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A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING A STUDY OF PROCEDURES FOR AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF

FORMAL STATE RECOGNITION OF INDIAN NATIONS, TRIBES AND

PUEBLOS.

WHEREAS, the state has long recognized the importance of

the Indian nations, tribes and pueblos located within the

state; and

WHEREAS, the state has created a cabinet-level Indian

affairs department to address relations between the state and

Indian nations, tribes and pueblos located within the state;

and

WHEREAS, since 1895, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe has had

approximately one hundred ten thousand acres of its

reservation lands located within the state; and

WHEREAS, the Ute Mountain Ute tribal lands within the

state are used for traditional purposes and resource

development, including grazing and oil and gas extraction;

and

WHEREAS, many members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe live

and work in the state; and

WHEREAS, the Ute Mountain Ute tribal council passed a

resolution on July 5, 2005, requesting the state to formally

recognize the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; and

WHEREAS, the state does not currently have a formal

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method of recognizing any Indian nations, tribes and pueblos

located within the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the office of the attorney general

and the Indian affairs department be requested to investigate

the potential impact to the state of formal recognition of

Indian nations, tribes and pueblos located within the state

and alternative methods by which the state may formally

recognize Indian nations, tribes and pueblos located within

the state; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the attorney

general and the Indian affairs department be requested to

report their findings and recommendations no later than

October 1, 2007 to the appropriate interim committees of the

legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the New Mexico attorney general, the secretary

of Indian affairs, the president of the Navajo Nation, the

president of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the president of the

Mescalero Apache Tribe, the chair of the Ute Mountain Ute

Tribe, the governors of the nineteen Indian pueblos and the

chair of the all Indian pueblo council.