Support-Development-of-the-University-of-Idaho-First-Nations-Learning-and-Gathering-Center

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2019-20Education
Patricia Whitefoot		Support Development of the University of Idaho First Nations Learning and Gathering CenterX


 2019 Mid-Year Convention 

Airway Heights, Washington 

RESOLUTION #19 – 20 

“SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO 

FIRST NATIONS LEARNING AND GATHERING CENTER” 

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 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; 

WHEREAS, ATNI has historically supported strengthening the region’s Universities and Colleges to improve their campus and programs to support American Indian and Alaska Native students; and AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS RESOLUTION #19 – 20 

2019 MID-YEAR CONVENTION PAGE 2 

WHEREAS, the University of Idaho (UI) is located on ceded land of the Nez Perce Tribe in northern Idaho; and 

WHEREAS, the University of Idaho has been in conversation with the tribal communities and consulted with sovereign tribal governments in the region, through its President’s Native American Advisory Council (NAAC) and its Native American Advisory Board (NAAB), both of which were established in 2007; and 

WHEREAS, the University of Idaho, through the NAAC and NAAB discussions, has determined there should be high priority given to: (a) access and recruitment of Native American students, (b) recruitment and promotion of Native staff, and faculty, (c) planning and construction of a First Nations facility on campus, (d) expansion and integration of Native American culture, knowledge and history into academic programs, and (e) strengthen and expand research and economic development partnerships with tribes; and 

WHEREAS, the University of Idaho has learned, upon review of other college and university campus longhouse-like examples, that a “First Nations Center” could assist in access and equity goals and could contribute to the promotion of academic excellence on the campus for Native students, draw and retain Native staff and Native faculty, improve the relationships between tribal communities and the University of Idaho, as well as develop other intercultural and academic benefits; and 

WHEREAS, a First Nations Center could serve as a home-away-from-home for Native American students while on the University of Idaho campus and a place for Tribal students to have space for cultural activities and ceremonies; and 

WHEREAS, a First Nations Center could serve as a place for the 11 University of Idaho MOU Tribes to conduct collaborative Tribal business, conferences, and events; and a place for the University, local, and regional communities to engage in authentic tribal education and research; and 

WHEREAS, the University of Idaho’s Office of Tribal Relations and the Office of Equity and Diversity has taken the lead, in cooperation with its President and Provost, in coordinating the effort to secure funding through private, individual, local government, state government, and federal government contributions for the feasibility, development, construction and operation of a First Nations Center; and 

WHEREAS, the University of Idaho has requested $175,000 for capital funding from the State of Idaho to fund the building’s pre-design phase; and 

WHEREAS, ATNI believes that such a facility will contribute to the recruitment and retention objectives of the University, as well as creating culturally supportive learning environments; now AFFILIATED TRIBES OF NORTHWEST INDIANS RESOLUTION #19 – 20 

2019 MID-YEAR CONVENTION PAGE 3 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby fully endorse and support the concept that the University of Idaho would prepare and request to construct the First Nations Center on its campus; and that ATNI does urge its Member Tribes and tribal organizations to endorse the First Nations facility on the UI campus; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby urge its Member Tribes and tribal organizations to endorse and contribute financially, to the extent possible, to the University of Idaho First Nations Learning and Gathering Center on the campus; and the University of Idaho will provide periodic reports and updates to the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians’ on the progress of the project; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI urges other Universities and Colleges in the Northwest to seriously consider similar projects and programs. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Mid-Year Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at Northern Quest Resort and Casino, Airway Heights, Washington on May 20-23, 2019, with a quorum present. 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Native American Veterans Memorial Webinar

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November 4, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. EST 

On November 4, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) will be hosting a webinar to discuss the history of the National Native American Veteran Memorial, and provide a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the memorial. Speakers will include Rebecca Trautmann, Alexandra Harris, and Betsy Gordon. 
If you have questions, or require special accommodations, please contact Pete Vicaire at peter.vicaire@va.gov.To register for the webinar, please click here.NCAI Contact: Nicholas Courtney, Policy Analyst, ncourtney@ncai.org

Sen. McCoy received a Master of Public Administration honorary degree from The Evergreen State College

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June 27th, 2020

Dear Friends of Sen. John McCoy;

On June 12th, 2020, Sen. McCoy received a Master of Public Administration honorary degree from The Evergreen State College during commencement. Earlier that day, he also received the 2020 Public Official of the Yearaward from the college’s Master of Public Administration program. Finally, to ensure that Sen. McCoy’s legacy of supporting Native student education continues, we are currently working to endow a scholarship in the senator’s name to support future MPA Tribal Governance students.

