Strengthen Your Voice. Amplify Your Impact.

This fellowship is now full, and applications are closed. Thank you to all who applied!

tribal leader, aspiring leader, or communications professional

 looking to enhance your media presence and communication skills?  Join NCAI and 40+ tribal leaders for our third annual Media Training and Communications Fellowship May 28-30 at Arizona State University. 

By the end of this training, participants will know how to:

Create strong narratives, tell compelling stories, and deliver effective messages.

Use their voices and digital tools to advocate for policy change at all levels.

Build and maintain relationships with news outlets and media professionals.

This exclusive fellowship, located at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication, is open to elected tribal leaders, communications officers, tribal government staff, and any tribal professional looking to elevate their public speaking confidence while enhancing their understanding of media and communications.

As a communications director of a Native-led nonprofit, I see the NCAI training as more than skill building—it sparks a ripple effect. Leaders will learn to tell stories directly impacting their Tribal Nations or organizations, bring home tools to share with their communities, and build connections with other leaders across Indian Country. Trainings like this create lasting change by amplifying our voice, deepening our connections, and ensuring we can advocate for future generations.


 who understand the unique media landscape of Indian Country

 and storytelling techniques to mobilize your communities & advance policy

 reporters, tribal leaders, and political strategists on the importance of communications.

 and pitch stories that matter while navigating diverse interview environments

Take home professional headshots & digital recordings

Fellows will have the rare opportunity to sharpen their skills in the 

state-of-the-art Cronkite Television studio

, ensuring they’re prepared for real-world interviews across all media platforms.

 Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Arizona State University 

 $1,000 – includes four nights of lodging at the

, with priority given to elected tribal leaders. Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your voice and expand your media presence for the benefit of your community. Applicants will be notified on a rolling acceptance basis. 

The NCAI Leadership Training is more than a program-it’s an opportunity to refine your leadership skills, building meaningful relationships with other tribal leaders, and address the unique challenges we face in Indian Country. The experience provided practical strategies and insights that have strengthened my ability to serve our people. I highly recommend this training to leaders who are committed to making a meaningful impact in their communities.

This Empowering Leaders program is open to tribal leaders, aspiring leaders, and communications professionals. Hosted at the state-of-the-art Walter Cronkite School of Mass Communications and Journalism at Arizona State University on May 28-30, this fellowship will provide targeted learning and hands-on practice to tribal leaders and professionals who wish to increase their communication skills and expand their media presence to meet their community needs. Curriculum will be tailored to and facilitated by Native voices with knowledge of the unique media landscape of Indian Country. All classes and lectures will be held in the second- and third-floor classrooms of the Walter Cronkite School.

2025 Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship

The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) is excited to host the 2025 Annual Convention & Tradeshow at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City from May 26-29, 2025. This extraordinary event will unite hundreds of Tribal housing professionals and decision-makers from across Indian Country, fostering collaboration and empowerment.

With breakout sessions designed to provide vital resources and services related to Native housing and program administration, attendees will have the opportunity to learn, network, and share valuable insights in a dynamic setting.

The Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, a prestigious AAA 4-Diamond hotel, is situated just a block away from the entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood, making it a perfect base for those eager to explore the vibrant attractions of Los Angeles.

51st National American Indian Housing Council Annual Conference and Tradeshow

NCAI and the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) will be holding a Legislative Summit in response to Tribal Leader concerns regarding recent administration developments and Budget Reconciliation.

May 13: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET at IGA; Tribal Leaders Reception in the Evening

The first day of the Summit will feature speakers from the Administration and key Members of Congress. Subject matter experts will be invited to present on policy priorities in preparation for Hill meetings. In the evening, a Tribal Leaders Reception will be held offsite.

May 14: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ET — Hill Visits

Similar to Hill Visits during NCAI’s Executive Committee Winter Session (ECWS), attendees will break out into smaller groups to have a greater impact on the Hill. There is a 

 for a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) Hearing and roundtable with SCIA staff in the morning, 

NCAI-IGA Legislative Summit 

Kauffman and Associates, Inc. (KAI), Evermore, and the National Center for Fatality Review & Prevention are reimagining how grief and bereavement impact our lives.

