Mary Jane Oatman-Wak Wak to Give
State of Native Education Address

NIEA's Legislative Summit will focus on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act


 

"Restoring the Trust in Native Education"

14th Annual NIEA Legislative Summit
Feb. 7 - 9, 2011
Washington, DC

National Indian Education Association

The mission of NIEA is to:
Support traditional Native cultures and values
Enable Native learners to become contributing members of their communities
Promote Native control of educational institutions
Improve educational opportunities and resources for American Indians, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States

www.niea.org
http://niea.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=7ab3b734a99afc41333fb1ef2&id=463a4da150&e=70a0e8ef08Washington, D.C. – NIEA President Mary Jane Oatman- Wak Wak will address senior officials of the U.S. Department of Education, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Native American education advocates and the NIEA membership at the State of Native Education Address on Feb. 7 at 9:00 am at the Holiday Inn Capitol in Washington, D.C. This annual address will focus on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and Mrs. Oatman- Wak Wak will share NIEA’s recommendations as to the best solution for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students and educators. 
 
“NIEA’s Legislative Summit is a unique opportunity to share our Native education issues on Capitol Hill as tribal leaders, educators and students gather with one voice,” said NIEA President Mary Jane Oatman-Wak Wak, Nez Perce. “With incredible potential in the 112th Congress, NIEA must step forward to educate and remind those leaders of the federal trust obligation for the education of our people.”
 
This annual address is a part of the 14th annual NIEA Legislative Summit, a gathering of tribal leaders, educators, school administrators and students from Feb. 7-9, 2011. Delegates will attend in-depth advocacy trainings on the legislative process and how it relates to Indian education issues. Attendees will also meet with Congressional representatives to dialogue about important issues that impact Native communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Agenda:
NIEA's Legislative Summit

Monday, February 7, 2011
Holiday Inn Capitol, Columbia Ballroom Lobby

9:00 - 9:30 am State of Native Education Address, Mary Jane Oatman-Wak Wak
Holiday Inn Capitol, Columbia Ballroom

9:45 am Opening Prayer

9:50 am Call to Order, Introductions and Welcome

10:30 am NIEA Legislative Summit General Assembly and Breakout Sessions Discussion Topics include:
• Making Indian Education a National Priority
• Local/Tribal Indian Control of Education
• Honoring the U.S. Constitution and the Trust Responsibility to Indian Tribes: Overview of Federal Appropriations, Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Indian School Construction

12:00 pm Lunch Served (* Lunch will be provided during the keynote address)

12:30 pm General Assembly Keynote Address: "Standing Together as Tribes"
Dr. Arnold L. Mitchem
President, Council for Opportunity in Education

1:00 - 2:30 pm Organizational Updates
• Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of the Interior • National Congress of American Indians (Invited)
• American Indian Higher Education Consortium (Invited)
• Stacy Bohlen, Executive Director, National Indian Health Board
• National Education Association (Invited)
• National Indian Head Start Directors Association (Invited)
• Tribal Education Departments National Assembly

2:45 - 4:30 pm* Optional Breakout Session Choices:
• Advocacy Training Session: Effective Advocacy Strategies and Lobbying 101
• Advocacy Training Session: Advanced Legislative Training and Lobbying 301
• NIEA Delegates can conduct Capitol Hill visits with members of Congress and their staff (Delegates should schedule this on their own)

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Capitol Hill
Location: Dirksen Senate Building, Room 628 (Senate Committee on Indian Affairs), Washington, DC

9:00 am Opening Prayer

9:10 am Call to Order and Announcements

9:15 - 10:15 am Organizational Updates
• Pamela S. Hyde, J.D., Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services (invited) • Sam Deloria, Director, American Indian Graduate Center (invited)
• Rachel Talbert, Academic Director, Close Up Foundation
• Danny Cup Choy, NIEA Policy Associate, Campaign for High School Equity

10:30 am - 12:00 pm Presentations by U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Members

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch Break: Lunch on own

1:00 pm U.S. Department of Education

1:15 - 4:30 pm  Presentations by U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Members

4:30 pm Review of Capitol Hill visit schedule for Wed., Feb. 9

5:00 - 8:00 pm USET and NIEA Honoring Reception
Presentations by Close Up Program students - Tribal Action Plans

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Capitol Hill

9:00 am - 5:00 pm Scheduled visits to Capitol Hill
NIEA will assign the Congressional meetings for attendees.

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