COMMITTEE ON NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PRESENTS REPORT TO GOVERNOR CORZINE

TRENTON - The New Jersey Committee on Native American Community Affairs  presented Governor Jon S. Corzine with its report concerning issues confronting the state’s three indigenous Native American tribes and other New Jerseyans of Native American descent.

“I want to thank the Committee for their commitment to improving social and economic conditions of those of Native American heritage,” said Governor Corzine. “I look forward to reviewing these recommendations so that together we can ensure equality for all New Jerseyans of all backgrounds.”

 The report provides twenty-eight recommendations in key areas including state recognition, discrimination and civil rights, environmental justice, inter-governmental issues, education, employment, health care and fair housing. 

“The Committee discovered that while many New Jerseyans celebrate the strengths associated with the State's racial and ethnic diversity, they are surprisingly unaware of the existence of, or the cultural, educational, environmental and economic contributions of New Jersey citizens of American Indian descent,” said Christine Grant, Committee co-chair.  

“There were also too many examples of discrimination or extreme cultural insensitivity towards these citizens brought to the Committee's attention during many interviews and public hearings. This is why the report offers specific recommendations, to both celebrate and formally recognize the presence of  New Jersey's American Indians, and also to protect burial grounds and artifacts, and remediate  situations  in education , employment or governance which can give rise to  lingering discrimination or benign neglect.”   

“The creation of this committee, charging it with learning about Native American issues in New Jersey, and bringing recommendations to the highest office is a significant moment for the way our state addresses diversity and tolerance and for how we all view and celebrate the American Indian tribes that are native to our state,” commented Mariko Lockhart, co-chair. "Today is a proud day, with great historical significance for what the Committee has accomplished to date, but this day can grow in stature and importance by the actions that follow. We are hopeful that Governor Corzine will implement many, if not all, of the Committee's recommendations.”

 Governor Jon S. Corzine signed Executive Order 24 establishing the New Jersey Committee on Native American Community Affairs in August 2006.  Members of the commission are: former Health and Senior Services Commissioner Christine Grant, co-chair; Mariko Lockhart, Communities in Schools, co-chair; Dr. Henry Coleman of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy; former Attorney General W. Cary Edwards; and Doreen Autumn Wind Scott of the American Indian Affairs Commission. Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells and Lewis Pierce, Chair of the American Indian Affairs Commission serve as non-voting ex-officio members. A copy of the report can be found online at http://www.nj.gov/governor. ###