2022 - #02: SUPPORT FOR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT INCREASE NATIVE LANGUAGE LEARNING

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 Native 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 Native 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 languages are fundamental to Tribal nations, histories, cultures, and traditions and Native language instruction in educational and community settings is crucial to Native language revitalization; and 

WHEREAS, Native languages are fundamental to Tribal nations, sovereignty, histories, cultures, and traditions, and Native language instruction in educational and community settings is crucial to Native language revitalization; and 

WHEREAS, Tribes and schools serving Indigenous students across the United States have identified Native language instruction as a priority for students and community members; and 

WHEREAS, Tribes and schools often lack the educational resources and materials to develop comprehensive language instruction curriculums, including teacher training, and Tribes and schools often work in partnership with third parties aligning with the Collective Benefit Authority to Control Responsibility Ethics (CARE) principles for Indigenous Data Governance within the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) to produce materials that will assist communities to reach their Native language goals; and 

WHEREAS, Tribal communities, schools, non-profit organizations, and community members routinely work together in consultation to develop Native language materials, including curricula, dictionaries, technological apps, and other resources to promote the learning and transmission of Native languages, to revitalize Native languages for Native peoples, and communities; and 

WHEREAS, these collaborative efforts have resulted in an increased number of dictionaries, textbooks, media resources, teacher training, and other teaching materials in Tribal communities throughout the United States, which has resulted in an increased level of Native language learning in participating communities; and 

WHEREAS, these collaborative efforts should be respected, supported, and promoted as best practices when a Tribal community determines it to be in their best interest when collaborating to develop additional language resources. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association supports and respects the efforts of Tribes, schools, non-profit organizations, and community members working in consultation together and collaborating to produce Native language resources and promote Native language learning for students and community members, consistent with CARES and UNDRIP. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA acknowledges that these collaborative efforts result in increased Native language learning and language revitalization, respects the various language instruction efforts of Tribal and school communities, including ethical partnerships that have been developed and established by Tribal communities, and supports truthful narratives, positive relationships, and affirmative communication regarding Native language practitioners and programs.