2025 - #003: ADVOCATING FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIVE SERVING PROGRAMS AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 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, the 1819 Civilization Fund Act, the Snyder Act of 1921, the Johnson O’Malley Act of 1934, the Indian Education Act of 1972, and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975, and various other statutes, regulations, executive actions, and court precedents codify the federal governments trust responsibility to Tribal Nations to provide for the education and health of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education (ED) was first created by President Andrew Johnson in 1867 and has gone through different titles and was housed in various agencies until October of 1979 when Congress passed the Department of Education Organization Act; and

WHEREAS, since January 20, 2025 ED has seen drastic cuts in its budget appropriations, number of employees, and overall jurisdiction and size; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Indian of Education (OIE) was established in 1972 with the passage of the Indian Education Act, which also established the National Advisory Council on Indian Education, and is committed to providing leadership for ED-wide policy coordination in Indian education formulating policy and guidance, identifying key issue areas, and overseeing and administering all types of Indian education grants, including formula and discretionary; and

WHEREAS, ED houses specific Native serving programs that benefit Native students in public schools, Bureau of Indian Education funded schools, and in higher education including at Tribal Colleges and Universities, these programs include but are not limited to:

  • Demonstration Grants for Indian Children (DEMO)

  • Native American Language Grant (NAL@ED)

  • Native American Language Resource Center (NALRC)

  • State Tribal Education Partnerships (STEP)

  • Indian Education Professional Development (PD) Formula Grants

  • Native American and Alaska Native Children in School

  • Native Hawaiian Education

  • Alaska Native Education

  • Impact Aid

  • Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Education (CTE)

  • Native American Career and Technical Education

  • Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education

  • American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges/Universities

  • Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

  • Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions

  • American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) urges the federal government to fulfill its trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations by exempting from each pause or reduction in federal funding all Native serving programs at the U.S. Department of Education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA calls on the U.S. Department of Education to engage in timely and meaningful Tribal consultation prior to taking any action on programs or funding affecting Tribal Nations and for Congress, in its oversight capacity, to ensure that consultation takes place; and

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

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Steven Peters