To learn more from tribal communities, KAI is facilitating 3 virtual listening sessions to gather insights and reflections from Indian Country on traditions, beliefs, and approaches for coping with loss. The information collected during these listening sessions may help inform future resources that support grieving communities.

Join us for a virtual listening session where we will learn from you about how our ancestors grieved and honored the departed:



Listening Session 1: May 12, 2025, 10 am CT

Listening Session 2: May 19, 2025, 6 pm CT

Listening Session 3: May 27, 2025, 3 pm CT

Please note, you may only register and attend 1 listening session.

For each listening session, we will enter participants into a drawing to win 1 of 3 prizes—an Eighth Generation wool blanket, an Eighth Generation cotton blanket, or an Eighth Generation water bottle.


KAI is a 100% American Indian– and woman-owned small business specializing in planning, evaluation, communications, training, and facilitation.

 MSW, CACIII, PhD, is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma born and raised in northern New Mexico. Danica is the Vice President for Behavioral Health Transformations at KAI and has worked as a mental health and substance use counselor, social worker, and youth advocate for 30 years. She is an Indigenous Wellness Research Institute ISMART fellow alumni, Council of Social Work Education member, Minority Fellowship Program fellow alumni, and Northwest Native American Research Center for Health fellow alumni. Her research has focused on Indigenous Ways of Knowing and decolonizing methodologies to address historical trauma and health disparities in tribal communities.



 MSW, LCSW, CAS, is an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma and a descendent of the Meskwaki Nation and Sac & Fox Tribe of Oklahoma. Keli is the Indigenous resilience coordinator at KAI. She received her Master of Social Work, with a focus in Indigenous trauma and resiliency, from the University of Toronto, and she is a licensed clinical social worker. Keli has 17 years of experience in social work for tribal communities with a focus on healing from generational trauma.



 LMSW, is a member of Sac & Fox Nation and a descendent of the Creek, Otoe & Pawnee Tribes. He serves as a tribal technical assistance (TA) specialist for KAI’s behavioral health transformation team. Cortney has over 20 years of experience in children, youth, and family mental health and recovery services and systems development. His passion is in decreasing suicide among youth, eliminating behavioral health disparities among American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and helping organizations be more culturally responsive and responsible for the people they serve through training and TA that promotes diversity and inclusion.

These sessions are supported through a $5,149,996 cooperative agreement from the Health Resources and Services Administration with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Circles of Remembrance: Sharing Indigenous Ways of Grieving to Reimagine Community Support

In 1953 farsighted tribal leaders in the Northwest formed the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), and dedicated it to tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

Today, ATNI is a nonprofit organization representing 57 Northwest Tribal goverments from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Alaska, California and Montana.

ATNI Conventions are a place to gather, learn, develop policy positions and share knowledge.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Affiliated Tribes of NW Indians 2025 Mid Year Conference

In observance of this year’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day on May 5, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) will co-host a webinar. This informational opportunity will describe the new Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Emergency Alert System (EAS) event code. The MEP code could enable a more rapid and coordinated response to missing and endangered person incidents by allowing alert originators to use the EAS to issue a wider range of alerts, to increase public awareness.

Webinar: New Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Emergency Alert System (EAS) Code

This online training by the Office of Native American Programs at the 

 will provide tribal leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to develop sustainable housing initiatives. Participants will explore funding opportunities, resilient infrastructure, and long-term strategies to strengthen tribal housing programs.

Virtual Webinar on Tribal Housing Resiliency

Join us for the 50th Anniversary of the Indian Law Conference, a landmark gathering dedicated to strengthening advocacy and advancing Indian law and policy. This year’s program features 8 insightful panels focusing on pivotal themes:

 will explore “Tribal Nations’ Full Exercise of Inherent Sovereign Rights and Authorities and Removal of All Barriers Erected by the United States.”

 will focus on “The United States’ Full Delivery on Trust and Treaty Obligations.”

