2023 - #03: CONDEMNING THE 2023 U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Native organization of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique relationship with Native nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the NIEA Resolution #2018-13 adopted in 2018 supports affirmative action policies against the withdrawal of guidance on affirmative action and urged higher education institutions to continue to abide by affirmative action guidelines; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, which rejects affirmative action policies in college admissions, undermines decades of progress and precedent made in addressing historical injustices and promoting diversity; and

WHEREAS, this decision fails to account for the centuries of destructive federal educational policies that oppressed Native cultures with future implications that may discourage Native learners from applying to universities; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Constitution acknowledges the sovereign rights of Tribal Nations and their citizens, which together with the federal trust and treaty responsibility guarantees Native students high-quality education, including higher-education, based upon their political affiliation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association condemns the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association calls upon the Department of Education and all institutions of higher education to acknowledge the unique political status of Native students, outside of their racial designation, and uphold the trust and treaty responsibilities by actively seeking to enroll Native students in higher education; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.