9th Annual State of Indian Nations Address Remarks by Jefferson Keel, President, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)

Thursday, January 27, 2011, 10:30 AM ET - Newseum, Knight Studios, Washington, DC

Introduction: Toward a More Perfect Union



My fellow tribal and American citizens, members of the National Congress of American Indians, members of the Administration and the 112th Congress of the United States, and those listening or watching today from around the country and the world: I stand here, honored, to deliver to you, the State of Indian Nations address.

After an exceptional year of bipartisan achievements to strengthen Indian Country, I am pleased to report that the state of Indian nations is strong, and driven by a new momentum.

We stand at the beginning of a new era for Indian Country, and for tribal relations with the United States.

Previous eras were defined by what the federal government chose to do: the Indian removal period when tribes were forcibly removed to reservations, the allotment era, the reorganization and termination of tribes, even the recent promise of the self-determination era.

But this new era is defined by what we, as Indian nations, choose to do for ourselves. I am honored to be joined this morning by many Indian leaders who have worked hard to prepare our nations for this moment. We are poised to be full partners in the American economy, and in America itself.

We expect that in years to come—in seven generations—our children’s children will look back and say, “This was the moment when the future of Indian Country changed forever.”

Call it the Era of Recognition. Call it the Era of Responsibilities Met, or of Promises Kept.

Whatever it is called, it brings us closer than ever to the true Constitutional relationship between the United States and Indian nations.

It brings us closer to what the Constitution calls a “more perfect union.”

Today, I issue an invitation—to tribal leaders, to Indian people, to our partners in Congress and the Administration, and to all Americans—to join together in building this new era.





Why is this new era possible only now, instead of before?

Recent years have brought a new foundation, the self-determination era has brought a promising partnership between tribes and the federal government. We have demonstrated our capacity as self-determined governments that contribute to a stronger America. We have worked hard to reach this point.

But that alone is not enough to realize the promise of this new era.

Barriers remain—and we are eager to work with our federal partners to remove those barriers to the economic potential of our nations.

There is another reason we are just now seeing this opportunity for a new era.

The state of the economy has played a role. These difficult times have made self-reliance into a necessity.

Today the country is entering more than a time of difficult budget choices. As the federal government contemplates fundamental changes in the priorities of government, Indian Country offers a bold opportunity.

Investing in self-reliant Indian nations is not only the Constitutional and morally right thing to do, Indian nations offer a great untapped source of economic opportunity for all Americans.

This is a great moment, when doing the right thing is also the smart to do.





I was encouraged when the House of Representatives read aloud the U.S. Constitution earlier this month. America’s founders recognized the inherent sovereignty of Indian tribes and the special relationship between tribes and the federal government, and they affirmed it by putting it into words in our Constitution.

Like all American people, we are afforded basic Constitutional rights. Moreover, we carry a special recognition, that tribes are inherently nations with in a nation, that tribes as stated in Article 1, Section 8, are in the company of “foreign nations” and “the several states.”

These basic rights, these inherent rights, are what we seek together to bring to all American people: “justice,…domestic tranquility,…general welfare, and…the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

The preamble to the Constitution speaks of a more perfect union. The new era for Indian nations is a profound step toward that more perfect union."





I stated earlier that there has been much progress to make this new era possible. I’d like to review some of those successes from 2010.

The passage and enactment of the Tribal Law and Order Act, and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act were monumental. We thank those on both sides of the aisle who crafted legislation that holds the promise of safer, healthier and more economically productive Native communities.

But this work is not complete. Words are one thing, but actions are another. We call for these initiatives to be fully funded and fully implemented.

We were encouraged by the recent settlements of the Cobell litigation over the mismanagement of Indian lands, and the Keepseagle settlement for discrimination against Indian farmers. Indian tribes have supported these overdue settlements because they will help us turn the page on the wrongs of the past and direct our energies toward securing a better future.

Finally, we welcome the United States’ adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This formally affirms our fundamental human rights. It is a great step forward in respect and recognition of Indigenous peoples throughout the world.

This very morning the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women is visiting tribal nations to investigate the challenges facing tribal justice systems.

Together, these achievements set the stage for a new era in Indian Country. This is a moment of opportunity, and we must look to the future to realize its promise.



The resilience and spirit that carried our people to this day is what will carry us to our next great moment. Our cultures are resolute and diverse. We see every challenge as an opportunity.

Indian nations face great challenges, but we hold great unrealized potential.

High unemployment is new to most Americans, but Native people have felt it for decades, often four to five times the unemployment rate of the country as a whole. But at long last, this new era represents a way forward.

One opportunity for tribal nations is energy development. Our deep relationship to the land and our reverence for the earth’s natural resources provide a clear course for our communities.

Tribes care for approximately ten percent of America’s energy resources, including renewable energy, worth nearly a trillion dollars in revenue.

And yet, only a handful of tribes have been able to successfully utilize these resources. In fact the 49 bureaucratic steps that deter energy development on Indian lands stifled the ability of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota to access their considerable oil reserves, while oil rigs formed a ring outside reservation boundaries. It took direct action by the Interior Department to streamline this process for the Three Affiliated Tribes. We call on the Congress to apply this kind of concerted effort to unleash the potential of Indian energy resources throughout the nation.

Realizing the potential of energy resources offers immense promise for tribal communities, and the United States as a whole. To achieve the goals of energy independence and economic growth, the focus must turn to the potential in Indian Country.

Just last week, Energy Secretary Chu offered a promising jump-start to such investment. He announced $10 million in support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Indian Country.

Tribal energy development will mean long-term economic development, and in turn the United States will become stronger. That is an investment worth making.

This is a good development and it is part of the solution to realizing our potential, but it is not the entire answer.

On this and other issues, barriers stand in the way of progress for Indian Country and our entire nation.

Sometimes it’s bureaucracy. Sometimes it’s a lack of access to financing and federal programs. We call for tribes to receive the same treatment under the law as state and local governments on tax and financial matters. It is time for these barriers to be lifted.

The situation is similar for electronic communication, which is the backbone of the new information economy. Across the nation, broadband is available to 95 percent of Americans. But in tribal communities, it’s only 10 percent. Broadband is the pipeline to progress, and we need investment, but first we need an end to barriers that stand in the way of that investment.

As with energy, the result will be growth, jobs and opportunity—because our potential is already there. We’ve already seen what such investment can do. The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation operate a telecommunications company that is using federal funds, plus grant and loan packages, to expand broadband. So far they are reaching 1,000 square miles of a reservation. They are connecting nearly 2000 people, 18 businesses and the tribal government, plus schools, health care facilities, and police and fire departments. This kind of investment is the foundation for progress throughout Indian Country.

Broadband is just one aspect of our infrastructure needs. In fact, there has never been sufficient federal or private investment to spur growth, or fund adequate services in this area.

There is also huge potential to invest in our youth. We seek investments in after school programs, quality education from pre-K through college, and job training programs. We have many bright students, yet many of our Indian schools lack the curriculum or proper tools that enable them to compete for scholarships and other opportunities.

Our Republican and Democratic partners in Congress and the Administration share a vision for a more effective education system in America, and we encourage them to start in Indian Country. Our children have been waiting for generations, and today is always a good day to begin.

These are some of the things that Congress can do to free the tribes to pursue self-reliance. There are other things to do, too—things that won’t cost a penny.

Our largest assets – tribal lands – remain fragmented and caught in a web of stifling BIA regulations and bureaucracy. Current trust policy is neither effective nor appropriate, and Congress must modernize the trust to reflect the role of tribes as decision-makers in the management of our own lands.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Carcieri is threatening the ability of many tribes to restore their lands and build economic development and jobs. This must be fixed.

With the Cobell settlement and the pending establishment of the Indian Land Consolidation Fund, the federal government has an opportunity to make foundational changes to the trust that will improve administration and further self-determination. We thank the Administration and Secretary Salazar for their leadership on these issues, but the work is not done.

We share the passion for self-reliance and more efficient government brought by many new members of Congress. In many instances, that is exactly what Native people need: a government that respects our Constitutional sovereignty, a government whose leaders want to cut the red tape that blocks investment and prevents us from participating fully in economic life. This new era must be characterized by equal treatment of tribal nations with other governments — the same rules, and the same opportunities for economic growth.

The federal trust responsibility does not have a political affiliation. At this momentous juncture, when a new era is rising, it is critical for Congress and the Administration to honor the special status of tribal nations – and our citizens – solemn promises made in treaties, executive orders, and acts of congress.

We urge Congress to sustain investments in tribal nations by holding Indian programs harmless and providing much needed funding for infrastructure, law enforcement, health care, job creation, and education. For the strength of our nations, and to achieve a more perfect union, now is not the time to step back from investments in tribal communities that hold promise for our entire nation.

The foundation is in place, but much work lies ahead. Tribal nations are united with our federal partners by the great ideals of democracy, equality and freedom.

There’s something else that unites us, too. This address would not be complete without acknowledging the service of nearly 24,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives in the American armed forces. In that alone, the state of Indian nations can be summed up in one word: proud.

As a veteran, I am keenly aware of this great commitment. Just as hundreds of thousands of other Indian people, I have stood for America as a citizen, I have stood for America as a brother on the field of battle, and I stand now as a warrior to defend the honor of our historic trust.

Since 2001, when our homeland was attacked, 77 of our people have died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and over 400 have been wounded. The bond between America and the Indian nations is not in doubt. We remain united, and in a new era we will build a more perfect union...together.



Toss a stone into the water and the ripples are felt far away.

In the same way, the decisions before us today will be felt in tribal life for seven generations, and beyond.

Tribal governments understand that Washington is entering more than a time of difficult budget choices. Congress and the Administration are contemplating fundamental changes in the priorities of government.

This is a challenge, but our nation-to-nation relationship presents a unique responsibility and great opportunity—and that is the gateway to a new era of opportunity and self-reliance.

