The Silent Enemy: Institutional Racism at Post-Secondary Institutions

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 forum 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, NIEA should consider addressing Native American representation and professional educational leadership in post-secondary institutions. That Native American Ph.D. faculty need critical attention from national and state organizations who have vested in Native American education (employment opportunities, awards of tenure, appreciation/acceptance of academic contributions and scholarships etc.); and

WHEREAS, NIEA needs to include civil rights and E.E.O.C. regulations along with their established needs that the members understand the latest federal policy and legislative developments and national trends impacting Indian country. Typically this focus has been from Head start/Early Childhood, K-12, and through undergraduate and graduate schools. The breadth and depth presently needs to include post Ph.D. graduates and educators in higher education; and

WHEREAS, the impact of institutional racism in all its forms in post-secondary institutions has and continues to affect/effect Native American Ph.D. faculty on many professional levels, community colleges, four year colleges, and graduate schools. It is the prayer that a national policy be introduced, implemented, and endorsed by NIEA that protects the civil and human rights of Native American Ph.D. faculty that the extent of this policy promotes prevention ( equitable opportunity for advancement), intervention (allocation of investigation to supplement local Civil Rights Division and/or legal counselors) and research regarding claims of unfair employment practices.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION approach the U. S. Department of Justice, Commission on Civil Rights to undertake a study of issues of institutional racism, tenure related issues and the treatment ofNative American Ph.D. faculty at post-secondary institutions, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION support the creation, endorsement and implementation of a national policy calling for the protection of civil and human rights of Native Americans in Ph.D. faculty at post-secondary institutions to the extent that such policy provide for prevention, intervention and research.

SUBMITTED BY: Vivian Delgado, Ph. D.

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership assembled at its annual convention in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at which a quorum was present during the meeting held October 28- November 1, 2000.