Support for the Native Financial Education Coalition and Financial Literacy Education

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 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 Indians, 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 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, while youth financial literacy rates are low regardless of income, race or other socio-economic characteristics, Native children ranked second to last in the latest Jump$tart Youth Financial Literacy Survey, and

WHEREAS, the Native Financial Education Coalition (NFEC)is a group of local, regional, and national organizations and government agencies, coordinated by First Nations Oweesta Corporation, working together to achieve its common goal of promoting financial education in Native communities through a variety of settings including those with widespread youth development such as schools and community- based youth development organizations; and

WHEREAS, the NFEC recently recommended that federal and state policymakers provide adequate funding for schools and other programs that conduct youth and financial education in an “active” rather than “passive” manner, with children applying lessons directly in activities such as opening a bank account and keeping up with transactions; and

WHEREAS, the NFEC further recommended to tribe and state policymakers to encourage or require schools to incorporate financial education in a culturally sensitive manner.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association supports these aforementioned policy recommendations of the Native Financial Education Coalition, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association will provide advocacy on the tribal, state, and federal levels accordingly.

Submitted by: Elsie M. Meeks (Lakota)

Executive Director, First Nations Oweesta Corporation

Chair, Native Financial Education Coalition

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the following resolution was dully considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors at its October 10, 2005 meeting in Denver, Colorado at which a quorum was present.