2013-09: Support for Native Language Instruction and Revitalization

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 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 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 Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, Native language revitalization is a top priority for tribes, as well as Native education stakeholders and communities; and

WHEREAS, funds to support Native language revitalization efforts from current sources are insufficient to address the magnitude of need across the variety of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities committed to expanding their indigenous language revitalization efforts; and

WHEREAS, research maintains that the learning of English is improved when one is grounded solidly in the first language from the home and community; and

WHEREAS, NIEA has always maintained a policy of supporting what is best for all of Native education and of not pitting one Native community or segment of the Native community over another; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NIEA will support the efforts of expanding immersion and language revitalization efforts within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act but not at the expense of existing funding and if immersion and language revitalization efforts are expanded within the Native education title, funds and resources shall not be allocated from existing programs so that programs can continue to adequately address the cultural, linguistic, and educational needs of Native students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NIEA recommends the expansion of funds and services to support the core program of student instruction and to address the critical needs of Native language revitalization efforts by including teacher training, curriculum development, evaluation and assessment, and Native parent and community as well as tribal involvement in a child’s education but not at the expense of current students and programmatic funding.