Demands of Trail of Broken Treaties Supported
Diocesan Press Service. December 14, 1972 [72205]
GREENWICH, Conn. (DPS) -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting here Dec. 12-14, adopted a resolution supporting "the demand for justice and liberation by the Trail of Broken Treaties movement among the Native Americans."
The Trail of Broken Treaties, a coalition of Native Americans who came to Washington, D, C., in November to press 20 demands, including reform treaty procedures, enforcement of existing treaties, protection of Indian lands and reform of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was given grants of $5,000 each by the Episcopal Church's National Committee on Indian Work and General Convention Special Program. These grants were for the collection of data about issues, communication of information about the issues, travel expenses of the caravan, and organization of a presentation of legislative proposals to Congress.
The Council resolution also authorized several of its committees to examine the "circumstances associated with the recent sit-in in Washington, D.C. by Native Americans."
The full text of the resolution is as follows:
"RESOLVED, That, the Executive Council express support for the demand for justice and liberation by the Trail of Broken Treaties movement among the Native Americans and requests that its Program Group on Public Issues and Action, in consultation with the National Committee on Indian Work, the Program Group on Empowerment and the Region III Committee of the General Convention Youth Program, examine in depth circumstances associated with the recent sit in in Washington, D C. by Native Americans and report its findings and proposals for effective action to the Executive Council at its February, 1973 meeting. "