SUPPORT FOR PROPOSALS OF ALL STATE INDIAN EDUCATION ISSUES LIKE THOSE OF OKLAHOMA

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

WHEREAS, the state of Oklahoma is home to thirty-nine federally-recognized tribes and tribal governments many of which have been here for over 150 years since forced relocations from their historic homelands,

WHEREAS, the name “Oklahoma” comes from the Choctaw Nation meaning “land of the red men” and recognizes the significant presence of American Indian people historically, politically, and socially,

WHEREAS, the American Indian influence is seen in geographical, place names throughout the state of Oklahoma including counties, cities, towns, rovers, national and state parks, and streets with in our communities across the state,

WHEREAS, the state of Oklahoma has been the largest student population attending public schools, as noted by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, which constitutes a significant segment of the public school population in school districts across the state,

WHEREAS, American Indian tribes have provided significant tangible support, at both the local and state level, to improve the quality if education for all students in the public school setting through state an tribal compacts and in respect to the sovereign relationship between the state of Oklahoma and the thirty-nine tribes,

WHEREAS, Indian Education opportunities, resources, and assistance should be increased for meeting the needs of American Indian students in Oklahoma classrooms, which proposes to include the learning of the thirty-nine tribes’ history, culture, languages, and the significant contributions of each of the thirty-nine tribes and their contributions to the state of Oklahoma,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the National Indian Education Association supports and encourages all states with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations to consider adopting Indian education laws like those being considered in Oklahoma and adopted in the states of Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona.

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the following resolution was dully considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors on November 30, 2006 at which a quorum was present.