and

WHEREAS, federal law recognizes Tribal Governments as sovereigns with the primary authority to deny access to, refuse to participate in, or to authorize any removal of genetic materials from our peoples and our lands. The ethical principle of "individual informed consent" is also applicable, and is secondary to Tribal Governmental consent; and

WHEREAS, we demand that scientific endeavors be prioritized and resources allocated to support and improve social, economic and environmental conditions of indigenous peoples in their homelands, thereby, directly improving health conditions and raising the overall quality of life; and

WHEREAS, we demand an immediate moratorium on collections and/or patenting of genetic materials from indigenous peoples and their resources by any scientific project, health organization, government, independent agency, or individual researcher;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES THAT, we demand that the United States Government and any private sector organizations cease participation, funding and other types of assistance to the Human Genome Diversity Project, or any related research projects which seek to research the genome of indigenous peoples; and finally

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, we denounce the integrity of the report by the Committee on Human Genome Diversity of the National Research Council which gives biased and unethical endorsement to the Human Genome Diversity Project while acknowledging the "lack of a sharply defined proposal that it could evaluate."

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

The foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Tribal Council of the
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on the 15th day of January,
1998, with a vote of 10 for, 0 opposed, and 0 not voting,
pursuant to the authority vested in it by Article VI, Section 1 (a),
(c),(i) and (u) of the Tribal Constitution and Bylaws; said Constitution
adopted and approved under Section 16 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (48
Stat. 984), as amended.

Signed,

Michael T. Pablo
Chairman of the Tribal Council

Attest:

Joseph E. Dupuis
Executive Secretary