WHEREAS, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community has come to understand that a group by the name of "English for the Children - Arizona" has file an initiative with the Secretary of the State of Arizona to request that all public school instruction be conducted in English and to be voted upon by Arizona voters in the November 2000 General Election; and

WHEREAS, the "English for the Children - Arizona group claims to be "grassroots," but is funded by Ron Unz, a California resident who is determined to employ this tactic in very state of the Union; and

WHEREAS, this initiative seriously restricts parental choice, including denial of parental waiver requests without explanation or legal consequences; and this initiative may permanently label children as "special needs"; and it will hold school board members, elected representatives and school administrators personally liable without indemnification, for fees and damages in lawsuits, and may result in removal from office and face five years debarment or loss of certification; and

WHEREAS, the initiative prohibits bilingual education except for physically or mentally impaired or special needs students, and the definition of "bilingual/native language instruction" means a language acquisition process in which much or all instruction, textbooks, or teaching materials are in the child’s native language other than English; and

WHEREAS, this initiative language could be interpreted to prohibit the O’odham/Piipaash language and culture programs in the SRPMIC Schools, which is part of the Community’s goal of preserving the culture and language of our people; and

WHEREAS, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community constitution was established "in order to maintain our culture and (the) independence or our people ..., and to promote the rights of our people"; and Article VII, Powers of the Community Council, Sec. I (c) (10) grants authority to the SRPMIC Council: "To preserve historic and prehistoric arts, crafts, sites, and other things culturally important to the people of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community"; and

WHEREAS, the mission statement of the SRPMIC Education Department and its schools states that "the cultural and economic survival of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is essential," and one of the goals of Education is to "Create a system that will develop, nurture, and promote the Pima-Maricopa languages and social values"; and,

WHEREAS, the Native American Language Act of 1990, P.L. 101-477, declares the policy of United States is to "encourage and support the use of Native American languages as a medium of instruction" and further states "the right of Native Americans to express themselves through the use of Native American Languages shall not be restricted in any public proceeding, including publicly supported education programs"; and,

WHEREAS, the initiative sponsored by the "English for the Children -- Arizona" group would adversely affect efforts in the community public schools and in all public schools where our children learn about our culture through the use of Pima and Maricopa languages, that which we call O’odham Himdak and Piipaash Uudoyshish; and

WHEREAS, the initiative will also adversely affect funding for the State funded charter school, if the school staff are found teaching Pima and Maricopa..

NOW, THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council declares its firm opposition to the initiative filed by "English for the Children - Arizona," and any future initiative or measure designed to impede the learning of Pima and Maricopa languages; and,

LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council encourages all eligible community voters to register and to vote for the defeat of this harmful political initiative in the November 7, 2000 General Election; and,

LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, the Council directs the SRP-MIC Education Department and all other tribal departments working with children to inform and educate all Community members of this destructive ballot measure designed to eliminate Native American and other cultures and languages; and,

LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council declares its support in preserving the Akimel O’odham and Xalchidom Piipaash languages through teaching and learning for everyone within the Community and desires all Community members to preserve the Akimel O’odham and Xalchidom Piipaash languages within their homes.

Pursuant to the authority contained in Article VII, Section 1(c)(10), of the Constitution of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, ratified by the Tribe on February 28, 1990, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior on March 19, 1990, the foregoing resolution was adopted on August 16, 2000, at a duly called meeting held by the Community Council in Salt River, Arizona, at which a quorum of 7 members were present, by a vote of 7 for, 0 against, and 2 excused.

SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA
INDIAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Merna Lewis, Vice President

ATTEST:
Erica Harvier, Secretary