Resolution #SAC-12-011
TITLE: A Call for the Office of Indian Education to Ensure that Local Educational Agencies Consult and Collaborate with Tribes
WHEREAS, we, the members of the National Congress of American Indians of the United States, invoking the divine blessing of the Creator upon our efforts and purposes, in order to preserve for ourselves and our descendants the inherent sovereign rights of our Indian nations, rights secured under Indian treaties and agreements with the United States, and all other rights and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and Constitution of the United States, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise promote the health, safety and welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution; and
WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was established in 1944 and is the oldest and largest national organization of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, the Indian Education Act of 1972 (IEA) provides federal assistance in education for Indian education programs in the Office of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior, to help close the gap which exists between Indian education and the general educational level of the United States; and
WHEREAS, first introduced on February 25, 1971, and finally adopted by the United States Congress on June 23, 1972, the Indian Education Act promised to provide adequate and appropriate educational services for American Indians and Alaska Natives by guaranteeing future generations of American Indians and Alaska Natives the tools necessary to compete in modern society without necessitating the abandonment of Native culture, language, and practices; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the United States to fulfill the federal government’s unique and continuing trust relationship with and responsibility to the Indian people for the education of Indian children in continuing to work with local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, postsecondary institutions, and other entities toward the goal of ensuring that programs that serve Indian children are of the highest quality and provide for the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of Indian children; and
WHEREAS, tribal leaders are aware of shortcomings in accountability for educational outcomes, communication breakdowns that generate inefficiencies, and a general inability to translate federal education policy as deemed by federal mandate; and
WHEREAS, tribal leaders experience how local educational agencies permit little voice from tribes, exclude American Indian and Alaska Native parent committees, and how there is a lack of meaningful consultation between tribes and appropriate education authorities and legislatures.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NCAI calls upon the Office of Indian Education to ensure that local educational agencies adhere and respect the federal trust responsibility to improve educational outcomes for all American Indian and Alaska Native students and that they meaningfully consult and collaborate with tribes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NCAI until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.
CERTIFICATION
The foregoing resolution was adopted by the General Assembly at the 2012 Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Sacramento Convention Center from October 21-26, 2012 in Sacramento, California, with a quorum present.
President
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary