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Resolution 2017-09: Boarding Schools


WHEREAS, Boarding schools are a painful reminder of the colonial education system of Indian Residential Schools which took children from our rural villages and away from their communities and families; and

WHEREAS, Boarding schools break the cycle of children learning critical parenting skills during their teenage years from their parents and grandparents; and

WHEREAS, Boarding schools draw students from many of our smaller communities which threatens the continued existence of community schools; and

WHEREAS, Boarding schools are shown to have no better educational results for our students than village based schools. Boarding schools have high dropout percentages and low graduation rates; and

WHEREAS, Boarding schools have made little effort to emphasize Native languages and cultural programming, although our Native languages are critically endangered; and

WHEREAS, The Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, despite a quality program in its current form, should not open another boarding school in Alaska; and

WHEREAS, The Molly Hootch Case stands for the principle that Alaska Native students have the right to a quality education locally, in the village itself, without having to go away to boarding school.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors opposes boarding schools as a matter of principle and urges the State of Alaska not to allow the establishment of any more boarding schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors requests that the State of Alaska respect and honor the guiding principle of the Molly Hootch Case in ensuring quality local education for all Alaskans.

Submitted by: Yukon Flats Subregion


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