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Indian Preference Policy - Board of Trustees Resolution 99-23

The Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development (IAIA) is authorized in its enabling federal legislation, “{n}otwithstanding any other provision of Federal or State law,” to develop a policy or policies “to extend preference to Indians in… employment by the Institute, and contracts, fellowships, and grants awarded by the Institute.” IAIA’s enabling statute further provides that, in hiring staff, “the President of the Institute shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give preference in hiring to Indians.”

IAIA was established by Congress in recognition that Indian and Alaska Native culture and art occupies “a unique position in American history as our {nation’s} only native art form and cultural heritage.”

IAIA’s mission, as it has defined it, is “to serve as a multi-tribal center of higher education for Native Americans,” “dedicated to the study, creative application, preservation and care of Indian arts and culture.”

This mission is premised on the beliefs that:

· culture is inseparable from human expression;
· art is inseparable from culture; and
· the arts are therefore primary, integral expressions of living Native cultures.

IAIA recognizes the longstanding, dedicated and profound service and contributions to IAIA and Native American art and culture by people from all walks of life.

IAIA believes that the best way to carry out the Indian preference policy directed by Congress, in the context of its mission, is to attract and retain educators, staff and others associated with IAIA who understand and appreciate the unique Native American cultural tradition served by IAIA, and who are willing to devote their time, talent and training as caretakers to ensure that this precious heritage will be preserved and perfected for the generations to come.

Accordingly, in the hiring and retention of employees, including faculty and staff, and in awarding contracts, grants or other benefits, IAIA will:

a) establish threshold criteria for the position or award;
b) take responsible steps to see that potential employees or recipients of contracts, grants or awards from IAIA are aware of these criteria at the time;
c) give strong consideration, taking into account all of the applicant’s other qualifications, to whether the applicant is an Indian or Alaska Native; and
d) offer the position, contract, grant or award to the person or entity who, based on all of the requirements of the position and each applicant’s overall qualifications, including whether the applicant (or the owner if the applicant is an entity) is an Indian or Alaska Native, will best serve IAIA’s mission of preserving and carrying on Native American art and culture for future generations.

[1] Effective June 1, 1999-This policy is not intended to be retroactive or to apply to any pending employment or contractual decisions or issues. It is also not intended to limit IAIA’s full discretion to use its best judgment to determine, taking all appropriate factors into consideration, which faculty, staff, other employees, consultants or contractors IAIA should hire, retain or contract with.