Support for Washington State HB 2548, Concerning Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities in Washington State

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:                                 Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
2020-02	Off the Floor		Support for Washington State HB 2548, Concerning Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities in Washington State	X

 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 02 

“SUPPORT FOR WASHINGTON STATE HB 2548, CONCERNING TRIBALLY CONTROLLED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE” 

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest 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 rights secured under Indian Treaties, Executive Orders, and benefits to which we are entitled under the laws and constitution of the United States and several states, to enlighten the public toward a better understanding of the Indian people, to preserve Indian cultural values, and otherwise to promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) are representatives of and advocates for national, regional, and specific tribal concerns; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI is a regional organization comprised of American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and tribes in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, and Alaska; and 

WHEREAS, the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportunity, and preservation of cultural and natural resources are primary goals and objectives of the ATNI; and 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) resolution #19-43, “Supporting Equitable Funding for Northwest Indian College” brought attention to the vital need for financial resources to serve the non-beneficiary students at an equitable funding level as state community colleges; and

WHEREAS, to be considered a beneficiary student, an individual must be a member of an Indian tribe or a biological child of a member of an Indian tribe, living or deceased; and 

WHEREAS, the Washington State legislature recently announced HB 2548, “Concerning tribally controlled colleges and universities in Washington state,” which will help support the need for essential financial resources for Northwest Indian College to serve its non-beneficiary students; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, ATNI urges the Washington State Legislature to pass HB 2548, “Concerning tribally controlled colleges and universities in Washington state” in acknowledgement of the valuable contributions of Northwest Indian College to postsecondary systems, economy and rural and tribal communities by providing foundational support of the college, students and communities; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, ATNI further acknowledges the important leadership of the Northwest Tribes and their support of advocacy and testimony on behalf of all students enrolled in Northwest Indian College throughout Indian Country. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2020 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 27-30, 2020, with a quorum present. 

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