§ 2903 TITLE 25—INDIANS Page 644

in Native American culture and Native American languages.

(8) The term ‘‘Indian reservation’’ has the

same meaning given to the term ‘‘reservation’’

under section 1452 of this title.

(Pub. L. 101–477, title I, §103, Oct. 30, 1990, 104

Stat. 1154; Pub. L. 104–109, §11, Feb. 12, 1996, 110

Stat. 765.)

AMENDMENTS

1996—Par. (2). Pub. L. 104–109, §11(1), substituted ‘‘section 7881(4) of title 20’’ for ‘‘section 2651(4) of this title’’.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 104–109, §11(2), substituted ‘‘section

7912(1) of title 20’’ for ‘‘section 4909 of title 20’’.

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in title 20 sections 7402,

7601.

§ 2903. Declaration of policy

It is the policy of the United States to—

(1) preserve, protect, and promote the rights

and freedom of Native Americans to use, practice, and develop Native American languages;

(2) allow exceptions to teacher certification

requirements for Federal programs, and programs funded in whole or in part by the Federal Government, for instruction in Native

American languages when such teacher certification requirements hinder the employment of

qualified teachers who teach in Native American languages, and to encourage State and

territorial governments to make similar exceptions;

(3) encourage and support the use of Native

American languages as a medium of instruction in order to encourage and support—

(A) Native American language survival,

(B) educational opportunity,

(C) increased student success and performance,

(D) increased student awareness and

knowledge of their culture and history, and

(E) increased student and community

pride;

(4) encourage State and local education programs to work with Native American parents,

educators, Indian tribes, and other Native

American governing bodies in the implementation of programs to put this policy into effect;

(5) recognize the right of Indian tribes and

other Native American governing bodies to

use the Native American languages as a medium of instruction in all schools funded by

the Secretary of the Interior;

(6) fully recognize the inherent right of Indian tribes and other Native American governing bodies, States, territories, and possessions

of the United States to take action on, and

give official status to, their Native American

languages for the purpose of conducting their

own business;

(7) support the granting of comparable proficiency achieved through course work in a

Native American language the same academic

credit as comparable proficiency achieved

through course work in a foreign language,

with recognition of such Native American language proficiency by institutions of higher

education as fulfilling foreign language entrance or degree requirements; and

(8) encourage all institutions of elementary,

secondary and higher education, where appropriate, to include Native American languages

in the curriculum in the same manner as foreign languages and to grant proficiency in Native American languages the same full academic credit as proficiency in foreign languages.

(Pub. L. 101–477, title I, §104, Oct. 30, 1990, 104

Stat. 1155.)

§ 2904. No restrictions

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.

(Pub. L. 101–477, title I, §105, Oct. 30, 1990, 104

Stat. 1155.)

§ 2905. Evaluations

(a) The President shall direct the heads of the

various Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to—

(1) evaluate their policies and procedures in

consultation with Indian tribes and other Native American governing bodies as well as traditional leaders and educators in order to determine and implement changes needed to

bring the policies and procedures into compliance with the provisions of this chapter;

(2) give the greatest effect possible in making such evaluations, absent a clear specific

Federal statutory requirement to the contrary, to the policies and procedures which

will give the broadest effect to the provisions

of this chapter; and

(3) evaluate the laws which they administer

and make recommendations to the President

on amendments needed to bring such laws into

compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(b) By no later than the date that is 1 year

after October 30, 1990, the President shall submit

to the Congress a report containing recommendations for amendments to Federal laws

that are needed to bring such laws into compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 101–477, title I, §106, Oct. 30, 1990, 104

Stat. 1156.)

§ 2906. Use of English

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as

precluding the use of Federal funds to teach

English to Native Americans.

(Pub. L. 101–477, title I, §107, Oct. 30, 1990, 104

Stat. 1156.)

CHAPTER 32—NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES

PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION

Sec.

3001. Definitions.

3002. Ownership.

(a) Native American human remains and

objects.

(b) Unclaimed Native American human

remains and objects.

(c) Intentional excavation and removal

of Native American human remains

and objects.