Supporting the education and participation of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian voters in the 2004 National and State elections

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

WHEREAS, NIEA is the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents, and students from throughout the United States, providing a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native People; and

WHEREAS, on September 3-5, 2003 ) the Tribal Chainnen and the Tribal Council members from the ·five Indian Nations of the United Tribes of North Dakota, along with other Tribal leaders from the upper Great Plains met in Bismarck, N.D. during the 7th annual Inter-Tribal Council Summit discussing issues of great importance to the tribal nations; and

WHEREAS, tribes and tribal communities face innumerable issues and obstacles to progress, including the need for recognition of their sovereignty by Federal and state legislative bodies, better educational systems, increased housing, more capital for economic development, improved health care, moden1 infrastructure development, greater police protection and up-todate transportation systems, among other needs; and

WHEREAS, for Tribes and Native people to advance the issues that are important to them, participation in the political process is critical through such means as running Native American people for office, voting for political leaders who support Tribal issues, making contributions of time and money to political leaders who support Tribal issues, and establishing a “Contract with Native America” position paper that can articulate issues important to Tribes and Native communities throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, recent election results in South Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico,. Wisconsin and other local and state elections show the impact of greater voter participation by Indian people, especially in close elections where a few hundred votes can make all the difference needed to elect candidates who support Indian issues; and

WHEREAS, the United Tribes of North Dakota passed a formal resolution at the ih annual Inter-Tribal Council Summit, supporting a 2003 Native American Voter Education Initiative to be coordinated with and by the NIEA, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC\ and the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGC) along with other interested organizations; and

WHEREAS, the 2003 Native American Voter Education Initiative will provide a framework for the education, applicable registration, and participatiop. of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian voters during the national and state elections to take place in 2004; and

WHEREAS, the AIHEC board of directors took action on October 31, 2003 in Greensboro, N.C. to support the 2004 Native American Voter Education Initiative.

NOW THEREFORE l3E IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association joins the United Tribes of North Dakota and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to encourage American Xndians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians to participate in voter education activities, to vote responsibly in the 2004 national and state elections, to become candidates in 2004 elections, and to contribute time and money to those candidates in 2004 who will support issues critical to Indian Tribes and Native communities.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be forwarded to the 2003 annual convention of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and to the National Indian Gaming Association for consideration and support of the 2004 Native American Voter Education Initiative. Submitted by: Phil Baird, NIEA Past President on behalf of the United Tribes of North Dakota

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership and board of directors at the November 1-5, 2003 convention in Greensboro, North Carolina at which time a quorum was present.