SENATE MEMORIAL 4

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy M. Keller

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EVALUATE THE POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN SOCCER PROGRAM AND THE ANNUAL INDIGENOUS SOCCER CUP ORGANIZED BY SOUTHWEST YOUTH SERVICES, INCORPORATED.

     WHEREAS, Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated, was selected by the executive council of the World Indigenous Games Society to serve as the organizer of Native American United States soccer teams to represent the United States in the 2012 inaugural World Indigenous Games in Manitoba, Canada; and

     WHEREAS, Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated, maintains a year-round Native American soccer program and facilitates the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup, a weeklong international soccer tournament with community development and training for Native American youth; and

     WHEREAS, the Native American soccer program is year-round and community-based, with programming support from AmeriCorps and the AmeriCorps Vista program, and provides culturally based positive youth development training and risk prevention programs for Native American youth across New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, over two hundred fifty athletes representing thirty-four North American tribes participate in the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup and in the related college and university preparation, soccer skills and leadership skills workshops; and

     WHEREAS, more than one thousand two hundred fifty New Mexicans from four years of age to twenty-four years of age, representing thirty-one communities of New Mexico, participate in the Native American soccer program organized by Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated; and

     WHEREAS, the Native American soccer program and the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup organized by Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated, provide positive youth development training in teen suicide prevention, teen pregnancy prevention, cultural pride and sharing, youth resiliency, health, nutrition and educational and career preparation; and

     WHEREAS, the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup is held in New Mexico, and the Third Annual Indigenous Soccer Cup will be hosted by New Mexico state university, with partial financial support from the Indian affairs department, the office of school and adolescent health of the department of health, the tourism department, the New Mexico sports authority and numerous Indian pueblos in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the Native American soccer program and the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup organized by Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated, provide leverage for state financial support with monetary donations from private foundations, corporations and associations to achieve strategic plan outcome goals for multiple agencies; and

     WHEREAS, the Native American soccer program and the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup organized by Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated, provide preventative health education for Native American youth; deliver preventative health services to Native Americans; form creative and durable partnerships across state, tribal, federal, nonprofit, philanthropic, educational and private sectors; promote youth behaviors that optimize well-being and contribute to healthy lifestyles; increase the confidence and well-being of youth; and create a positive influence to fight against the risks threatening youth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Indian affairs department be requested to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and the health outcomes of the Native American soccer program and the annual Indigenous Soccer Cup organized by Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health and Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated, provide any assistance requested by the Indian affairs department; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Indian affairs department report the results of its evaluation to the interim Indian affairs committee by November 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Indian affairs department, the department of health and Southwest Youth Services, Incorporated.

- 4 -