While presenting the honorary degree during commencement, Evergreen President Dr. George Bridges referenced the senator’s extraordinary educational leadership in Native education throughout the state, including passage of the Since Time Immemorial Legislation, legislation establishing tribal compact schools in Washington state and co-founding the Tribal Leaders Congress in Education.

Sen. McCoy, the Tulalip Tribes, and the Muckleshoot Tribe helped establish the Advanced Studies in Tribal Governance program in Evergreen’s Master of Public Administration program, which Faculty Emeriti Alan Parker (Chippewa Cree) and Linda Moon Stumpff (Apache) co-founded in 2000.

The 10th MPA Tribal Governance class graduated this past June. Our alumni of Tribal Students have played a lead role in transformative change as they have filled key positions throughout Indian Country. President Joe DeLaCruz of the Quinault Indian Nation, a visionary leader of the past generation, saw such a goal when he called upon Parker and Stumpff to design and teach this program.

We are creating an endowed scholarship fund that will allow the Senator’s educational and public service leadership to continue to impact current and future generations.  We plan to begin distributing scholarships during the upcoming academic year with individual donations to launch the program, while we build an endowment to provide scholarships in perpetuity.

“When I first came home and started to work on building the Tribe’s resources, one of those resources was getting our Tribal students educated. Getting them educated was very important so that we could build on our resources and help our people grow.” –Sen. John McCoy (Tulalip)

For more information on the Sen. John McCoy Endowed Scholarship, please contact Tina Kuckkahn-Miller, J.D. (Ojibwe), Vice President for Indigenous Arts, Education and Tribal Relations, at (360) 918-1817 or by email at kuckkaht@evergreen.edu.

We invite you to join us by making an online contribution here: Senator McCoy Scholarship

Respectfully,

Tina Kuckkahn-Miller, J.D. (Citizen, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe)

Vice President for Indigenous Arts, Education and Tribal Relations

The Evergreen State College

Olympia WA 98505

Alan R Parker, J.D. (Citizen, Chippewa Cree Tribal Nation)

Adjunct Faculty, The Maori Indigenous University and

Faculty Emeritus, The Evergreen State College

McCoy-scholarship-ATNIDownload

Urge the University of Washington to be Accountable for the Annual First Nations at UW Spring Pow Wow

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Res #:Committee:Submitted by:Title:                                 Pass →YesNoAmended/TabledTo NCAI
2020-08EducationPatricia WhitefootUrge the University of Washington to be Accountable for the Annual First Nations at UW Spring Pow Wow



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 08 

“URGE THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TO BE 

ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ANNUAL FIRST NATIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SPRING POWWOW” 

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 University of Washington (UW) sits on the occupied land of the Coast Salish peoples; and

WHEREAS, the land on which the UW sits has been the site of potlatches, powwows, coastal jams and many cultural celebrations for millennia; and 

WHEREAS, the United States educational system have continued histories of institutional erasure and cultural genocide; and 

WHEREAS, the increasing inability to engage and practice American Indian/Alaskan Native cultural traditions as a result of the increase of on-campus venue costs and recent decrease of support to host these events is a covert display of institutional erasure; and 

WHEREAS, the First Nations (FN) @ UW Registered Student Organization (RSO) had a now fifty-year tradition of expressing and practicing their cultural identities through powwow at the UW; and 

WHEREAS, the FN@UW Spring Powwow is consistently cited and displayed by the UW for advertising its diversity without acknowledgement or compensation of the students who host this event; and 

WHEREAS, the cost of the annual Spring Powwow has become too great for students to afford; and 

WHEREAS, First Nations students are expected to fundraise without the University Advancement support of $50,000+ currently, and continues to increase annually; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI urges the UW to be responsible for securing and supporting a venue space in perpetuity on campus for the second weekend of April for American Indian/Alaskan Native students, faculty, staff, community and Indigenous allies to express, practice, and uphold their identity and traditional ways of life; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI urges higher education institutions to be responsible for understanding and respecting the importance of cultural connection for American Indian/Alaskan Native students on campus; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that ATNI urges the UW to be responsible for guaranteeing First Nations @ UW a date and venue for all future FN@UW Spring Powwows as reconciliation for their past negligence. 

