Sunday, February 8

Registration opened on Sunday as the NCAI Executive Committee convened to discuss organizational priorities and review submitted emergency resolutions. The Violence Against Women Task Force also gathered to address public safety and justice priorities ahead of their regularly scheduled meeting later in the week. These early sessions helped establish priorities, align leadership perspectives, and prepare for the week’s policy discussions.

Monday, February 9

The State of Indian Nations (SOIN) — featuring the SOIN address from NCAI President Mark Macarro, the State of Youth Indian Nations (SOYIN) address by NCAI Youth Commission Co-Presidents Jonas Kanuhsa and Angelina Serna, and Congressional Response provided by United States Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota — opened Monday’s programming. The first Plenary Session of the General Assembly that afternoon addressed education policy challenges, economic development, and federal engagement priorities. Several NCAI Task Force meetings also convened before the “Working with Congress 101” policy training and Department of Justice breakout session closed the day’s agenda.

Tuesday, February 10

The second meeting of the General Assembly, held Tuesday morning, featured representatives from Congress and the administration and centered discussion around child and family welfare and Tribal housing, among other issues. The 30th Annual National Indian Women’s Honor Lunch highlighted leadership and community contributions before the remaining NCAI Task Forces and Working Groups convened in the afternoon. The evening closed with NCAI and the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY)’s co-hosted Tribal Leaders and Future Tribal Leaders Reception, which brought together leaders from all walks of life to support leadership development and intergenerational connection.

Wednesday, February 11

The third and final General Assembly of the week again featured several invited guests from Congress and the administration, while panel discussions and fireside chats focused on equal protection, public safety and justice, and the Tribal Supreme Court Project’s 25th anniversary. In the afternoon, six Hill Visit Preparatory sessions were held concurrently, each corresponding to the next day’s Hill Visit groups and one of six policy priority areas: education, justice, economic development, housing, gaming, and family welfare. During the preparatory sessions, Tribal leaders and advocates honed talking points and developed strategy for Thursday’s Congressional meetings. The day concluded with an offsite event, A Reception Honoring the Native Children’s Commission and Legislative Next Steps, highlighting Native children’s policy priorities and next steps for national advocacy.

Thursday, February 12

The ECWS agenda closed Thursday with Capitol Hill visits. Over 40 Tribal leaders, youth, and partners engaged directly with federal policymakers across more than 20 offices to advance Tribal priorities. These engagements supported continued Tribal-federal collaboration and advocacy momentum.

Resolution #ECWS-26-001: Calling on the Department of Homeland Security to Consult with Tribal Governments Regarding Immigration Enforcement Activities and Expanding Immigration Detention Centers Impacting Tribes and American Indian Communities

This resolution calls on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately initiate nationwide government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations regarding immigration enforcement activities that directly impact Tribal communities. Tribal leaders reported instances of Tribal citizens being detained or questioned due to perceived ethnicity, including on or near Tribal lands. The resolution also addresses DHS construction of immigration detention facilities on or near Tribal lands, the lack of consultation and communication in their enforcement activities, and emphasizes that 287(g) agreements with local law enforcement agencies do not replace formal Tribal consultation or otherwise substitute for a government-to-government relationship between DHS and Tribal Nations. It reaffirms Tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, and the federal trust responsibility to ensure public safety within Indian Country. Read Resolution #ECWS-26-001.

Resolution #ECWS-26-005: Request for Department of Homeland Security to Conduct Technical Training Regarding Use of Tribal Identification Card as Valid Government-Issued Identification

This resolution urges DHS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide robust training to federal officers, agents, and representatives on the validity and authentication of Tribal government-issued identification cards (Tribal IDs). Tribal citizens have reported temporary detentions after purported DHS and ICE officers refused to accept Tribal IDs, despite federal law recognizing their legitimacy as valid government-issued identification. The resolution further calls on DHS to update policies requiring officers to properly identify themselves when refusing Tribal identification, allowing incidents to be documented and reported. The measure reinforces the legal status of Tribal IDs and affirms Tribal sovereignty and citizenship rights. Read Resolution #ECWS-26-005.

Resolution #ECWS-26-009: Ensuring Alaska Native Participation in the Federal Subsistence Board’s Public Members and the Location of the Office of Subsistence Management

This resolution reasserts NCAI’s position that Alaska Native representation on the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) must be maintained in accordance with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. It opposes regulatory changes outlined in a proposed rule that would diminish Alaska Native voices on the Board and supports the current composition and structure of the Office of Subsistence Management. The resolution underscores the importance of protecting rural Alaskan and Alaska Native subsistence ways of life. The proposed rule would not only change the makeup of the FSB but also modify rules and geographic determinations. The resolution urges member Tribal Nations to submit comments opposing the proposed rule changes by March 30, 2026, and calls for free, prior, and informed consent and government-to-government consultation with all Tribal Nations in Alaska before any revisions are made. Read Resolution #ECWS-26-009.

Resolution #ECWS-26-010: Calling on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to Hold a Hearing to Consider and Take Testimony on H.J. Res. 140 (2026), entitled “Disapproving Public Land Order 7917” Due to the Impacted Tribal Interests Contained in the Subject Public Land Order

This resolution urges the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to hold a “hearing on the contents of Public Land Order 7917 and the potential detrimental impact” of House Joint Resolution 140 (H.J. Res. 140) and solicit testimony from impacted Tribal Nations before Senate floor consideration. Public Land Order 7917 (P.L. 7917) protects lands within the 1854 Ceded Territory in northeastern Minnesota from contamination and encroachment from mineral and geothermal leasing. P.L. 7917 safeguards the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and treaty-protected rights, including wild rice harvesting and other subsistence practices. The House advanced H.J. Res. 140 without Tribal testimony, and its enactment would permanently eliminate the Executive Branch’s ability to restore similar protections, detrimentally impacting Tribal Nations’ rights to consultation. The resolution emphasizes that threats to one Tribe’s treaty rights erode the sovereignty and reserved rights of all Tribal Nations. Read Resolution #ECWS-26-010.