The Following are the by-laws of the YAAT organization.

Article One

This organization shall seek to advise the Tule River Tribal Council (which is comprised of various bands of Yokuts Indians from the San Joaquin Valley and surrounding Foothill area) with regards to Archaeological issues, in the following manner:

• Provide advisory support to the Tribal Environmental program manager (EMP), for legitimate concerns as to the preservation of cultural inheritance through the monitoring of sites deemed to have archaeological/cultural/spiritual significance.
• Provide advisory support to the Tribal EPM, for local concerns as to the preservation/protection of burial sites.
• Provide advisory support to the Tribal EPM form development of codes and ordinances affecting local indigenous peoples and their access to those sites deemed sacred or having significant religious and/or cultural meaning.
• Provide advisory support to the Tribal EPM regarding requests for comments on archaeological sites within Yokuts territory, for which the Tule River Tribe would be considered the "most likely descendents".
• Act as a focal point for the community of the Tule River Reservation, and likely descendents, in efforts to preserve, maintain and protect those traditional beliefs and values that give meaning to the Yokuts people of this area.

Article Two: Membership

Membership in the organization shall consist of concerned Tribal members, applicable TRTC staff members and professionals (ie. those staff members and professionals in the archaeological or related field).

All Tribal members and direct descendants shall have full rights to provide input to the organization.

The Tribal EPM shall serve as an advisor and liaison between organization and TRTC and shall be responsible for and have custody of all funding management, including seeking additional funding for organization activities.  The EPM shall work closely with the organization officers in conduction business.

Article Three: Officers

The officers of the organization shall consist of the following: President, Vice President/Secretary, Professional of the Archaeological field and youth, Elder, TRTC and Archaeological Monitor Representative.  The President shall be a Tribal Archaeological monitor (or have archaeological monitoring/advising experience) and a member of the Tule River Tribe or a direct descendent of a Tule River Tribal member.  The Vice President/Secretary and Youth, Elder and TRTC representatives shall also be members of the Tule River Tribe.

The President shall be the principal and presiding official at all meetings and shall report and work with the Environmental Program Manager to control the affairs of the organization.

In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President.  In the absence of the Secretary, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the Secretary.

The Secretary (which may also be the Vice President) shall keep the minutes of all meetings, publish meeting notices in a timely manner, keep a current membership list and perform other duties related to the office.  Secretary shall keep copies or originals of all organization documents on file in the Tribal Environmental Program office.

The President, Vice President and Secretary shall be selected by the regular voting members every two years, based on nominations received.  The Elder, Youth, Archeological Monitor and Professional Representatives shall be elected by regular voting membership at the first meeting held after selection of the President, Vice President and Secretary.  The Tule River Tribal Council shall assign a Representative to serve as an officer for this organization.

Officers shall be elected for terms of two years.  Tule River Tribal Council Representatives shall be appointed annually.

The "Officers" shall compose the Executive Committee of the organization.

Article Four: Meetings

The organization shall have meetings on a monthly basis and more frequent as deemed necessary by the membership.

Notice of time, place and agenda of meetings shall be provided to all regular members at least seven days in advance of meetings.

Article Five: Sub-Committees

Sub-Committees shall be established by the President, with the approval of the EPM or TRTC.  Sub-Committees shall be established from time to tome as deemed necessary.

Article Six: Amendment to the By-Laws

The organization's by-laws may be amended as needed by a two-thirds vote of the regular membership.  All amendments must be submitted in writing at a regular meeting prior to the planned amendment voting meeting.

Article Seven: Notification of Related Projects

The EPM and President shall work together in soliciting advisory support from the YAAT in each monthly meeting.  Upon receiving applicable notices and requests from various agencies (including the Tule River Tribal Council) the EPM shall inform the YAAT President, maintain a log and present all such notices/requests at the next scheduled meeting.  The YAAT shall make comments and provide advisory support to all notices/requests that will be recorded by the Secretary (which may also be the acting presiding V.P.).  The EPM shall take such advice/suggestions into consideration when determining appropriate response to requesting agency.

The members of the YAAT committee are as follows:

Yokuts Archaeological Advisory Team Meetings

559-781-4271