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

Res #:	Committee:	Submitted by:	Title:                                 Pass →	Yes	No	Amended/Tabled	To NCAI
2020-07	Education	Patricia Whitefoot	Urge 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. 

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