October 3, 2000

RESOLUTION  Oct-2000-159

WHEREAS,  The San Carlos Apache Tribe is a federally recognized Indian Tribe Organized pursuant to the provisions of Section 16, of the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984); and,

WHEREAS, the San Carlos Apache Tribe recognizes the importance of preserving and perpetuating the Apache Language as being a essential element of Apache life, identity and culture; and,

WHEREAS, Proposition 203 currently on the ballot for the upcoming November election is a proposition that will repeal all the existing bilingual education statutes and funding; replace these statutes with the requirement that all chilldren be placed in English language classrooms and requires all children who are English language learners to be Educated through sheltered English immersion; and

WHEREAS, Sheltered English immersion is presented as a “temporary transition period not to exceed one year” and would mix children of different language backgrounds and ages together and would forbid the teaching of any subject in a language other than English; and,

WHEREAS, the San Carlos Apache Tribe believes current bilingual education programs can and do work and the goal of attaining English proficiency for every student so that every student can succeed academically in English is being met; and

WHEREAS, the San Carlos Education Committed and Education Department recommends that the San Carlos Apache Tribe strongly oppose Proposition 203.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: By the San Carlos Apache Tribe Council that it formally opposes Proposition 203; and,

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT: By the San Carlos Apache Tribe Council that it shall designate staff to inform the public about the contents and consequences of the Proposition.

CE R T I F I C A T I O N
I, the undersigned Secretary of the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council hereby certify that the Tribal Council is presently composed of eleven (11) members of whom Nine (9) constituting a quorum were present at a Regular Council meeting hereto held on the 3rd day of October, 2000 and that the foregoing Resolution OCT-2000-159 was duly adopted by a vote of 7 FOR, 0 OPPOSED, 0 ABSTAINED, of the Tribal Council pursuant to Article V, Section 1 (a) of the Amended Constitution and bylaws of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, effective February 23, 1954.

Evelyn Hudson, Tribal Secretary
San Carlos Apache Tribal Council