A Resolution Opposing Congressional Efforts to Repeal Federal Indian Education Program Laws.

WHEREAS, the United States goverment has a government-to-government relationship with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes; and

WHEREAS, the United States government also has a trust responsibility for educating American Indians and Alaska Natives that is based, in part, on the ceding of lands and other resources by American Indian and Alaska Native tribes for the betterment of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Congress, in recognition of the desperate educational needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives, enacted legislation to establish, for example, the Office of Indian Education (OIE), the National Advisory Com1cil on Indian Education (NACIE), and other federal Indian education programs; and

WHEREAS, Congressmen William F. Goodling and Peter Hoekstra have introduced legislation in the 105th Congress to repeal a number of U.S. Department of Education-administered programs, including OIE, OIE-administered discretionary programs and NACIE, that Congress has not funded within recent years; and

WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes have not been consulted by Congress nor has Congress held hearings on why these Indian education programs have not been fm1ded and are targeted for repeal; and

WHEREAS, the education needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students have not yet been fully met due to a continual lack of funding by Congress.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION opposes any and all efforts to repeal laws establishing federal Indian education programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION calls on other Indian Nations and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) to protest and vigorously work to prevent the repeal of any and all federal Indian education laws; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION calls upon Congress to remember the commitment it made to American Indian and Alaska Native people when it enacted legislation to meet their education needs by not supporting efforts to repeal federal Indian education laws.

SUBMITTED BY: Alvin B. Schuster (Yakama)

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA membership assembled at its annual convention in Tacoma, Washington, at which a quorum was present, during the meeting held November 2-6, 1997.