Senator Brickwood Galuteria Plans Trip to Nation’s Capital to Attend Indigenous Symposium and Native Hawaiian Roll Signing

Honolulu- Hawaii State Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria will travel to our nation’s capital next week where he will attend the inaugural First Stewards Symposium at the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall, from July 17-20, 2012. While in Washington, D.C., Senator Galuteria will also join Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye for the historic signing of the Native Hawaiian Roll.

A first of its kind national event the First Stewards Symposium will examine the impact of climate change on indigenous coastal cultures and explore solutions based on traditional ecological knowledge. During the event, Senator Galuteria will provide remarks and moderate a panel discussion on how Pacific cultures adapt to global warming and climate change.

Indigenous people remain key stakeholders in environmental decisions currently being made at the local, state, and national level. For indigenous people culture, nature, and land are inseparable,” said Senator Brickwood Galuteria, who chairs the Senate Committee on Native Hawaiian Affairs. “Platforms like these underscore the importance for government to consult with indigenous groups prior to making policy decisions that have significant impact on the welfare of our country’s first stewards.”

On the closing day of the symposium, Senator Galuteria will join Senators Akaka and Inouye for the landmark signing of the Native Hawaiian Roll. The signing is scheduled to occur in tandem with the roll signing at Washington Place.

The signing of the Native Hawaiian Roll will be remembered by future generations to come,” said Senator Galuteria, who was one of the primary introducers of the 2011 measure which established the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. “The inauguration of this roll marks the next step in the framework towards self-governance for the Hawaiian people.”

In 2011 Governor Neil Abercrombie enacted Senate Bill 1520, the Native Hawaiian Recognition Bill, into law as Act 195. In addition to formally recognizing Native Hawaiian people as “the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli people of Hawaii,” the measure also established the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission (NHRC).

Comprised of five members, one from each county and one at-large seat, NHRC was tasked with the responsibility of preparing and maintaining a roll of qualified Native Hawaiians as defined by the act. The roll is to be used as the basis for participation in the organization of a Native Hawaiian governing entity.