Support Increased Funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Scholarship Program.

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special education needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people; and

WHEREAS, NIEA, as the largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a fonnn to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established education program resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives residing both on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Scholarship Program provides funds to tribes who are serving an increasing number of eligible American Indian and Alaska Native students who are attending institutions of higher learning; and

WHEREAS, federal budget appropriations for BIA scholarship funds has decreased substantially over the last 20 years while the cost of attending higher education institutions has increased dramatically.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION recommends that the FY2000 federal budget appropriations for the BIA Scholarship Program be $39 million.

SUBMITTED BY: Alvin Schuster (Yakama), Toppenish, WA.

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership assembled at its annual convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at which a quorum was present during the meeting held October 17-20, 1999.