Support for Indian Graduate Fellowship Assistance Through the American Indian Graduate Center.

WHEREAS, the American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has assisted over 5,000 American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in all areas of study since 1969, and

WHEREAS, the number of graduate students in need of financial assistance has increased substantially in recent years, and will continue to grow beyond AIGC’s ability to assist all qualified applicants at meaningful levels, and

WHEREAS, tribes and Indian communities will continue to need highly trained Indian professionals to develop economic self-sufficiency, to promote tribal sovereignty, and to improve the lives of Indian people.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION hereby urges Congress to increase appropriations to $3.5 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) “Special Higher Education Program” by Fiscal Year 2000 to support six hundred students at a level consistent with the goal of making graduate degrees attainable for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION also urges Indian tribes, Indian professionals, foundations, and corporations to promote graduate and professional education for American Indians by financially supporting the American Indian Graduate Center.

SUBMITTED BY: Hilton G. Queton (Kiowa-Seminole)

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership assembled at its annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, at which a quorum was present during the meeting held October 11-14, 1998.