CERTIFICATION 

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

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Urge Support of Washington SB 6425, American Indian Cultural Study Grant

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2020-07EducationPatricia WhitefootUrge Support of Washington SB 6425, American Indian Cultural Study Grant



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 07 

“URGE SUPPORT OF WASHINGTON SB 6425, 

AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL STUDY GRANT” 

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 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 promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

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

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians is a regional organization comprised of American Indians 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 Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians; and 

WHEREAS, on January 16, 2020 legislation was introduced as HB 6425, American Indian Cultural Study Grant “finds that creating a grant program giving American Indian students the means and incentive to obtain a postsecondary credential in specialized areas of knowledge will help to rectify past discrimination and that the state will benefit from contributions made by American Indian students who pursue specialized fields of study.;” and 

WHEREAS, the legislation will be considered through the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee to create the American Indian Cultural Study Grant as a step toward increased higher educational achievement in Washington among the diverse tribal citizens in the state; and

WHEREAS, the Washington Student Achievement Council will have oversight of the grant, with an advisory committee, for the program at the state’s two and four-year public higher education institutions and private higher education institutions; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby support SB 6425 to establish the American Indian Cultural Study Grant in the State of Washington to close the higher educational attainment gap for American Indian students in institutions of higher education; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI urges tribal leaders to contact and write letters of support to the Washington State Legislature in the passage of SB 6425 during the 2020 Legislative Session. 

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. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi International Indigenous Doctoral Programme

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2020-06EducationPatricia WhitefootTe Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi International Indigenous Doctoral Programme



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 06 

“TE WHARE WĀNANGA O AWANUIĀRANGI INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS DOCTORAL PROGRAMME” 

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 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 promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of the 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, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi is a fully accredited Aotearoa (New Zealand) tertiary education institution with internationally recognised degrees from under graduate through to the highest level of doctoral study; and

WHEREAS, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi has an international Indigenous doctoral programme comprising 5 cohorts with a total of 28 doctoral scholars across Washington State, Hawai’i and Waikato-Tainui (Aotearoa); and 

WHEREAS, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi has 2 successful graduates from the Chehalis nation, and 2 further scholars (Lummi & Tulalip) currently in examination with graduation pending and 10 doctoral scholars currently enrolled in the Tacoma, Washington State based cohorts; and 

WHEREAS, research concludes that Native and Indigenous students are more likely to succeed in education programmes that recognise and uphold Native and Indigenous pedogogies, and positive transformative research outcomes for communities are most likely to arise from Native and Indigenous research approaches; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby support a partnership, in collaboration with the established Education Northwest Memorandum of Understanding, with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi to endorse their Indigenous doctoral programme for Native scholars in the tribal nations of the Northwest; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI work closely with tribal nations to provide support for tribal members to enrol in the programme and successfully attain the doctoral degree as offered by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi within the international Indigenous doctoral programme. 

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. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Support the Implementation of the 100 Years One Womans Fight for Justice Documentary and Curriculum

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19-01EducationPatricia WhitefootSupport the Implementation of the 100 Years: One Woman’s Fight for Justice Documentary and CurriculumX


 2019 Winter Convention 

Portland Oregon 

RESOLUTION #19 – 01 

“SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 100 YEARS: ONE WOMAN’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE DOCUMENTARY AND CURRICULUM” 

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 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 promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

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

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians is a regional organization comprised of American Indians 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 Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians; and 

WHEREAS, the 100 Years: One Woman’s Fight for Justice is the story of Elouise Cobell and her 30-year fight for justice for over 300,000 Native Americans whose mineral-rich lands were grossly mismanaged by the US Government for over a century; and 

WHEREAS, 100 Years is relevant to all students because it addresses a complex issue of land tenure and the impacts of a specific federal Indian policy: allotment, while documenting how one person can make a difference in a system encumbered with bureaucracy and legal complexities; and 

WHEREAS, the complex issues in 100 Years resonate with significant American Indian and worldwide issues, such as environmental injustices and unethical practices that exist today in many forms and forums; and 

WHEREAS, the Dawes Allotment Act of 1887 and other federal Indian policies enacted by the U.S. government adversely impacted American Indians, reinforcing paternalism and economic dependency on the government; and 

WHEREAS, the Washington State legislature passed legislation in 2015 requiring the teaching of tribal history in the Washington State public schools; and 

WHEREAS, the Oregon State legislature passed legislation in 2017 requiring the teaching of tribal history in the Oregon state public schools; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby support the educational vision and goals of 100 Years: One Woman’s Fight for Justice documentary and curriculum in all forms of public and tribal education; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI urges the Offices of the State Superintendents of Public Instruction to collaborate with local Tribes, school districts, and Native education advisory councils on the adaptation, adoption and implementation of the 100 Years: One Woman’s Fight for Justice documentary and curriculum within all forms of public and tribal education. 

CERTIFICATION 

The foregoing resolution was adopted at the 2019 Winter Convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton – Portland, Oregon, on January 28-31, 2019, with a quorum present. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Urge Support of the First Nations Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Program

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2020-05EducationPatricia WhitefootUrge Support of the First Nations Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement Program



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 05 

“URGE SUPPORT OF THE FIRST NATIONS MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM” 

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 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 promote the welfare of the Indian people, do hereby establish and submit the following resolution: 

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

WHEREAS, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians is a regional organization comprised of American Indians 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 Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians; and 

WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature is reviewing budget provisions, which includes funds that support the First Nations Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) program; and 

WHEREAS, the First Nations MESA program provides essential basic education at the local level for Native students primarily at the middle school and high school level; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI does hereby endorse and support the First Nations MESA Program budget provision of $135,000 to continue providing equitable access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for Native American students; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI acknowledges the engagement of tribal leaders and stakeholders in providing oral testimony or letters of support to the Washington State Legislature stating support for the First Nations MESA Program’s budget provision. 

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. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

Support a Native American Migrant Health Science Program at Washington State University, Spokane with WSU Native American Health Sciences and the Office of Superintendent Public Instruction

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2020-04EducationPatricia WhitefootSupport a Native American Migrant Health Science Program at Washington State University, Spokane with WSU Native American Health Sciences and the Office of Superintendent Public Instruction



 2020 Winter Convention 

Portland, Oregon 

RESOLUTION #2020 – 04 

“SUPPORT A NATIVE AMERICAN MIGRANT HEALTH SCIENCE PROGRAM AT 

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, SPOKANE WITH WSU NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH SCIENCES AND THE OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC INSTRUCTION” 

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, as a land grant institution located on ceded tribal lands, Washington State University (WSU) wishes to strengthen relationships, improve the access to educational services and opportunities for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) achievement; and

WHEREAS, in accordance for support of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine by ATNI Resolution #14-49, “Improving Access to Health Care,” ATNI urged the Washington State Legislature to authorize said legislation; and 

WHEREAS, the number of AI/AN physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals still make up less than 1% of all healthcare professionals in the United States; and more AI/AN healthcare professionals are needed to culturally align and respond to the healthcare needs of their people and the lack of AI/AN health care workers in both rural and urban Tribal communities; and 

WHEREAS, a recent report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) (2019) found that culturally responsive academic enrichment programs, access to information, academic support, connection with mentors, and availability of financial support, including federal programs, have been shown to influence the number of AI/AN students who apply, enroll, and succeed in medical school and other health and allied health disciplines; now 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that ATNI urges the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to partner with WSU’s Native American Health Sciences in Spokane and commit to financially support a culturally based Native American Migrant Health Science summer program on its campus; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ATNI urges OSPI to establish two (2) positions to support the educational migrant needs of AI/AN students in the distinct locations of the states; such as, eastern and western Washington, to work closely with tribal nations, their education systems and educators, and the public-school systems in which our native youth are educated, to advance and expand the number of AI/AN migrant students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) professions. 

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. 

______________________________ ______________________________ 

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

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2020-02Off the Floor
Support for Washington State HB 2548, Concerning Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities in Washington StateX


 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. 

______________________________ ______________________________