Today we call on our federal partners to clear the way for us to expand economic opportunity through entrepreneurism, so that we might compete.

Clear the way for us to develop energy on our lands, build commerce and create jobs, so that we might contribute to the national economy, energy independence, and a larger recovery.

Clear the way for us to build public infrastructure for our communities, so that our children might thrive and our culture enrich all those around us.

Clear the way for us to build up our own communities.

When you invest in Indian Country, you will be astounded at the economic strength we bring to America. It is time to harness that power and realize the tremendous return on that investment.

The United States and Indian nations are partners and neighbors, bound by the Constitution, we are bound by our great and shared commitment to liberty—and that includes economic liberty.

The Indian nations can do the work—if the federal government will clear the way for us to exercise our liberty and thus make a new era and a more perfect union.

The opportunity of that new era depends on governing wisely today.

God bless America and the Indian nations as we make this great and promising journey together.

State of Indian Nations Address: “Sovereign Indian Nations at the Dawn of a New Era”

National Congress of American Indians Echoes Sentiment that U.S. adoption is “One of the most significant developments in international human rights law in decades”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 16, 2010 - President Obama announced that the United States will lend its support to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) today during the second annual Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C. Prior to this morning's announcement, the United States had been the lone holdout of the original four nations to vote against the adoption of the Declaration by the UN General Assembly in 2007; the other three (Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) have all since reversed their position.

“We echo the sentiment that this is one of the most significant developments in international human rights law in decades. The United States and the Obama Administration have done the right thing today by joining the rest of the world in affirming the inherit rights of Indigenous people,” said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. “International human rights law now recognizes the collective and individual human rights of Indigenous peoples, including treaty rights, land rights, and the right of self-determination.”

In delivering his remarks to hundreds of tribal leaders gathered for the Tribal Nations Summit, President Obama was clear that the aspirations in the Declaration were ones that all Americans should vow to uphold. Immediately after he made his announcement of support, the President emphasized that "what matters far more than words...are actions to match those words."

The Declaration, for the first time, gives international recognition to the collective human rights of Indigenous peoples, including treaty rights, land rights, and, perhaps most importantly, the right of self-determination. The Declaration calls for the maintenance and protection of Native cultures, languages, and identities; the fulfillment of treaty obligations by nation states; the equal treatment of and end to discrimination against Indigenous peoples; and the rights of Native peoples to meaningfully participate in the decision-making process and to be consulted on all matters that concern them.

The importance of the Declaration to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes is significant. While not legally binding in and of itself, it nevertheless performs the invaluable functions of gathering together in one document the basic rights of Indigenous peoples, educating the general public, and providing clear direction for those nation states endorsing the Declaration. The Declaration has considerable moral and political force and Indian nations will not hesitate to use the Declaration as the standard by which to measure the actions of the federal government.



About The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI):

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information visit www.ncai.org

President Obama Announces U.S. Support for United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

On eve of the White House Tribal Nations Summit, National Congress of American Indians hails the historic nature of direct meetings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 15, 2010 – President Obama met directly with 12 tribal leaders at the White House this afternoon. The meeting with the tribal leaders from 12 regions of the United States, comes the day before the President will host leaders from the 565 federally-recognized tribes during the White House Tribal Nations Summit, the second in as many years. The National Congress of American Indians is hailing the meeting as a substantial step in establishing a nation-to-nation relationship for the 21st Century.

“These meetings are summit level meetings between leaders of tribal nations and the President of the United States. They are both symbolic and substantive” said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. “Last year’s summit was historic in size and ambition. We anticipate the results of the meetings with the President today and tomorrow will change the future of Indian Country for generations to come.”

The meeting comes on the eve of the second White House Tribal Nations Summit, in which the leaders of all 565 federally-recognized tribes were invited to meet with President Obama and members of his Administration throughout the day.

Tribal leaders and President Obama enter these meetings following one of the most significant years of bi-partisan accomplishments for Indian Country. Since the first Tribal Nations Summit, held by the Obama Administration in November of 2009, the United States government has taken historic steps, including: making permanent the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; signing into law the Tribal Law & Order Act; reaching agreement on USDA’s settlement of the long standing Keepseagle case; and, signing into law the Cobell Settlement, closing the chapter on over a century of government mismanagement of Indian assets.

Names of Leaders Who Met With The President on Wednesday:

Earl J. Barbry, Sr., Chairman, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

Cedric Black Eagle, Chairman, Crow Nation

Brian Cladoosby, Chairman, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community

Karen Diver, Chairwoman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

Brenda Edwards, Chairperson, Caddo Nation

Tex G. Hall, Chairman, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation: Three Affiliated Tribes

Gary Hayes, Chairman, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

John Red Eagle, Principal Chief, Osage Nation

Joe Shirley, Jr. , President, Navajo Nation

Robert H. Smith, Chairman, Pala Band of Mission Indians

Edward K. Thomas, President, Tlingit Haida Central Council

Mervin Wright, Jr., Chairman, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada

President Obama Holds Direct Talks with American Indian Leaders at the White House

NCAI President Encouraged Heading into Second Obama White Tribal Nations Conference

President Obama signed into law today the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 which included the $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement and major tribal water settlements that have been at the forefront of Indian Country's legislative agenda.

"The President and the Congress have continued to exhibit a renewed determination to honor the federal trust responsibility to tribal nations and Indian people," said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. "Today's ceremony is another concrete example of this administration's commitment to work with members of Congress to honor our historic, nation-to-nation relationship. Tribal leaders look forward to meeting with the President and his administration next week at the White House Tribal Nations Conference and continue building our vision for strengthening Indian Country."

The signing of the Cobell settlement, which resolves a long running class action litigation over mismanagement of Indian trust funds, comes one week prior to the President's Tribal Nations Conference, the second of his Administration. Leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribal nations have been invited by the White House, to the Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. on December 16, 2010.

The Cobell settlement also includes payment for resource mismanagement and funds for consolidation of fractionated lands. The case has been pending since 1996. In the last month, the Cobell Settlement moved forward rapidly in the Senate as budget neutral legislation, after lingering for the last year in both houses. Unresolved for fourteen years, the settlement was part of a number of historic measures included in the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. In addition to the Cobell Settlement, historic water settlements vital to Indian Country, totaling over $1 billion, were passed as part H.R. 4387. The water settlements involved the Crow Tribe, Taos Pueblo, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Aamodt Settlement including the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso and Tesuque.

More background information on the signing is available 

President Obama Signs Cobell Settlement, Closes Chapter on Historic Injustices

Tribal Water Rights Settlements also Headed to President for Signature into Federal Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 30, 2010 – In a historic vote today, the United States House of Representatives passed the $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement as part of 

, the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. The Claims Resolution Act of 2010 now moves to President Obama’s desk for signature.

“The passage of the Cobell Settlement is a significant milestone in the history of American Indian relations with United States government,” said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. “Not only does Cobell settle historic injustices through legal means, it starts the U.S. government on a course for meeting its obligations and making reservation lands more productive for future generations. We commend the bipartisan effort from members of the House and Senate who worked tirelessly to pass this legislation.”

The Cobell settlement resolves the long running class action litigation over mismanagement of Indian trust funds. It also includes payment for resource mismanagement and funds for consolidation of fractionated lands. The case has been pending since 1996.
In press releases, following statements on the House floor, both Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), outlined the importance of passing the Cobell Settlement as part of the Claims Resolutions Act of 2010.

"This legislation brings a fair and responsible resolution to the Cobell case and is a great bargain for American taxpayers,” said Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), Co-Chairman of the Native American Caucus. “The Cobell settlement helps correct a historic wrong and ensures that Native Americans enjoy the full benefit of tribal lands and resources. The bill is fully paid for and will save taxpayers millions in additional costly litigation.”

"These settlements have been reached in court, and now it is our job to ensure that the federal government lives up to its end of the bargain," said House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD). "I’m glad that this bill funds the Pigford and Cobell settlements without adding to the deficit; and I’m also glad that this bill can bring to a close an unfortunate chapter in our history."

In recent weeks, the Cobell Settlement moved forward rapidly in the Senate as budget neutral legislation, after lingering for the last year in both houses. Unresolved for fourteen years, the settlement was part of a number of historic measures included in the Claims Resolution Act of 2010. In addition to the Cobell Settlement, historic water settlements vital to Indian Country, totaling over $1 billion, were passed as part H.R. 4387. The water settlements involved the Crow Tribe, Taos Pueblo, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Aamodt Settlement including the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso and Tesuque.

Historic Cobell Settlement Passes U.S. House of Representatives

“One Step Closer to Settling Historical Injustice” says National Congress of American Indians

 – The United States Senate has passed the long awaited $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement brought by American Indian plaintiffs. Praising its passage, the leadership of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country, has called for a swift passage of Cobell in the House.

“The passage of the Cobell Settlement in the Senate brings tribal nations and the federal government one step closer to settling this historical injustice,” said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians. “We urge the House to pass this legislation and send it to the President’s desk for final signature. NCAI is also encouraged by the passage of several important tribal water settlements. Congratulations to Indian Country for these important steps forward.”

The National Congress of American Indians statement comes at the conclusion of the organization’s 67th Annual Convention held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During NCAI’s Convention the Obama Administration made history by announcing to tribal leaders the second Tribal Nations Summit to be hosted by the President. The Tribal Nations Summit will be held in Washington, D.C. on December 16, 2010.

Read the press release about the Tribal Nations Summit: 

NCAI Praises Passage of Cobell Settlement in U.S. Senate, Calls for Immediate Passage in House

Summit Set for December 16, 2010 in Washington, D.C.

 - The Obama Administration announced this week that President Barack Obama will host a second Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C. this December. The announcement, made by the White House’s Kimberly Teehee, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs, was delivered at the National Congress of American Indians’ (NCAI) 67th Annual Convention, the nation’s largest gathering of tribal leaders, governments, and communities.

