PREAMBLE
The Indigenous Peoples of the Yukon River and its tributaries, hereinafter known as the Watershed, parties to this Accord,
1. Conscious of the value and the sacredness of the Watershed and of the urgent need to maintain, protect and enhance the life and quality of the Watershed,
2. Alarmed by the contamination of the Watershed with toxic and solid wastes, chemicals, sewage and other forms of pollution, as well as increased human activity in the watershed, which is causing environmental impacts including cysts, deformities and other anomalies in the wildlife resources of the Watershed, and high rates of cancer and other diseases in the villages within the Watershed,
3. Aware that the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed have initiated the effort to protect the environmental integrity of the Watershed and cultural vitality of the indigenous communities that are dependent upon and part of the Watershed,
4. Aware that our relationship with the Watershed is reciprocal and that the sacred river provides for us as we continue to assist in its care taking,
5. Recognizing that the Indigenous Peoples signatory to this Accord have titles and interests with respect to traditional territories, and that we affirm our right to self-determination, by virtue of which we continue to freely determine our political status and freely pursue our economic, social, cultural and traditional development,
6. Affirming that We, as Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed, have the right to participate fully in all levels of decision-making, through our own governments, in matters which may affect the rights, status or destinies of the signatories to this Accord, and asserting our government to government relationship with each other and with other governments,
7. Being determined to recover, maintain and strengthen our distinctive spiritual, cultural, traditional and material relationship with the lands, waters and other resources that we have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used, including access to our lands, waters and resources, and to uphold our responsibilities to present and future generations in this regard,
8. Recognizing and affirming that We, the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed, maintain contacts, relationships and cooperation presently, and have maintained these relationships since long before the establishment of the international border,
9. Affirming the need to promote cooperation, communication and education among the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed in the planning, management and protection of the Watershed for our peoples and future generations, Have agreed as follows:
PURPOSES OF THE ACCORD
Article I. - Purpose We, the Indigenous Peoples from the headwaters to the mouth of the Yukon River and its tributaries, having been placed here by our Creator, do hereby endorse this Accord to initiate and continue the protection and restoration of the Watershed for the welfare of our own and future generations and for the continuation of our way of life. The purpose of this Accord is to plan, monitor, protect and enhance the environmental integrity of the Watershed and the cultural vitality of its peoples through cooperation, communication and education.
Article II. - Cooperation The Indigenous Peoples signatory to this Accord, agree to consult and cooperate with each other in planning and implementing specific projects to carry out the purposes of this Accord. All cooperative action taken pursuant to this Accord will recognize and respect the authority and self-determination of the signatories.
Article III. Communication and Education
1. The Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed will encourage understanding of the importance of, and the measures required for, the protection and promotion of the environmental integrity of the Watershed, and will make best efforts to coordinate and cooperate with other Indigenous Peoples and with other approved cooperating entities in developing educational and public awareness programs.
2. The Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed will facilitate the development and exchange of information, from all publicly available sources relevant to the protection and promotion of the environmental integrity of the Watershed, including technical, scientific and socio-economic research, as well as information on training and surveying programs, specialized knowledge, and traditional and local knowledge as appropriate.
CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE ACCORD
Article IV. - Summit Meetings The Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed, as a means for carrying out the purposes of this Accord, agree that they will continue to meet in a summit every two years. The Indigenous Peoples signatory to this Accord may schedule additional summits or other meetings as needed. The time and place of the summit meetings will be determined by the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (see Article V.) in consultation with the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed. Article V. The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council (YRITWC) The Indigenous Peoples hereby approve the establishment of the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, pursuant to the summit of the Indigenous Peoples at Galena, Alaska, on December 11-14 of 1997, provided that the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and mission statement of the YRITWC are amended and clarified to conform to the terms of this Accord, and provided that the YRITWC faithfully carries out the directions agreed upon by the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed and its tributaries, carries on its work with full respect for the authority of the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed and its tributaries, and reports regularly to them.
Article VI. - Amendment of the Accord Amendments to this Accord may be proposed by any of the Indigenous Peoples signatory to the Accord. Amendments may be adopted only by consensus at a summit of the Indigenous Peoples. The YRITWC shall inform all signatories to the Accord of any proposed amendments at least 30 days in advance of the summit meeting, unless otherwise agreed. Amendments will be implemented upon ratification by the governments of the Indigenous Peoples signatory to the Accord.
Article VII. - Implementation of the Accord This Accord will take effect upon signing by the Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed, and will remain open for future signatories.
Article VIII. - Withdrawals At any time any signatory may withdraw from the Accord by giving written notification to the YRITWC, which will inform the other Indigenous Peoples of the Watershed.
Article IX. - Disclaimers This Accord will strengthen the ability of signatory Indigenous Peoples to resolve issues of mutual concern through cooperation, communication and education. This Accord will not be used in any court of law or against any signatory.
Definitions:
Board of Directors- The Board of Directors of the YRITWC consists of chiefs or designated representatives from the Tribes and First Nations that have signed the Inter-Tribal Watershed Accord. The entire Board of Directors meets once every two years in a gathering called a "Summit Meeting".
Indigenous Peoples - The Tribes and First Nations of the Yukon River Watershed and its tributaries, as represented through their indigenous forms of government.
Leadership Meeting- "Leadership meeting" is the term for the meeting of the Board of Directors only, which takes place annually between "Summit meetings."
Summit Meeting- "Summit meeting" is a term for the meeting of the Board of Directors, which takes place every two years. At the "Summit meeting", more people than just the Board of Directors are expected to attend. For example, environmental technicians, elders and youth may attend.
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors (formerly known as the "Executive Committe")- The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors consists of 12 members of the Board of Directors, six from Canada and six from the United States, chosen by the other Board members to represent them and guide the YRITWC during the time between "Summit meetings." The members of the Executive Committee each represent a region of the watershed, and are chosen by the Tribal or First Nation Board members from that region at "summit meetings." Executive Committee members have 2-year terms. Executive Committee members may be reselected every two years or replaced. Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee in between "Summit meetings" shall be filled by the affirmative consensus of the remaining Executive Committee members. Interim Executive Committe appointments shall be reviewed by the full Board of Directors at the next "Summit meeting."
Yukon River Watershed - The Yukon River from its headwaters to its mouth, including all of its tributaries.