WE'RE NIEA: THE LEADING ADVOCATES FOR ALL NATIVE STUDENTS
The
premiere
organization advocating for educational excellence, opportunity, and
equity for
American Indian,
Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students, the
mission of
the National Indian Education Association (NIEA)
is to support
traditional
Native cultures and values; to enable Native learners to become
contributing
members
of their communities; to promote Native control of educational
institutions; and to improve educational
opportunities and resources for
American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians throughout the
United
States.
Incorporated in 1970, NIEA is the oldest education organization focused on advancing education for Native students.
This includes helping communities choose excellent education for our Native students, promoting culturally based
education in which the languages and traditions of Tribes and Nations support student achievement and cultural
preservation, and expanding equal educational opportunity for every Native student regardless of where they live.
With more than 90 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native students attending school and living outside of
areas served by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), NIEA strives to make sure that all of our students in the
United States are given the high-quality education they need to help themselves and their communities succeed.
WHAT WE DO
NIEA members, leaders, and staff work in these critical areas.
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From working with Obama administration for the successful
signing of an Executive Order aimed at improving American
and Alaska Native education, to supporting Senators Daniel
Akaka and Daniel Inouye on passage of the Native CLASS
Act, NIEA works to provide federal resources for our children.
We advocate in order to help meet the unique
educational and
culturally related
academic needs of Native students -- and to
ensure that the federal
government upholds its responsibility for
their education.
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NIEA works with leading education scholars, federal
agencies,
and top institutions provide data on the
conditions of education,
and solutions for helping all
Native students bring prosperity to
themselves and
their communities. This includes promoting
Native language revitalization, educational research services,
curriculum resources and educational personnel development.
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Our nearly 4,000 members work in
schools and Native communities
to
support great teaching, expand choice,
advance Tribal
control of education,
and preserve our cultures. This includes
collaborating
with government agencies, tribal
organizations,
and other Native and non-Native associations to provide
future direction, increased communication and effective
leadership in
education and cultural, social and economic
development for Native
people.
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OUR SUCCESS FOR NATIVE STUDENTS
In 2011, NIEA has stepped its advocacy for advancing education for Native students:
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NIEA worked with the U.S. Department of
Education on consulting Tribal leaders and holding listening sessions with
Tribal communities across this country. The resulting report,
Tribal Leaders Speak, was instrumental
in articulating the educational needs of Tribal communities.
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NIEA successfully advocated for President Obama
to sign Executive Order 13592, which established a White House Initiative in
support of American Indian and Alaska Native students, as well as for tribal
colleges.
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Working with the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs and with House members, NIEA is advocating for the passage of the
Native CLASS Act, which offers opportunities for Native communities to choose
education that best serves their children.
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And our new research efforts have helped federal
agencies and education researchers learn more about the challenges faced by
American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students – and how to
overcome them.
Based out of Washington, D.C., NIEA is governed by a Board of Directors made up of twelve representatives elected annually by NIEA membership. Executive Director Colin Kippen, who reports to the board, leads NIEA's dedicated staff of advocates, researchers, and communicators. Learn more about NIEA's advocacy and how you can help all of our Native students achieve success for their communities, cultures, and themselves.
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