Support for federal recognition for Native Hawaiians by the United States of America

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, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawai1an educators, administrators, parents and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of indigenous people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political relationship with indigenous 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 and non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, all indigenous nations and tribes have an inherent human right to selfdetermination and self-governance; and

WHEREAS1 Native Hawaiians were the first inhabitants of Hawai’i, establishing themselves well over 2,000 years ago; and

WHEREAS, in 1826, the Kingdom of Hawai’i and the United States entered into the first of five subsequent treaties recognizing the sovereignty of the Hawaiian government and making a commitment to friendship and peace; and

WHEREAS, in 1893, the Kingdom of Hawai’i was illegally overthrown by representatives of the United States government; and,

WHEREAS, in 1898, Hawai’i was annexed to the United States without the consent of Native Hawaiians by the Newlands Resolution; and

WHEREAS, in 1900, Hawai’1 became a territory of the United States; and

WHEREAS, since 1900, Congress began passing legislation resulting in over 150 statutes, acknowledging their political relationship with Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, in 1920, Congress passes the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, which set aside 203,500 acres of land for the rehabilitation of Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, in 1959, Hawai’i was admitted into the union; and

WHEREAS, as a condition for Statehood, Congress required that the State of Hawai’i undertake a federal trust responsibility with Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, in 1988, Congress enacted the Native Hawaiian Education Act and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act; and

WHEREAS, in 1991, the Hawai’i Advisory Council to the United States Civil Rights Commission recommended federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian government; and

WHEREAS on November 23, 1993, President William Clinton signed Public Law 103- 150, the Apology Bill, which acknowledges the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai’i; and

WHEREAS, Public Law 103-150 offers an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for tl1e overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai ‘i; and

WHEREAS, in 2000, the Federal Government issued its report “Mauka to Makai: The River of Justice Must Flow Freely.” recommending federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian government, similar to those of American Indians and Alaska Natives; and

WHEREAS, in 2000, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would have afforded Native Hawaiians federal recognition; however, its Senate companion which favorably passed out of committee was stalled because of an anonymous hold on the bill; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, Senate Bill 7 46 and House Resolution 617 was introduced in Congress but not passed, which would have provided for a process for federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian government; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Senate Bill 344 and House Resolution 665 were introduced to provide a process for federal recognition of a Native Hawaiian government, which to date, continues to be stalled in the Senate; and

WHEREAS, legal challenges continue to threaten the continual existence of laws and programs intended to protect and preserve Native Hawaiian rights and entitlements; and

WHEREAS, special programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are based on their political status as indigenous people and not related to their status as ethnic minorities; and,

WHEREAS, the Native Hawaiian government would protect the rights and entitlements of its members, which includes Native Hawaiian education; and

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the. National Indian Education Association does hereby publicly support federal recognition for all indigenous nations and tribes within the United States of America; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this will be the policy of the National Indian Education Association until it ls modified or withdrawn by subsequent resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association does hereby publicly support federal recognition for Native Hawaiians and calls on the Congress of the United States of America to pass legislation providing for a process for the recognition of a Native Hawaiian governing entity by the United States of America; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai’i State Legislature, the Governor and Lt. Governor of the State of Hawaf’i, the Hawai’i Congressional Delegation, the Congress of the United States, the Secretary of Interior, the U.S. Attorney General and the President of the United States.

Submitted by: Ka’iulani Vincent, Native Hawaiian

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the N IEA Board of Directors at its November 1 – 5, 2003 convention in Greensboro, North Carolina at which time a quorum was present.