2022 - #E01: INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES BEING A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

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 at-risk of being destroyed due to the declining number of elders who speak their languages and are the gatekeepers of cultural knowledge; and as our indigenous languages are at-risk of being destroyed due to the declining number of elders who speak their native language and that hold the cultural knowledge; and 

WHEREAS, language revitalization movements are implemented in some states and tribes; however, there is a demand for increased advocacy and education for states and tribes where it is not addressed; and 

WHEREAS, a need for state governments to actively engage and invest in the revitalization of Native languages. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association Board members will urge state boards of education to implement and/or qualify indigenous languages as a high school graduation requirement to promote language revitalization efforts. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers will collaborate to prioritize indigenous language revitalization and recognize the importance of indigenous students’ lands, histories, and cultures. 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.