(08/04/06) MAHWAH ? New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ) showed his support for the Native American community with the formation of a special committee Friday.

Corzine signed an executive order at Mahwah?s Ramapough Lenape Indian Center for the creation of the Native American Community Affairs Committee. The new body will assist the Native American community with civil rights, health care, education and employment. The formation of the committee occurred just months after a member of the Ramapough Tribe from New York was fatally shot in New Jersey by a parks officer.

The committee will hold public hearings to obtain testimony from tribal members, community groups and others. Members will then report back to Corzine six months after their first meeting.

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