Washiw Tahn-Nu Ung-Gal

WHEREAS, Washiw Zulshish Goom Tahn-Nu (the Washoe Warrior Society) is recognized by the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California as a separate, but complementary organization of Washoe community members (by MOU), and The Arigun Dalai (the Union of Hereditary Guardians of Baikal) represents the cultural interests of Buryat communities; and

WHEREAS, the Wašíšiw are Indigenous to the Lake Tahoe region and the Buryats are Indigenous to the Lake Baikal region, and have, as Indigenous People, survived many common experiences, and have since 2003 declared and affirmed a commonness of sacred place, heritage, vision, and goals; and

WHEREAS, the Wašíšiw and the Buryats recognize that Lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal are core to their original Indigenous spirituality, culture, identity and very survival, and that as Indigenous Peoples we recognize our common responsibility, and human right to preserve and sustainably develop these sacred ecologies for our future generations, our non-human relatives and, as a vital component in today’s global environment and future; and

WHEREAS, as the Indigenous first peoples and guardians of our respective ancestral lands, we recognize the significance of traditional and customary stewardship as essential to the protection and continuity of these critical cultural landscapes, places, and ecologies today and in the future.

BE IT RESOLVED that Washiw Zulshish Goom Tahn-Nu and The Arigun Dalai gathered at the Zephyr Point Conference Center on October 26^th, 27th and 28th, 2024, now enter into this “Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation” to declare the terms for our future relationship in the fields of cultural and environmental wellness and healing for the land, the water, the people—All Life; and

THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, these parties hereby declare and affirm these following principles, rights, and agreements:

1. THAT, our peoples have the right to preserve and develop our own culture and ways of life as we determine; and
2. THAT, the highest priority of our cooperation, is the involvement of Indigenous youth as primary to the development of thriving, living traditional cultures and sacred ecologies; and
3. THAT, based on our inseparable connections, we declare ourselves to be relatives, and agree to sustain ongoing interaction and dialog to promote healthy Indigenous futures for all our relations including the animals, plants, lands and water; and
4. THAT, we affirm the right to our sacred sites, as living roots connecting us to ancestors, ancient ecologies, sources of life and meaning; we call upon all peoples, organizations, states and countries to fulfill their obligations to respect, honor and protect these places, and recognize Rights of Nature; and
5. THAT, we will make every effort to strengthen the cooperation and assistance between our peoples in the fields of cultural and environmental restoration to revitalize our cultures, homelands; to protect and promote the Indigenous guardianship and kinship of high mountain ecosystems of Lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal; and
6. THAT, we will carry-out joint ceremonies and traditional practices in the development of our own cultural richness and wellbeing, including exchanges of experiences and ideas that honor Indigenous guardianship; and
7. THAT, we strive to inspire ourselves and all peoples, organizations, states and countries to Honor and Protect our most important teachers–the Elders and the Land–respecting our Indigenous cultural and spiritual ways; and

NOW BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we gathered on the 25th, 26th and 27th days of October 2024, and bear witness to this “Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation” and agree to work to fulfill this vision of strength and wellbeing, for the healing of the land, the water and the people–All Life.

On this day, October 27th, 2024 at Zephyr Point Conference Center, Zephyr Cove, Nevada,

IN WITNESS HERE OF, WE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE GATHERED HAVE CAUSED THIS AGREEMENT OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION TO BE EXECUTED AND HONORED: