Resolution No. 053-15 — Forest Resources

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is a federally recognized Indian tribe with inherent sovereign powers, and is governed by the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council pursuant to the 1937 Constitution, as amended;

WHEREAS, The Stockbridge-Munsee Community has the authority under its Constitution and its inherent rights as a sovereign nation to adopt and amend ordinances;

WHEREAS, In 2009, the Tribal Council approved revisions to Chapter 22, that were approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2012;

WHEREAS, In 2010, the Tribal Council approved revisions to Chapter 22, primarily to add a maple sap collection permit, that were not submitted to the BIA for approval;

WHEREAS, The Tribal Council and Forestry Committee desire to make substantial changes to clarify and improve the existing Chapter 22, Forestry Ordinance;

WHEREAS, The revisions to Chapter 22 include the 2010 revisions, as amended, as well as additional substantive revisions adding language to clarify jurisdictional authority, definitions, harvest of ginseng, forest roads, permits for sale of firewood and on how sales of forest products are handled; and

WHEREAS, These changes have resulted in whole-scale changes to Chapter 22 that include new sections and the re-numbering, re-organizing and revising existing sections.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council hereby repeals the existing version of Chapter 22 and adopts the revised document that includes the recommended changes as a new Chapter 22, the Forestry Ordinance.