SUPPORTING THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARARTION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

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 Indian Nations of the United States have long educational, political and historical relationships as separate nations,

WHEREAS, the human rights standards in the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People will assist the NIEA Membership to defend and promote the rights of Native Americans to improve the educational, social and economic conditions in Native American Communities,

WHEREAS, for over 200 years the legal system has remained extremely unfair and discrimination – denying native nations many of the basic rights that are provided for everyone in this country in education and in other areas,

WHEREAS, the consultation on the government to government process has been proven to be ineffective and dishonored by the U.S. Government,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, NIEA will utilize and support the newly created international human rights standards in the United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of Indigenous People which has been approved by the United Nations Human Rights Council,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED NIEA will join with the Indian Law Resource Center in supporting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People before the United Nations General Assembly.

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.