2024 - #002: SUPPORTING ALASKA STATE-TRIBAL EDUCATION COMPACTING

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, NIEA recognizes the importance of honoring the sovereignty of Tribal Governments and their inherent right to self-governance; and

WHEREAS, Tribal Governments have historically played a vital role in educating their youth and have a wealth of traditional knowledge and teaching practices that can enrich the educational experience of all students; and

WHEREAS, Tribal Governments and various state governments across the Nation engage in education compacts to further the priorities of Native education in public, charter, and Bureau of Indian Education (Bureau) funded schools; and

WHEREAS, the state of Alaska does not currently have Bureau funded schools and will only enter into compacts with Tribal Governments and will not enter into compacts with Tribal Education Agencies, unless designated as a Local Education Agency; and

WHEREAS, education compacts between the State of Alaska and Tribal Governments can foster collaboration and partnership, leading to improved educational outcomes for Alaskan Native students; and

WHEREAS, addressing the unique educational challenges faced by remote and rural communities in Alaska, including limited access to resources, cultural relevance, and quality education, is of utmost importance; and

WHEREAS, promoting the preservation and transmission of cultural knowledge by ensuring that educational programs and policies are culturally relevant and inclusive is essential to the holistic development of Alaskan Native students; and

WHEREAS, empowering Tribal Governments to have greater control over their educational systems, decision-making, and resource allocation aligns with the principals of Tribal Sovereignty and self-determination; and

WHEREAS, compacting between the State of Alaska and Tribal Nations can create a framework for collaboration, resource sharing, and decision-making that empowers Tribal Nations in shaping the education system to better meet the needs of all students; and

WHEREAS, honoring the government-to-government relationship between the State of Alaska and Tribal Nations through education compacting demonstrates a commitment to the health, safety, and the overall well-being of all Alaskan students.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association supports and encourages the State of Alaska to enter into education compacts with Tribal Governments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA recommends the Alaska Legislature to pass legislation that reflects the State Tribal Education Compact Schools Demonstration Legislative Report Section 4: Statutory Framework Considerations for Establishing Pilot Tribally Compacted Public Schools in Alaska; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA urges the Governor of the State of Alaska to enact said legislation; and

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