Do you have 5 minutes to help stop the federal creation of a Hawaiian tribe?
This is your chance to tell the DOI what you think of their involvement in Hawaiian nation-building!
From Grassroot Institute, December 16, 2015
The Na'i Apuni election may be momentarily dead, but that doesn't mean that the state's nation-building effort is. In fact, the decision to walk away from the election and lawsuit demonstrates just how much they are counting on the Department of Interior to legitimize a Hawaiian tribe through executive action.
Although last year's public hearings saw widespread opposition to federal involvement in creating a Hawaiian tribe, the DOI proceeded with its plans. A Notice of Proposed Rule-Making has been published, setting out the procedure for the "recognition of a government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community."
This is an attempt to circumvent Congress, the Constitution, the democratic process, and the will of the thousands of Native Hawaiians who spoke out against the agency's proposal.
But there is still time to let your voice be heard. Public comments are still open for the DOI's proposed rule. You do not need to be Native Hawaiian to comment. Remember, this is a proposal that will affect everyone who lives in our state. What's more, many Hawaiian activists (like those at Free Hawaii and the Koani Foundation) are speaking out against this rule as well.
To learn more about the proposed rule, click here. Then go here to submit your comments online. Don't worry about what to write--just express your position on the rule and on the DOI's involvement in creating a Hawaiian tribe.
The state and federal nation-building efforts have never had widespread majority support in Hawaii. We need to demonstrate that this is still the case, despite all of the claims to the contrary. Please feel free to share this message and encourage others to comment on the rule.
LINK >>> Click here to submit your comments online!
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