Support For Close Up Foundation Programs.

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special education needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people; and

WHEREAS, NIEA, as the largest national Indian organization of educators, administrators, parents, and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established education program resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians and Alaska natives residing both on and off their reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic education organization, has been dedicated to providing a unique, experiential learning experience for American Indian and Alaska Native students for more than two decades; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation’s program reaches out to underserved constituencies to teach them their rights and responsibilities as citizens in a participatory democracy; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Program offers high school students direct access to public policy decisionmakers and the opportunity to interact with their peers from throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, the program has proven to enhance knowledge and skills necessary to promote local civic awareness and involvement; and

WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaska Native students have identified this program as one of the most effective for social and political development and growth; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has demonstrated its commitment to the Close Up Foundation’s government studies program in Washington, D.C. for American Indians and Alaska Natives by providing approximately $300,000 annually for fiscal years 1988 through 1996; and

WHEREAS, the Close Up Foundation is seeking funds to sustain and expand its work with and program for American Indian and Alaska Native students.

NOW THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION delegates to the 1997 NIEA Annual Convention pledge their support for the Close Up Program and the opportunity it provides for American Indian and Alaska Native students. In doing so, NIEA joins with the National Congress of American Indians, the Alaska Department of Education, the Alaska Federation of Natives, Inc., the National Indian School Board Association, and the United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. in pledging their support;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION delegates call upon the NIEA, its members, and all Indian nations to encourage ongoing financial support from the tribes, tribal organizations, philanthropic entities and other funding sources for the Close Up Foundation’s programs to ensure maximum participation by American Indian and Alaska Native students;

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE NATIONAL INDIAN EDUCATION ASSOCIATION endorses the basic principals of the Close Up Foundation and proclaim its strong support for the Close Up Foundation’s program for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and pledges to encourage all of its members to take any and all actions necessary to demonstrate this support to ensure participation by American Indian and Alaska Native students.

SUBMITTED BY: Robin Butterfield (Winnebago-Chippewa)

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.