Federal Bar Association’s 50th Annual Indian Law Conference

NAFOA 43rd Annual Conference 

The Grantsmanship Center is hosting Meet the Grantmakers, a series of discussions with leaders in philanthropy as they share insights on the issues shaping grantmaking today. Join Dawn Knickerbocker (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, White Earth Nation), the Vice President of Philanthropic Strategies at the NCAI Foundation, for the discussion on April 23 at 11:00 a.m. PT. Other panelists include Ben Chou, Democracy, Rights, and Governance Program Officer at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Linda Garrett-Johnson, Program Officer at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Hear directly from those making the decisions that drive positive change in their communities and get inspired by passionate panelists committed to working in partnership with nonprofit and government professionals. To attend this virtual discussion, please sign up using the registration link. 

Meet the Grantmakers

Registration is now open for the National Council of Urban Indian Health’s (NCUIH’s) annual conference. The NCUIH annual conference provides a platform for Urban Indian Organizations, health care professionals, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to come together and discuss critical issues related to urban Indian health. On April 22 and 23, a board of directors training is being offered, along with federal agency listening sessions. These sessions are sponsored by NCUIH and there is no charge to attend them. A full conference registration will need to be purchased to attend any subsequent sessions.

Thank you for your dedication to improving urban Indian health, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 NCUIH annual conference on April 22 – April 25, 2025, at the Westin, Washington, DC, Downtown. The NCUIH annual conference provides a platform for Urban Indian Organizations, health care professionals, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to come together and discuss critical issues related to urban Indian health. • Tues, April 22 -Training: Urban Indian Organization Boards of Directors NCUIH Board of Directors Meeting • Wednesday, April 23 - Conference Programming • Thursday, April 24 - Conference Programming • Friday, April 25 - Capitol Hill Visits for Urban Indian Organizations

National Council of Urban Indian Health Annual Conference

Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium

 will commemorate half a century of Self-Determination and Self-Governance authority that empowers Tribal Nations to shape their own destinies and will showcase challenges and success stories.

Tribal Self-Governance Conference 

Past institute attendees agree: NICWA’s training institutes are cost-effective professional development opportunities that help you remain current in your knowledge of the ever-changing field of child welfare. Join us for our upcoming training institutes. These interactive and energetic courses are taught by dynamic trainers who are experts in the field of Indian child welfare. 

Attendees will receive CEUs with a certificate upon completion. We are currently hosting both in-person trainings in various locations across Indian Country and virtual trainings on Zoom. The instructor will implement instructional design created specifically for effective adult learning. Participants will experience large and small group learning, participate in facilitated discussion groups, and work through case-based exercises. This approach is made possible virtually by video conferencing which allows breakout groups and live chat sessions. For virtual training you will need a computer, internet access, speakers, and a microphone (or telephone) in order to access the virtual training. 

Trainings are led by professionals with an extensive experience working with tribal communities. Participants will also enjoy the opportunity to network with other attendees from tribal, state, and national agencies located throughout the country. Contact training@nicwa.org for registration information. 

See below for modules offered at this training institute. 

Our most popular training, Positive Indian Parenting (PIP) prepares tribal and non-tribal child welfare personnel to train American Indian and Alaska Native parents using a culturally specific approach. The materials presented during this training draw on the strengths of historic Indian child-rearing practices and blend traditional values with contemporary skills. Storytelling, cradleboards, harmony, lessons of nature, behavior management, and the use of praise are discussed. 

This three-day training provides participants with information about the basic legal requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) and the practice issues involved with ICWA’s implementation. A brief history of U.S. Indian policy as it relates to Indian children and families sets the stage for an examination of the specific provisions of ICWA and practice tips for both tribal and state social workers. Participants will also learn how to successfully integrate other federal and state policies with ICWA—such as the Adoption and Safe Families Act—and support developing tribal and state agreements and other systems changes. This training includes information about the recent Bureau of Indian Affairs ICWA regulations and guidelines. 

Establishing PIP in Your Community (one day) 

This one-day supplement to our most popular training, Positive Indian Parenting (PIP) was developed for tribal and non-tribal child welfare or tribal social services personnel who will lead efforts in establishing PIP in their community and work to support trainers to assist in successful implementation in their community. While our three-day Positive Indian Parenting course will prepare attendees to train the curriculum, this one-day class is perfect for supervisors, administrative teams and logistical supporters of the PIP trainers. Topics covered will include securing funding, organizing a training, supporting trainers and how to approach common issues. 

