2009-10: Expansion of Federal Programs to Address Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Indigenous Language and Culture Related Needs and Rights

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 Nativeand Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, all Native American children shall receive equal opportunities from the federal government based upon the unique indigenous status, language, and cultural history,

WHEREAS, in 1990, Congress passed the Native American Languages Act (NALA) which established a unique federal policy relative to use in publicly supported education of the Native American languages spoken in this country before 1942; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association will support the expansion of federal programs to address the language and culture-related needs and rights of all Native Americans (American Indians, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiians) on a broad basis through the inclusion and strengthening of special provisions to address those needs and rights in all federal legislation.