2009-02: Establish an American Indian University Task Force and Proposal

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

WHEREAS, the tribal college movement is entering its 40th year of growth, and there still exist a great need for advanced course work opportunities including graduate schools and research institutions; and

WHEREAS, tribal colleges and universities have not had equal opportunity in gaining accreditation for graduate programs and have historically been at a disadvantage to mainstream colleges for funding including research grants; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress through passage of the Home Stead Act gave away millions of acres of previously owned Indian land to European Americans and its companion bill the Land Grant Colleges Act subsidized the creation of Land Grant Colleges to serve the benefactors’ of the Home Stead Act; and

WHEREAS, tribal colleges since their inception have always received disproportionally less federal support than Hispanic Serving Institutions and Historic Black Colleges crippling the ability of tribal colleges to gain traction in developing a critical mass of graduate programs; and

WHEREAS, tribal colleges because of the extreme poverty and high unemployment rate in reservation communities have faced challenges in developing alumni donor and planned giving contributions; and

WHEREAS, numerous factors have served as barriers to fully growing the tribal college movement into graduate and post graduate programs accessible to members of Indian country; and

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association adopted as its policy the support of American Indian University through resolution at the 2002 NIEA Albuquerque convention; and

WHEREAS, NIEA passed the support resolution without any opposition or amendments expressing unanimous consent of its membership; and

WHEREAS, United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee supports American Indian University. Senator Inouye has requested that Indian country/American Indian University stakeholders present him with a proposal to create American Indian University; and

Now therefore be it resolved that the National Indian Education Association does hereby reaffirm its support for American Indian University; and

Be it further resolved that the National Indian Education Association form an American Indian University task force with NIEA board members and stakeholders including members of AIHEC that will meet regularly via conference/webinar and produce a proposal for submission to Senator Inouye within 120 days; and

Be it finally resolved that the National Indian Education Association will work with Senator Inouye’s staff to amend the proposal if needed and support action that may lead to the official charter of American Indian University.