NICWA April Training Institute 

The Washington State Indian Education Association (WSIEA) was established in the late 1960’s. This organization has grown to serve Native American students enrolled in 295 school districts and 8 tribal schools statewide in WA State.

2025 WA State Indian Education Association Conference

The largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention is both the meeting place where the community gathers to learn, network and exchange industry-specific ideas and a cultural celebration of success, strength, and selfreliance. Entering its 39th year, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention has established itself not only as the premier event for the Indian Gaming Industry but as the figurative heartbeat of Native American success.

 The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) is a non-profit organization of sovereign tribal nations with other non-voting associate members representing organizations, tribes and business engaged in tribal gaming enterprises around the country. As the go-to resource for the community on education, legislation and public policy issues, National Indian Gaming Association works to advance the social, economic, and political success of its members and the Indian community, at large.

2025 IGA Indian Gaming Tradeshow and National Convention

Each year, NICWA hosts the largest national gathering on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) child advocacy issues. With over 1,600 attendees—and growing every year—this three-day conference has become the premiere national event addressing tribal child welfare and well-being. Keynote speakers range from federal officials at the highest level of government to youth with lived experience in child welfare systems. 

For those who can’t make it, we have a virtual option. All three of our amazing general sessions with over a dozen wonderful speakers will be broadcast virtually. If you can’t make it in person, consider being a virtual attendee. 

NICWA provides meaningful programming to conference attendees, creating a space where participants can learn about the latest developments and best practices from experts in the field and from one another. Participants represent a cross-section of fields and interests including child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice service providers; legal professionals; students; advocates for children; and tribal, state, and federal leaders.

NICWA 43rd Annual Protecting our Children Conference 

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is seeking public comments and testimony regarding the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 

Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK Treaty)

, which was adopted in May 2024. The Treaty aims to establish global rules for the protection of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and genetic resources, particularly requiring patent applicants to disclose the origin of such resources when they are essential to an invention.

A virtual webinar for the Native Hawaiian community, their representatives, and Pacific Islanders will be held on:

Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET.

A virtual webinar for state-recognized and non-recognized Tribal Nations, as well as tribal and inter-tribal organizations (including those representing Indigenous Peoples based in the U.S.), will be held on:

Friday, March 28, 2025, from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. ET.

Tribal Consultation on the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge

wáan Tribe/Sitka Tribe of Alaska hosts an annual conference focused on the development, evolution and sustainability of cultural and heritage tourism. The event includes presentations, workshops, tours, and training for certification as an Alaska Native Cultural host.

The conferences is an exciting 3-days of learning, networking, and business building with top level tourism and cultural professionals from across the United States.

Sheet’ká Kwáan Heritage & Cultural Tourism Conference 

Are you a community leader? Do you want to show your support for our young native women leaders? Are you looking to donate to a grassroots organization that has a proven track record of impact and a strong network across the Nation? We invite you to join us as a Gala Sponsor in 2025! The NAN Ambassador program is a leadership program for young Native womxn designed to develop skills, build networks, and prepare the next generation of Native womxn leaders. Mailing address: Native Action Network, 300 Lenora Street, Suite 151, Seattle, WA 98121. Email: info@nativeactionnetwork.org. Phone: 206-451-7298

4th Annual Native Action Network Fund Raiser GALA

This fund-raising event for our Native students and Teachers will include a “delicious” Dinner and Native Art auction organized all on behalf our college native students and teachers. The Northwest Indian College Foundation (NWICF) was approved by the Lummi Indian Business Council and established July 2, 1992. The NWICF is located on the original territories of the people of the Lummi Nation. The Foundation is a non-profit, public 501(cX3) organization that advances the mission of the NWIC which was established in 1983. The NW Indian College is the only regional tribal college in the USA and has seven (7) Northwest campus sites: Lummi, Swinomish Tribal Community, Tulalip Tribes, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and Nisqually Indian Tribe in Washington State. The sixth site is located on the reservation of the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho State. We have an average of 1,000 students attending NW Indian College Classes each year. 

This event will be held at the Silver Reef Hotel 1-360-383-0777. Ask for the NWIC Hotel Room Discount. For more information contact Barbara Lewis at 360-594-1501 or bjlewis@nwic.edu or Joal 360-815-8148 jlgalindo@nwic.edu.

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