Alternative 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 an Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA 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 Na’ive people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political relationship with Indian nationals 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, we the members ofNIEA, in the efforts and commitment to quality Indian education, are to enlighten and support those efforts; and

WHEREAS, the NIEA does support the “Building Blocks for Our Future,” which include, “language, culture and spirituality;” and

WHEREAS, the members of NIEA do support those efforts seeking alternative initiatives to increase graduation rages among American Indian students; and

WHEREAS, the members of NIEA additionally support quality alternative education systems that promote a student’s identity through culture, language an spirituality.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association does hereby publicly support alternative education systems, specifically American Indian charter schools or those charter schools that embrace and facilitate the student’s culture, language, and spirituality for the well-being of our Indian students.

Submitted by: Dana Goodwin-Chaffee

White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors at its October 28 – 31, 2001 meeting in Billings, Montana at which time a quorum was present.