National Indian Education Association President Robert B. Cook will deliver the annual Indian education address in Washington, D.C., next week.

Cook, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, plans to focus on NIEA's legislative priorities, Indian school construction, repair and maintenance, the Johnson O’Malley program, the No Child Left Behind Act, Native language preservation and other issues.

“We will once again focus on the historical treaty rights of our sovereign tribal nations and challenging the federal government to continue to honor its promises of educational equity and quality in learning," said Cook. "It is our inherent right to prepare our students to be the leaders of their tribes, communities and nations.”

The speech takes place at 9:30am on February 9 at the National Press Club. It coincides with NIEA's annual legislative summit.