2009-07: Native American Immersion Language Programs in the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

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, 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 (Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian) spoken in this country before 1492; and

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association is actively reviewing ESEA and is making specific recommendations to develop a Native language grant program at the Department of Education that supports Native language immersion;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association will support the rights of Native American communities and tribes to develop and use their indigenous languages in the reauthorization of ESEA to assure that students speaking Native American languages have access to Federally supported education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association inform members of the Congress to any specific areas where ESEA is inconsistent with the federal policy established in the 1990 Native American Languages Act; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association supports proposed Native American languages (American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian) revitalization including immersion legislation and set aside appropriation as added (not subtracted) to proposed Native American language immersion legislation.