Tribal Education Departments National Assembly, Co. Serving education departments in Indian Country

TEDNA Receives Resolution Support From NIEA and NCAI

The full texts of these resolutions are as follows.

National Indian Education Association
RESOLUTION No. NIEA03-03

Title: In Support of the Tribal Education Departments National Association, a new non-profit, National Organization for Tribal Education Departments

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

WHEREAS, as the largest national Indian 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, although NIEA is indeed a central, umbrella organization for national Indian and Native education issues generally, over the years it has encouraged and supported the creation of other national Indian education organizations that focus on specific levels or types of education, schools and programs; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of their being an exercise of tribal sovereignty and their importance to tribal students, NIEA has actively supported Tribal Education Departments (TEDs), including their roles and responsibilities in the national arena and in local communities; and

WHEREAS, NIEA is aware that over 110 American Indian tribes today have TEDs, and that the respect for and needs of TEDs among tribes and non-tribe stakeholders in education are growing; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Indian Education has provided a seed contract to the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) on behalf of TEDs to help them form a national organization that would best serve their interests and would allow them access to new resources to help tribal students; and

WHEREAS, with NARF's assistance, the TEDS have formed the Tribal Education Departments National Association (TEDNA), a nonprofit organization to be composed of TEDs;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association hereby supports the creation of the new Tribal Education Departments National Association (TEDNA), and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NIEA pledges to work in partnership with TEDNA to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes for tribal students.

Submitted by: Melody McCoy (Cherokee), General Member

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors at its November 1-5, convention in Greensboro, North Carolina at which time a quorum was present.

_______________________________
Robin Butterfield, President 2002-2003
National Indian Education Association

The National Congress of American Indians
Resolution No. ABQ-03-013

Title: In Support of the Tribal Education Department National Association, a New, Nonprofit, National Organization for Tribal Education Departments

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, while NCAI recognizes the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) as the primary umbrella organization representing national Indian and Native education issues generally, NCAI also recognizes, encourages, and supports the creation of other national Indian education organizations that focus on specific levels or types of education, schools, and programs; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of their being an exercise of tribal sovereignty and of their importance to tribal students, NCAI in partnership with NIEA has actively supported Tribal Education Departments (TEDs), including their roles and responsibilities in the national arena and in local communities; and

WHEREAS, NCAI is aware that over 110 American Indian tribes today have TEDs, and that the respect for and needs of TEDs among tribes and non-tribe stakeholders in education are growing; and

WHEREAS, the US Department of Education's Office of Indian Education has provided a seed contract to the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) on behalf of TEDs to help them form a national organization that would best serve their interests and would allow them access to new resources to help tribal students; and

WHEREAS, with NARF's assistance, the TEDS have formed the Tribal Education Departments National Association (TEDNA), a nonprofit organization to be composed of TEDs.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Congress of American Indians does hereby support the creation of the new Tribal Education Departments National Association (TEDNA).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCAI pledges to work in partnership with TEDNA to improve the educational opportunities and outcomes for tribal students.

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

CERTIFICATION

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 60th Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on November 21, 2003 with a quorum present.

Tex Hall, President

ATTEST:
____________________________
Juana Majel, Recording Secretary
Adopted by the General Assembly during 60th Annual Session of the National Congress of American Indians, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from November 17-21, 2003.

TEDNA plans to join the on-going efforts of NIEA and NCAI to seek appropriations for direct federal funding for Tribal Education Departments under the congressional authorizations for such funding through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Education.

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