Support for Close Up Foundation Programs

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, NlEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, 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 political relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization, has been dedicated to providing a unique, experiential learning experience for American Indian and Alaska Native students for almost thirty years; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation’s program reaches out to undeserved constituencies without regard to race, economic status or ability to help them understand that the process that governs our lives requires both effort and commitment; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Program offers high school students direct access to public policy decision makers as well as the opportunity for them to interact with their peers from throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Program enhances knowledge and skills necessary to more active and informed citizenship; and

WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaska Native students have identified this program as one of the most effective programs where young people can develop both political and social growth; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation is seeking support to continue its work with and develop new programs for American Indian and Alaska Native students; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation is seeking talented Native American individuals as staff to work with all types of students and teachers; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation is seeking support from Indian country to provide speakers as role models when its student participants are in Washington, D.C.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NlEA Board of Directors reaffirm its support along with the Alaska Department of Education, the Alaska Federation ofNatives, Inc., National Indian School Board Association and the United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. for the Close Up Program and the opportunity it provides for American Indian and Alaska Native students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA Board of Directors and its members to take all necessary action to support renewed funding from the United States Congress to enable full participation by eligible American Indian and Alaska Native students in the Close Up Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NIEA board of directors and its members encourage ongoing financial support from the tribes, and from the business and corporate sector for the Close Up Foundation’s programs to ensure continued participation by American Indian and Alaska Native students and to expand the programs availability to additional tribes throughout the country; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NIEABoard of Directors reaffirms its strong support for the Close Up Foundation’s program for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and pledges to encourage all of its members to take any and all actions necessary to demonstrate this support to ensure participation by American Indian and Alaska Native students.

SUBMITTED BY: Carmen Taylor

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA board of Directors at its October 27-November 1, 2000 meeting in Sioux Falls, S.D., at which a quorum was present.