“With the announcement of the second Tribal Nations Summit today, the Obama Administration reaffirmed that tribal governments are equal members in the family of American governments,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI, the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. “The federal trust relationship between the U.S. government and tribal nations is a non-partisan relationship. Our meetings with the executive branch have a long term focus of creating healthier and stronger tribal nations, to strengthen the entire nation.”

Since President Obama’s first Tribal Nations Summit in November of 2009, the federal government has increased the number and scope of tribal consultations, passed the Tribal Law and Order Act with bipartisan support, and made permanent the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Scheduled for Thursday, December 16, 2010, President Obama will host the White House Tribal Nations Summit. The Summit will include leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribes and give them an opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the summit.

Obama Administration Announces Second Tribal Nations Summit during 67th Annual Convention

USDA to pay $760 million in damages and debt relief for discrimination against American Indian farmers and ranchers

Washington, D.C. – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is praising today’s settlement of the nationwide class action lawsuit (Keepseagle v. Vilsack) between American Indian farmers and ranchers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The agreement settles 11 years of litigation regarding discrimination against American Indian farmers and ranchers in the USDA’s farm loan program.

"This settlement provides long awaited justice for American Indian farmers and ranchers who have only sought an equal opportunity to work hard and succeed,” said Jefferson Keel, the President of NCAI. “We are pleased that the court and the Obama Administration have taken tangible steps today to right a wrong reinforce the trust relationship between the United States and American Indian tribal nations.

The Keepseagle settlement agreement, announced today in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. before Judge Emmet Sullivan, orders USDA to pay $680 million in damages to thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers and to forgive up to $80 million worth of outstanding farm loan debt.

The settlement will also improve USDA’s farm loan services for Native Americans. Initiatives outlined in the settlement include the creation of a Native American Farmer and Rancher Council, which will enable Native Americans farmers and ranchers to collaborate with top USDA officials on greater and equitable access to USDA’s programs. Additionally USDA has agreed to work toward enhanced delivery of technical assistance to Native American borrowers, the creation of sub-offices on tribal lands, a systematic review of the farm loan program rules to improve accessibility to Native Americans and other measures designed to improve the provision of farm loan services to Native Americans.

Additional information about the Keepseagle v. Vilsack settlement is available at 

 or by calling, toll free, 1-888-233-5506.

NCAI Calls Keepseagle Settlement between American Indian Farmers and USDA “Long Awaited Justice”

The Center website, http://tloa.ncai.org/, offers up-to-date news, events, documents and discussion forums to support tribes in implementing of the recently-passed Tribal Law and Order Act.

The Center website, http://tloa.ncai.org/, offers up-to-date news, events, documents and discussion forums to support tribes in implementing of the recently-passed Tribal Law and Order Act.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in partnership with the National Criminal Justice Association launched the Tribal Law and Order Resource Center.

Sign-up today to receive regular email updates on a wide range of Indian Country law enforcement and criminal justice issues. After signing up, users will have the unique ability to upload their own documents, news and events. In the coming months, NCAI and its partners will use the resource center to help track the progress of implementation and build a central resource for policymakers and criminal justice personnel to share challenges and promising practices that will strengthen Indian Country's justice systems.

NCAI Contact: Erik Stegman, NCAI Program Manager at 

NCAI Launches Tribal Law & Order Act Implementation Website

“Legal disagreements between governments require responsible leadership and diplomacy and not reckless calls for violence”- NCAI President Jefferson Keel

 – The oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country has condemned the recent statements of New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg and is calling on him to publicly apologize for his insensitive statements. Mayor Bloomberg used violent and racially charged language when he suggested that Governor Paterson get “a cowboy hat and a shotgun” to deal with an issue on the Seneca Nation reservation. 

“We understand that the State of New York and the Senecas are having a disagreement about tax policy, but legal disagreements between governments require responsible leadership and diplomacy and not reckless calls for violence,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI, and the Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. “It is insulting that a tribal government defending its legal rights today is threatened with the brutalities of the past. I have asked Mayor Bloomberg to apologize for his choice of words and to return the discourse to the level of civility that we all deserve.”

In a letter to Mayor Bloomberg, NCAI President Jefferson Keel formally requested a meeting with the Mayor. The letter outlined the organization’s position and expressed the importance of leaders embracing positive change and intergovernmental partnerships. The text of the letter is included below.

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,

The National Congress of American Indians is the oldest and largest national organization advocating for the interests of tribal governments and American Indian and Alaska Native people. As President, I am writing to let you know how terribly disappointed we were with your suggestion that Governor Paterson get “a cowboy hat and a shotgun” to deal with an issue on the Seneca Nation reservation. I believe you owe an apology not only to Native people and the Seneca Nation, but also to the citizens of the United States for your statements.

The cowboys and Indians stories of the Wild West are a part of our history, but they are a dramatized and dishonorable part. They are propaganda and myths that were used to justify the westward expansion of the U.S. Military and settlers into tribal territories that were guaranteed by treaties. They were excuses for brutal massacres of Native American men, women, and children who stood in the way of Manifest Destiny.

It is particularly offensive that you revisited these derogatory stereotypes in a current dispute over tobacco taxes. The United States has turned away from its anti-Native past and today the treaties and rights of tribal governments are respected in the Nation’s courts, the White House, and the halls of Congress. The Seneca Nation is defending its right to govern its treaty-established territory and maintain a tax policy that promotes jobs and creates revenue. It is insulting that a tribal government defending its legal rights today is threatened with the brutalities of the past. We understand that the State of New York and the Seneca Nation are having a disagreement about tax policy, but legal disagreements between governments require responsible leadership and diplomacy and not reckless calls for violence.

I am requesting a meeting to discuss this with you in person. There is always an opportunity for leaders to embrace positive change and intergovernmental partnerships that benefit all of our citizens. I thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

President, National Congress of American Indians

NCAI Condemns Mayor Bloomberg’s “Cowboy Hat and a Shotgun” Statement, Calls for Public Apology

Enactment of Legislation Hailed as Historic and Will Empower Tribes to Make Communities Safer

Read the White House Blog: The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010: A Step Forward for Native Women

Read the article in the Washington Post about the Tribal Law and Order Act

Download the Tribal Law and Order Act Backgrounder (PDF 34k)

Watch "Rape on the Reservation" (video, Current TV)

View & Download NCAI Photos from the Tribal Law & Order Act signing ceremony

Washington, DC - President Barack Obama has signed into law historic legislation that will significantly enhance tribal law enforcement and the coordination of enforcement with United States Government.

“Today, by enacting the Tribal Law and Order Act, President Obama and the United States government reaffirmed its federal trust responsibility to work with tribal nations to strengthen our governments, our people and our communities,” said President Jefferson Keel of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). “We will use the tools in the Tribal Law and Order Act to crack down on crime and make our communities safer.”

NCAI President Jefferson Keel joined tribal leaders, federal officials, tribal and human rights advocates, and tribal law enforcement officers, as the President signed into law the Tribal Law and Order Act at a signing ceremony at the White House. The legislation was signed into law as part of the Indian Arts and Crafts Amendment Act of 2010.

Currently, Indian reservations nationwide face violent crime rates more than 2.5 times the national rate. Some reservations face more than 20 times the national rate of violence. More than 1 in 3 American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped in their lifetimes, and 2 in 5 will face domestic or partner violence. The Department of Justice has also found that at least 86 per cent of rape and sexual assault perpetrators are non-Indian.

The Tribal Law and Order Act takes a comprehensive approach to address these shortfalls by establishing accountability measures for Federal agencies responsible for investigating and prosecuting reservation crime, and by providing tribes with additional tools to combat crime locally. The Act provides law enforcement officials and tribes increased evidence sharing and federal declination data recording, access to national criminal history records, improved tribal court sentencing authority, and enables deputization of either federal or tribal agents as the situation requires.

Major provisions of the Tribal Law & Order Act include:

: Requires federal prosecutors to maintain data on criminal declinations in Indian country, and to share evidence to support prosecutions in tribal court.

: Increases tribal court sentencing authority from 1 to 3 years imprisonment where certain constitutional protections are met.

: Requires Federal officials who work in Indian country to testify about information gained in the scope of their duties to support a prosecution in tribal court.

Tribal Police Access to Criminal History Records

: Many tribal police have no access to criminal history records. The bill will provide tribal police greater access to criminal history databases that provide them with essential information when detaining or arresting a suspect.

Improves transparency in Public Safety spending by the BIA

, and requires greater consultation on the part of the BIA to tribal communities on matters affecting public safety and justice.

Increased sexual assault training and standardized protocols

 for handling sex crimes, interviewing witnesses, and handling evidence of domestic and sexual violence crimes in Indian country.

Increases recruitment and retention efforts for BIA and Tribal Police

Expands training opportunities for BIA and tribal police

 to receive training at State police academies, and tribal, state, and local colleges – where Federal law enforcement training standards are met.

Increases Deputizations of Tribal and State Police to Enforce Federal Law

: Enhances Special Law Enforcement Commission program to deputize officers to enforce federal laws on Indian lands.

Authorizes deputization of Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys 

to prosecute reservation crimes in Federal courts, and encourages Federal Courts to hold cases in Indian country.

Ahthorizes the Drug Enforcement Agency to deputize tribal police

: The bill will reauthorize and improve existing programs designed to strengthen tribal courts, police departments, and corrections centers – as well as programs to prevent and treat alcohol and substance abuse, and improve opportunities for at-risk Indian youth.

President Obama Signs Historic Tribal Law & Order Act Into Law

“This historic legislation is an opportunity for tribes and the federal government to work together to make our communities safer,” says NCAI President Jefferson Keel

July 21, 2010 - Washington, DC – President Jefferson Keel of the National Congress of American Indians released a statement praising today’s passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act by the House of Representatives as historic. The Act now heads to President Obama for his signature.

"This new law will set a standard of tough law enforcement in Indian Country. The primary function of all governments is to provide safety and security for their people, and tribal governments will use this law to elevate public safety in our communities,” said Keel, the President of NCAI, the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native Organization in the country.

