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Thank you for participating in this survey. This survey is being conducted by a third-party firm to gather valuable insights for making improvements to the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe's Constitution. Your responses are important to us and will be kept confidential. To protect your privacy, no individual responses will be shared with anyone outside of this firm. By completing this survey, you consent to the collection and use of your responses for the sole purpose of this research. For submissions by postal mail:

Attn: Jeremy Zahn (LVPT Survey)
2605 S Decatur Blvd, Ste 123 #430,
Las Vegas, NV 89102

The deadline to complete this survey is Friday, January 12, 2024, at 11:59 pm. Thank you for your participation.

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* 1. Please list your full name:

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* 2. Do you support the proposed change to the official name of the Tribe?

Proposed language: The name of the Tribe shall be the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, formerly known as the Paiutes of the Las Vegas Indian Colony.

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* 3. The Tribe is actively exploring avenues to incorporate its culture and traditions within the Constitution. Are you in favor of the suggested language for the Preamble of the Tribe's Constitution?

Proposed language: We, the Nuwuvi (People), are the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe. As descendants of the Tudinu (Desert People), we have survived and thrived since the beginning of time, living in harmony with the desert and respecting all other beings by virtue of our culture, language, songs, traditions, and values. We, the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, to protect our way of life, govern ourselves and our homeland as a sovereign nation, protect and sustain our cultural values, provide for the health and well-being of our People, and secure the blessings of liberty and justice to present and future generations, do hereby enact and establish this Constitution.

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* 4. The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is considering changes that will help expand its jurisdiction. Do you support the proposed language listed below?

Proposed language:

Maximum jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe shall include, to the fullest extent under Federal law, all persons and all real and personal property, including lands and natural resources, and all waters and airspace within Indian country, as defined by 18 U.S.C. §1151 or its successor and occupied by the Tribe, and shall include any other jurisdiction delegated by the United States Congress.

Jurisdiction under Tribal Law. The reservation, tribal lands, and tribal members shall be subject to tribal laws and customs and where applicable, Federal law.

Service Area. Tribal services shall be provided by the Tribe to all Las Vegas Paiute citizens. Federal services may be provided to Las Vegas Paiute citizens outside the designated service area unless prohibited by federal law or program regulations.

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* 5. Today, many Native nations are also improving their constitutions to reaffirm their sovereignty. Do you support the proposed changes?

Proposed language: The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe holds inherent powers of sovereignty by virtue of its status as a self-governing native people. This reserved sovereignty has been the Tribe’s most sacred possession and birthright since time immemorial. Nothing in this Constitution shall be deemed or construed to be a waiver of the sovereign immunity of the Tribe. Sovereign immunity may be waived only by a majority vote of the Tribal Council.

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* 6. The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is currently exploring how it can improve its membership laws to ensure the enrollment of future generations. Do you support the proposed change below to lower the blood quantum requirement from 1/4th to 1/8th Southern Paiute Indian blood?

Proposed language: The citizenship of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe shall consist of all persons with at least 1/4th degree Southern Paiute Indian blood whose names appear on the Tribe's base roll, and the descendants of these persons who possess at least 1/8th Southern Paiute Indian blood, provided that they are not enrolled with another federal or state-recognized Tribe.

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* 7. Are you seeking the enrollment of any descendants? 

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* 8. Would you consider supporting the following measure to automatically lower the proposed blood quantum requirement from 1/8th to 1/16th after ten years?

Proposed language: After ten years following the adoption of this amendment, the descendants of these persons who possess at least 1/16th Southern Paiute Indian blood shall also be eligible for membership provided that they are not currently enrolled or affiliated with another federal or state-recognized Tribe.

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* 9. The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is exploring ways to enhance its enrollment process, aiming to better serve current members and future generations. Would you be in favor of the proposed language outlined below?

Proposed language: 

Sanctity of Membership. Citizenship shall be deemed the sacred right of Las Vegas Paiute citizens. No enrolled citizen shall be involuntarily disenrolled except upon proof of false or incorrect information relating to the citizen’s eligibility for enrollment under tribal law applicable at the time of the application.

Enrollment Process. The Tribal Council shall have the power to pass ordinances governing tribal citizenship, including but not limited to the process of applying for and approval of future citizenship and loss of citizenship, and the power to make the initial decision on applications for enrollment.

Right of Appeal. In the event of an adverse initial decision on an enrollment application, the applicant shall have the right to appeal the initial decision to the Tribal Court. The Tribal Court shall review the initial decision for factual and legal errors, make a written recommendation thereon, and remand the application for reconsideration by Tribal Council. In the event that the Tribal Council confirms its adverse initial decision, the applicant may again appeal the decision to Tribal Court, which shall have final decision-making authority over the application.

Adoption or Honorary Citizenship. Adoption or honorary citizenship in the Tribe shall not be permitted.

Prohibition on Dual Enrollment. No citizen of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe shall be enrolled in any other federally or state-recognized Tribe.

Exception for Minor Children. Upon reaching the age of 18, any eligible individuals may apply for citizenship in the Tribe, regardless of whether their parents or guardians enrolled the minor child in another Tribe.

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* 10. Constitutional reform is an ongoing process for tribal nations today. Would you support a mandatory review of the Tribe's constitution every ten years?

Proposed language: There shall be a mandatory review of this Constitution every 10 years, the first such review to occur 10 years from the date of the adoption of this Constitution. The review shall be conducted by a committee of at least three (3) persons, appointed by the Tribal Council. The committee shall make written findings to the Tribal Council and Las Vegas Paiute citizens following their review.

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* 11. Which of the following should be used to determine the Tribe's Base Roll?

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* 12. The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is evaluating its current definition of 'tribal affiliation', and we need your input. Tribal affiliation currently refers to the act of an individual receiving financial benefits or essential services from another Tribe, residing/owning property on other tribal lands, receiving IHS medical/emergency hospital services from another Tribe, running for political office in another Tribe, participating in powwows or cultural events at another Tribe, or being enrolled with another Tribe. Please indicate your preference from the options below:

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