2022 - #E05: A Resolution to Strengthening and Protecting Indigenous Voices, Content, and Practices in Education

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, Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a legal theory that points out systemic inequities in multiple domains such as real estate, law enforcement, provision of social services, health care and education (Bell, 1995; Delgado & Stefancic, 2017); and 

WHEREAS, CRT is being used as a multifaceted attack on: educational equity policy; curriculum materials; and teaching at the classroom level; and 

WHEREAS, Tribal Critical Race Theory or TribalCRT (Brayboy, 2015; Pewewardy, 2018; Quijada Cerecer, 2013; Cheshire, 2012) has a rich history; is grounded in how colonization and Eurocentric thought led to inequity in systems; incorporates an Indigenous world view of a wide conceptualization of learning and what knowledge is, and its multiple forms; and there are educational implications for TribalCRT; and 

WHEREAS, CRT is creating a hostile environment for discussing issues of race, racial inequality, diversity, equity, and inclusion; and 

WHEREAS, attacks on CRT has impacted state education policies and local educational practices--as of February, 2022, 36 states had taken actions to restrict teaching of topics related to CRT, while only 17 states took action to expand it (Stout & Wilburn, 2022); and 

WHEREAS, due to several recent incidents in Oklahoma that led to downgrades in accreditations, fear has been created in schools and educators; and 

WHEREAS, there is a great lack of understanding of what TribalCRT is and how it is used; and 

WHEREAS, Indigenous peoples have a desire to obtain and forge tribal sovereignty, tribal autonomy, self-determination, and self-identification; Tribal philosophies, beliefs, customs, traditions, and visions for the future are central to understanding the lived realities of Indigenous peoples, but they also illustrate the differences and adaptability among individuals and groups; therefore, real and legitimate sources of data and ways of being; and Theory and practice are connected in deep and explicit ways such that scholars must work towards social change (Brayboy, 2006); 

WHEREAS, Many tribes are passing their own resolution to address the censorship of their tribal history and culture in public education due to these ambiguously written anti-CRT laws. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NIEA take a position to promote dissemination of accurate information about TribalCRT, curriculum, and instruction. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA urges Departments of Education, Tribal Education Departments, and state legislatures to support accurate and truthful coverage of TribalCRT, Indigenous history and its implications in curriculum and instruction; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA supports tribal efforts to address this issue; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA opposes efforts to suppress accurate and truthful coverage of TribalCRT, Indigenous history and its implications in curriculum and instruction through state, district or local policies; and 

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