“In a time when crime rates across the country have been going down, crime on Indian reservations has remained two to three times above the national average. This historic legislation is an opportunity for tribes and the federal government to work together to make our communities safer, and it supports the sovereignty of tribes to investigate and prosecute serious crimes on our lands,” stated Keel, who also serves as Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. “We commend the members of Congress responsible for enacting this important legislation.”

With an overwhelming majority in the House and unanimous consent in the Senate, the Act will have wide reaching effects for law enforcement in Indian Country. In addition to enhancements for evidence and data sharing, the Act notably recognizes greater tribal court authority, including increasing maximum sentences from 1 to 3 years for major crimes. Tribal courts, detention centers, at-risk youth programs, and treatment programs are also strengthened by the act through reauthorization of existing programs.

“Law enforcement on tribal lands has long been hamstrung by a lack of resources and by restrictions placed by the Federal Government. The Tribal Law and Order Act is a significant step forward for tribal police – officers who serve their communities honorably and deserve the full authority to protect Indian Country just like any other state, county, or city in the nation,” added Keel.

The Tribal Law and Order Act, introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), expands the authority, access, and resources available to tribal police in a variety of ways: it allows for the deputization of tribal police to assist in drug raids and enforce federal laws on Indian lands; permits access to criminal history databases and records; and increases the efforts to recruit and retain tribal police. The Act passed the Senate on June 23, 2010, as part of H.R. 725, The Indian Arts and Crafts Amendment Act of 2010, a bill that would allow federal law enforcement officials to investigate the production and sale of counterfeit American Indian arts and crafts. The House passed H.R. 725 today with the Tribal Law and Order Act attached

Read H.R. 725, The Indian Arts and Crafts Amendment Act of 2010

Read the Congressional Record, including the House debate on HR 725 (.pdf)

See how your Representative voted on HR 725 (.pdf)

Passage of Tribal Law and Order Act Receives Praise from NCAI

National Congress of American Indians Calls on UK to Grant Entry for Game’s World Championships

Washington, D.C. – In a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest and largest tribal advocacy organization in the United States, has called on the government of the United Kingdom to allow for the entry of the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team, facilitating participation in the World Lacrosse Championships being held in Manchester, England (

“We strongly urge the United Kingdom to follow the actions of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and clear the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team, representing the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, for international travel on their Haudenosaunee passports,” said NCAI’s President Jefferson Keel in the letter. “As you are aware, the game of lacrosse is indigenous to Native Americans…In the view of Native peoples, denying entry to the game’s historical and cultural emissaries is a troubling scenario.”

The letter addressed to Prime Minister Cameron comes shortly after U.S. Secretary Clinton granted a one-time travel waiver to the Iroquois Nationals team on Thursday. The British government followed by announcing that it would not grant entry to the team.

President Keel emphasized in the letter that the legitimate documentation questions have been addressed, as reflected by the U.S. State Department’s waiver for travel. While the Iroquois Nationals Team has already missed its first game in the World Championships, the team plans on arriving by Saturday to participate.

The letter to Britain’s leader concludes by stating that the National Congress of American Indians encourages the British government to preserve the sanctity and intent of international gamesmanship and tribal sovereignty.



I write on behalf of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest and largest tribal government advocacy organization representing sovereign tribal nations in the United States. We strongly urge the United Kingdom to follow the actions of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and clear the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team, representing the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, for international travel on their Haudenosaunee passports. The United Kingdom and its citizenship will benefit greatly from welcoming these great athletes representing their respective Indian nations.

Our organization is comprised of elected and appointed leaders and citizens from tribal sovereign nations that have extensive treaty and legal agreements with the United States Government. Over the last week, we have been working with Obama Administration officials, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the congressional delegation from the State of New York, and Iroquois Nationals team officials to resolve legitimate concerns regarding the international travel documents of Haudenosaunee citizens. As a result, on Thursday, July 15, 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton provided a one-time waiver for the travel of this team to the World Lacrosse Championships.

As you are aware, the game of lacrosse is indigenous to Native Americans. We greatly respect that the United Kingdom is hosting an international lacrosse tournament. However, in the view of Native peoples, denying entry to the game’s historical and cultural emissaries is a troubling scenario. The legitimate documentation questions have been addressed, as reflected by the U.S. State Department’s waiver for travel. We encourage your government to preserve the sanctity and intent of international gamesmanship and tribal sovereignty, and grant entry to the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team.

Respectfully,

Jefferson Keel, President
National Congress of American Indians
Lt. Governor, Chickasaw Nation

Media Contact: Thom Wallace, 202.903.3759

Native American Leaders to Prime Minister Cameron: “Allow Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team Entry”

Nation’s Oldest & Largest Tribal Membership Organization Votes to Support Cobell Settlement

Contact: Thom Wallace, Communications Director NCAI

Rapid City, SD– The National Congress of American Indians passed a resolution today strongly urging the United States Congress to pass the legislation authorizing the Cobell settlement. The resolution was passed during the organization’s resolution process on the final day of its Mid-Year Conference. Over one thousand people attended the three-day member meeting.

