SUPPORT FOR AN NIEA URBAN NATIVE LEARNER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS

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, US Census 2000 data shows 1.5 million (61%), of American Indian and Alaskan Natives declaring single race live in urban settings; and

WHEREAS, Census 2000 data indicates that the majority of Native learners live in urban settings, they do not benefit from federal tribal funding, resources or programs targeted for tribally based education;and

WHEREAS, it’s the inherited right of urban American Indians to maintain their cultural identity, it is equally important for Urban American Indian educators, schools and students to develop partnerships with tribes to maintain, preserve, strengthen, and create educational and cultural relationships;and

WHEREAS, Title VII Indian education coordinators and urban Native educators attend the NIEA National Conference and find very few workshops, presentations, or research focused on urban Native learners; and

WHEREAS, there are few national research publications highlighting Native urban learner best practices or professional development for Native urban educators; and

WHEREAS, there are few national research publications highlighting best practices for metro school districts; and

WHEREAS, urban Indian children face an endemic and ongoing national educational and cultural disconnect in public schools, resulting in high statistics that demonstrates the failure of the public school system to meet their educational needs; and

WHEREAS, the learning styles and traditional values of urban Native families and learners need to be adequately addressed; and

WHEREAS, many Native families continue to move off reservations due to economic stress, global climate changes that impact their homelands, urban sprawl, and job opportunities in urban centers, these Native learners will need cultural brokers to help them succeed in their educational endeavors; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION supports urban Native learner workshops during the annual National Indian Education Association Conference.