DOCUMENT: CENTENAL.TXT
C E N T E N N I A L A C C O R D
between the
FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBES
in
WASHINGTON STATE
and the
STATE OF WASHINGTON
I. PREAMBLE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
This ACCORD dated August 4, 1989, is executed between the
federally recognized Indian tribes of Washington signatory to this
ACCORD and the State of Washington, through its governor, in order
to better achieve mutual goals through an improved relationship
between their sovereign governments. This ACCORD provides a
framework for that government-to-government relationship and
implementation procedures to assure execution of that
relationship.
Each Party to this ACCORD respects the sovereignty of the
other. The respective sovereignty of the state and each federally
recognized tribe provide paramount authority for that party to
exist and to govern. The parties share in their relationship
particular respect for the values and culture represented by
tribal governments. Further, the parties share a desire for a
complete accord between the State of Washington and the federally
recognized tribes in Washington reflecting a full government-to-
government relationship and will work with all elements of state
and tribal governments to achieve such an accord.
II. PARTIES
There are twenty-six federally recognized Indian tribes in
the state of Washington. Each sovereign tribe has an independent
relationship with each other and the state. This ACCORD, provides
the framework for that relationship between the state of
Washington, through its governor, and the signatory tribes.
The parties recognize that the state of Washington is
governed in part by independent state officials. Therefore,
although, this ACCORD has been initiated by the signatory tribes
and the governor, it welcomes the participation of, inclusion in
and execution by chief representatives of all elements of state
government so that the government-to-government relationship
described herein is completely and broadly implemented between the
state and the tribes.
III. PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES
This ACCORD illustrates the commitment by the parties to
implementation of the government-to-government relationship, a
relationship reaffirmed as state policy by gubernatorial
proclamation January 3, 1989. This relationship respects the
sovereign status of the parties, enhances and improves
communications between them, and facilitates the resolution of
issues.
This ACCORD is intended to build confidence among the parties
in the government-to-government relationship by outlining the
process for implementing the policy. Not only is this process
intended to implement the relationship, but also it is intended to
institutionalize it within the organizations represented by the
parties. The parties will continue to strive for complete
institutionalization of the government-to-government relationship
by seeking an accord among all the tribes and all elements of
state government.
This ACCORD also commits the parties to the initial tasks
that will translate the government-to-government relationship
into more-efficient, improved and beneficial services to Indian
and non-Indian people. This ACCORD encourages and provides the
foundation and framework for specific agreements among the parties
outlining specific tasks to address or resolve specific issues.
The parties recognize that implementation of this ACCORD will
require a comprehensive educational effort to promote
understanding of the government-to-government relationship within
their own governmental organizations and with the public.
IV. IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
While this ACCORD addresses the relationship between the
parties, its ultimate purpose is to improve the services delivered
to people by the parties. Immediately and periodically, the
parties shall establish goals for improved services and identify
the obstacles to the achievement of those goals. At an annual
meeting, the parties will develop joint strategies and specific
agreements to outline tasks, overcome obstacles and achieve
specific goals.
The parties recognize that a key principle of their
relationship is a requirement that individuals working to resolve
issues of mutual concern are accountable to act in a manner
consistent with this ACCORD.
The state of Washington is organized into a variety of large
but separate departments under its governor, other independently
elected officials and a variety of boards and commissions. Each
tribe, on the other hand, is a unique government organization with
different management and decision-making structures.
The chief of staff of the governor of the state of Washington
is accountable to the governor for implementation of this ACCORD.
State agency directors are accountable to the governor through the
chief of staff for the related activities of their agencies. Each
director will initiate a procedure within his/her agency by which
the government-to-government policy will be implemented. Among
other things, these procedures will require persons responsible
for dealing with issues of mutual concern to respect the
government-to-government relationship within which the issue must
be addressed. Each agency will establish a documented plan of
accountability and may establish more detailed implementation
procedures in subsequent agreements between tribes and the
particular agency.
The parties recognize that their relationship will
successfully address issues of mutual concern when communication
is clear, direct and between persons responsible for addressing
the concern. The parties recognize that in state government,
accountability is best achieved when this responsibility rests
solely within each state agency. Therefore, it is the objective
of the state that each particular agency be directly accountable
for implementation of the government-to-government relationship in
dealing with issues of concern to the parties. Each agency will
facilitate this objective by identifying individuals directly
responsible for issues of mutual concern.
