Our Quinnipiac Heritage Legacy
Connecticut Indian Affairs Commission
The Connecticut Legislature in 2007 created a bill entitled An Act Concerning a Commission on Native American Indian Affairs. H.B. 7928 was enacted to address issues that are pertinent to Native American interests. The purpose of this Commission is two-fold as defined by the OLR Bill Analysis:
(1) to promote unity and understanding among the state's Native American Indian people and communities and (2) to serve as a liaison between the state's Native American Indian people and tribal governments, municipal and private sector entities, non-Native American Indians, state and federal agencies and the state's legislative and executive branches.
The official duties of the CIAC 20-member commission are to:
- prepare and issue an annual report on its findings and recommendations concerning state Native American Indian Affairs to the governor, general assembly, each municipality's legislative body, and recognized state tribal nations;
- conduct annual public hearings on issues affecting the state's Native American Indians' well-being;
- review and comment on any proposed state legislation and regulations and Native American Indian law that would affect the state's Native American Indians;
- study indigenous Native American Indian tribes; archive the tribes' records, including cataloging and archiving Native American Indian spiritual, social, and burial places; and document- the tribes' influence on the state's history and culture, serving as a state-wide reference and resource center to increase public knowledge of state Native American Indian history and heritage;
- develop public relations programs and projects related to the cultural, educational, and social development of the state's Native American Indian communities and disseminate related materials, including developing public projects to further the understanding of Native American Indian communities;
- act as a liaison between the Native American Indian communities, the state and federal governments and educational and social service agencies;
- encourage Native American Indian representation at all levels of state government, including state boards and commissions;
- secure appropriate recognition of the accomplishments and contributions of the Native American Indian population of the state;
- advocate on behalf of Native American Indians who have been subject to prejudice and discrimination or other human rights issues;
- investigate reports of potential damage to sacred or significant places to the Native American Indian community;
- make recommendations to protect and facilitate access to spiritual, social, and burial places for the state's Native American Indians; and
- work with coroners to notify appropriate organizations when Native American Indian remains are discovered.
Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd — CIAC Steering Committee
The newly created CIAC consists of twenty (20) appointed members who are either Native American Indians from recognized state tribes and indigenous as well as non-indigenous communities and those considered experts. The Commission was initiated and began organizing on September 11, 2007 and has met once a month since then.
Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd, Quinnipiac Tribal Council Bear Clan Sachem, Firekeeper and Medicine Man, and the ACQTC Registered Agent, was appointed to the CIAC 20-member Steering Committee and has been participating since its inception.
On August 13, 2008 the CIAC meeting convened at the University of Hartford Magnet School at 196 Bloomfield Avenue (West Hartford). At this meeting Fox-Running submitted an official ACQTC Proposal to the 20-member commission representatives in attendance. It included a 2 page cover letter signed by Grand Sachem Iron Thunderhorse (who was the legal & cultural advisor to the older Connecticut Indian Affairs Council in the 1980s under Paulette Crone Morange) and Fox-Running introducing the 6 page Proposal and Recommendations Toward a Uniform Standard of Acknowledgment for the Existence of Indigenous Peoples.
Synopsis of the ACQTC Proposal
The term "recognition" is ambiguous and should be abolished and replaced with the word "acknowledgment" which is the word used in Title 25 USC for tribal existence.
Three (3) levels of Acknowledgment should replace the single antiquated criterion formerly used. These three levels we recommend should essentially encompass the following elements:
LEVEL 1: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE EXISTENCE OF:
(a) an individual (indigenous or non-indigenous to CT);
(b) a tribal group/association/community;
(c) a tribe as defined by CGS §§
(d) an indigenous nation/confederacy as defined by traditions and cultural customs of lineage and membership (e.g. ACQTC) who have a history of responsibility and autonomy based on aboriginal title to land through intimate use since time immemorial (prior to European exploration in the region circa 1500 AD)
LEVEL 1 STATUS enables an entity to seek 501(c)(3) tax exemption and to seek and obtain funds from a CIAC Super Fund to be supported by the tribes with casino incomes and from benefits and fund raisers, etc. The CIAC should develop a list of Individuals who are indigenous and non-indigenous, and tribal communities and this master List should be used annually and updated annually for purposes of adhering to the twelve (12) purposes and goals of the Commission.
LEVEL 2: ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Preliminary Land Use/ Land Claims.
(a) individuals may be invited from the master List to attend Inter-Tribal and Intra-Tribal functions by hosts.
(b) tribes or entities who believe in the concept of ownership and have valid land claims may petition on this level to the CIAC for recommendations;
(c) tribal entities (e.g. ACQTC) who are autonomous and indigenous and believe and exist according to ancient traditions and who do NOT believe in ownership but that all land is the creation of the great Spirit and it is the original instructions from the Great Spirit who set aside aboriginal Sachemdoms for the Clan Lineages who are responsible for the environmental interests of all people and species who SHARE the land's use (See: HOLDEN V. JOY ). On this level proposals may be submitted for partnership programs for land use projects that are consistent with the purposes of the CIAC 12 purposes and are compatible with the CT DEP objectives.
LEVEL 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Natural resources, Housing, Reservations, Health, Welfare and Gaming Interests.
(a) Level 3 is the highest level and should be reserved for claims and issues related to housing, resources, reservations, jobs, health, and gaming.
The right to Self-Determination, Self-Identity and integrity of recognized state tribes and non-recognized indigenous nations who have existed in an autonomous form of sovereignty shall be the responsibility of each separate entity and shall not in any way be infringed upon by this Commission.
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