NIEA: Whole Child Initiative & Tribal Education Capacity Building

The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) advances comprehensive, culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. NIEA promotes educational sovereignty, supports traditional knowledge and language use, and improves educational opportunities and results in our tribal communities. Our founding principles are to

1. Bring Native educators together to explore ways to improve schools and the schooling of Native children

2. Promote the maintenance and continued development of Native languages and cultures 

3. Develop and implement strategies for influencing local, state, and federal policy and policymakers. 

NIEA will share information regarding our Whole Child and Tribal Education Capacity Initiatives as resources for schools and tribal communities serving Native students.  NIEA will share information regarding the recent grant award from OIE our Native Circles for Learning & Leadership (NCLL) Initiative to aid 3 of the 9 tribes in South Dakota in Native American teacher recruitment and retention. 

The Whole Child Initiative focuses on Health Education and creating a comprehensive Social Emotional Climate to support Native children's mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Building on the work of compassionate visionaries who recognize the impact of adverse childhood experiences, the Whole Child Initiative combines Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies with data-driven decision-making. 

The Tribal Education Capacity aims to empower tribal nations to transform education for Native students in their communities, by providing opportunities and resources for Tribal Nations to strengthen the tribal control through personalization and establishing cultural learning policies and standards, best practices, professional development, strengthening partnerships and networks to alleviate positive outcomes affecting Native students.