Each tribe also recognizes that a system of accountability
within its organization is critical to successful implementation
of the relationship. Therefore, tribal officials will direct
their staff to communicate within the spirit of this ACCORD with
the particular agency which, under the organization of state
government, has the authority and responsibility to deal with the
particular issue of concern to the tribe.
In order to accomplish these objectives, each tribe must
ensure that its current tribal organization, decision-making
process and relevant tribal personnel is known to each state
agency with which the tribe is addressing an issue of mutual
concern. Further, each tribe may establish a more detailed
organizational structure, decision-making process, system of
accountability, and other procedures for implementing the
government-to-government relationship in subsequent agreements
with various state agencies. Finally, each tribe will establish a
documented system of accountability.
As a component of the system of accountability within state
and tribal governments, the parties will review and evaluate at
the annual meeting the implementation of the government-to-
government relationship. A management report will be issued
summarizing this evaluation and will include joint strategies and
specific agreements to outline tasks, overcome obstacles, and
achieve specific goals.
The chief of staff also will use his/her organizational
discretion to help implement the government-to-government
relationship. The office of Indian Affairs will assist the chief
of staff in implementing the government-to-government relationship
by providing state agency directors information with which to
educate employees and constituent groups as defined in the
accountability plan about the requirement of the government-to-
government relationship. The Office of Indian Affairs shall also
perform other duties as defined by the chief of staff.
V. SOVEREIGNTY and DISCLAIMERS
Each of the parties respects the sovereignty of each other
party. In executing this ACCORD, no party waives any rights,
including treaty rights, immunities, including sovereign
immunities, or jurisdiction. Neither does this ACCORD diminish
any rights or protections afforded other Indian persons or
entities under state or federal law. Through this ACCORD parties
strengthen their collective ability to successfully resolve issues
of mutual concern.
While the relationship described by this ACCORD provides
increased ability to solve problems, it likely will not result in
a resolution of all issues. Therefore, inherent in their
relationship is the right of each of the parties to elevate an
issue of importance to any decision-making authority of another
party, including, where appropriate, that party's executive
office.
Signatory parties have executed this ACCORD on the date of
August 4, 1989, and agreed to be duly bound by it commitments.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: -= THE FOURTH WORLD DOCUMENTATION PROJECT =- ::
:: A service provided by ::
:: The Center For World Indigenous Studies ::
:: www.cwis.org ::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Originating at the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Olympia,
Washington USA www.cwis.org <http://www.cwis.org>
� 1999 Center for World Indigenous Studies
(All Rights Reserved. References up to 500 words must be referenced
to the Center for World Indigenous Studies and/or the Author
Copyright Policy
Material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive
is accepted on the basis that the material is the original, unoccupied
work of the author or authors. Authors agree to indemnify the Center for
World Indigenous Studies, and DayKeeper Press for all damages, fines and
costs associated with a finding of copyright infringement by the author
or by the Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation
Project Archive in disseminating the author(s) material. In almost all
cases material appearing in the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive
will attract copyright protection under the laws of the United States of
America and the laws of countries which are member states of the Berne
Convention, Universal Copyright Convention or have bi-lateral copyright
agreements with the United States of America. Ownership of such copyright
will vest by operation of law in the authors and/or The Center for World
Indigenous Studies, Fourth World Journal or DayKeeper Press. The Fourth
World Documentation Project Archive and its authors grant a license to
those accessing the Fourth World Documentation Project Archive to render
copyright materials on their computer screens and to print out a single
copy for their personal non-commercial use subject to proper attribution
of the Center for World Indigenous Studies Fourth World Documentation
Project Archive and/or the authors.
Questions may be referred to: Director of Research
Center for World Indigenous Studies
PMB 214
1001 Cooper Point RD SW Suite 140
Olympia, Washington 98502-1107 USA
360-754-1990
www.cwis.org <http://www.cwis.org>
usaoffice@cwis.org <mailto:usaoffice@cwis.org>
OCR Software provided by Caere Corporation