1. Whereas: Tennessee is known for its musicians, and Nashville, the state capital, is itself known as Music City; and

2. Whereas: There are many Native American Indian musicians in Tennessee; and

3. Whereas: There is a need for educational materials on Native American Indians in the State of Tennessee; and

4. Whereas: If the Commission of Indian Affairs is to continue as a viable state agency there is a need for it to successfully complete a community project that will contribute to the welfare and benefit of the state; and

5. Whereas: The purposes of the commission include "Research and find local, state and federal resources of funding and other assistance for the implementation or continuation of meaningful programs for Indian citizens of the state" and "Assist Indian communities in social and economic development" (TCA 4-34-102.2 and 5); and

6. Whereas: The powers and duties of the commission include "Encourage and implement coordination of applicable resources to meet the needs of Indians in Tennessee" and "Cooperate with and secure the assistance of the local, state and federal governments or any agencies thereof in formulating any programs that the commission finds necessary or beneficial to Indians in Tennessee" (TCA 4-34-103.4 and 7);

   Therefore be it Resolved by the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs

   1. That the Commission endorse and support the writing of grants for an educational school project to bring Native American Indian music and Tennessee Native American Indian musicians to Tennessee schools by means of a compilation CD to be distributed to all Tennessee's 2,232 K-12 schools and colleges, public and private, free of charge; and

   2. That the Commission's proposed project sponsor and financial manager will be the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs, with the chairperson as acting Executive Director of the project as provided in TCA 4-34-108; and

   3. That no monies from any grants received for this purpose shall accrue to the Commission of Indian Affairs as a whole or be paid to any individual commissioner for any services provided; and

   4. That the Commission and individual commissioners shall receive CDs and a commemorative plaque for their personal disbursal.

submitted to the TNCIA for consideration
by Mark Caldwell & tom kunesh, june 2007