“This settlement is pending before the Senate in the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, and we urge Congress to pass it immediately,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. “It is important for our country and for our Nation’s Indian people that we resolve the mismanagement of Indian trust funds.”

The Cobell settlement resolves the long running class action litigation over mismanagement of Indian trust funds. It also includes payment for resource mismanagement and funds for consolidation of fractionated lands. The case has been pending since 1996.

“The vote of the membership on this resolution strongly supported the settlement legislation, and I am glad that tribal leaders came to a position,” added President Keel. “There was a vigorous debate on the resolution that we knew would happen because of the historic injustices and suffering. We all know that the settlement is inadequate, but we must also find a way to heal the wounds and bring some measure of restitution,” he went on to say.

The resolution also expresses the desire of tribal leaders that some changes be incorporated within the agreement and in implementation of the settlement, such as including tribes in the land consolidation program and separate legislation to fix the trust system. The resolution was clarified by amendment that the authorizing legislation should be passed immediately, and these issues are not intended to hold up Congressional passage.

Read the resolution, "RAP-10-037: Supporting the Cobell v. Salazar Settlement and Requesting Additional Considerations" here (.pdf)

NCAI Passes Resolution to Support Immediate Passage of the Cobell Settlement Legislation

The Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) will serve as a single solicitation for existing tribal government-specific grant programs administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010



WASHINGTON – Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli announced today that the Justice Department’s grant-making components have created a streamlined approach for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities to apply for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 funding opportunities. The Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) will serve as a single solicitation for existing tribal government-specific grant programs administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This move comes after consultation with tribal leaders, including sessions at the department’s Tribal Nations Listening Session last year.

“This is a direct result of what we heard from tribal leaders at the department's listening session. Tribal leaders have made it clear that a single application would significantly improve their ability to apply and receive critical federal funding, which so many of their communities depend on,” said Associate Attorney General Perrelli. “This comprehensive approach is another step in our efforts to work more effectively with tribal communities to improve public safety in those communities.”

The Justice Department solicited input from tribal leaders on how to make a change to a single application process that would work most effectively for tribal grant applicants. For the FY2010 grant process, American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities will submit a single application for all available tribal government-specific grant programs. This coordinated approach will allow the department’s grant-making components to consider the totality of a tribal community’s overall public safety needs. OJP, COPS and OVW will then coordinate in making award decisions to address these needs on a more comprehensive basis. The Department of Justice has begun providing information about the new process to tribal communities this week, with an expected solicitation process launch in mid-March.

Native communities and tribal consortiums may be eligible for other non-tribal government-specific grant-funding opportunities and are encouraged to submit a separate application to any grant programs for which they may be eligible. OVW’s “Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions” will not be included in the single solicitation and application; OVW will release a separate solicitation and application and eligible applicants must apply separately for this grant program.
Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.

Justice Department Announces Streamlined Grant Solicitation for Tribal Communities

A succession of blizzards have ravaged several tribal communities across Indian Country and they are in great need of donated goods (

, non-perishable food, water, shovels) and financial assistance in order to purchase medical supplies, propane for heating homes, and gasoline for emergency vehicles.

The National Congress of American Indians is asking that you contact tribal personnel directly to find out specific needs and share your resources with them. Please be aware that there may be other tribes in need and if you have additional information, please contact NCAI and we will send out an update.

If you have any questions, please contact Ahniwake Rose at NCAI, 202.466.7767 or 

**Contributions to a federally recognized tribal government are treated the same as a contribution to a state government under 7871 for purposes of charitable contributions deductibility; as, the contribution will be used exclusively for "public purposes" which in this instance is disaster relief for the ice storm of January 2010.

Contact: Navajo Nation, Johnny Johnson, Emergency Operations, Center Incident Commander, (928) 871-7848

Navajo Nation request that all donations come in the form of gift cards which will be used to purchase all needs for community members and tribal responders from local vendors. They are also requesting 50,000 sandbags.

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman’s Office

https://secure.piryx.com/donate/0oFFsK8c/Cheyenn-River-Sioux-Tribe/

Contact: Cheyenne River, Robin Le Beau, Chairman’s Assistant: (610) 568-2101

Medical items needed include: glucose strips, first aid kits, children’s aspirin/pain reliever, and cough syrup.


Attn: Dean Patton, Treasurer
P.O. Box 2070
Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770

Contact: Oglala Sioux, Loretta Afraid of Bear, Public Relations, (605) 867-5074

Contact: Bill Giroux, Emergency Manager, (605) 747-2559

Items needed include: non-perishable goods, heaters, and candles.

Contact: Pete Red Tomahawk, Tribal Emergency Coordinator, (701) 854-8500

Aid Needed for Tribal Communities Hit by Snowstorms

Nevada Senator Harry Reid today released the following statement on President Jefferson Keel’s State of Indian Nations Address to the National Congress of American Indians

“In his first annual address to the National Congress of American Indians today, President Keel offers an important road map of how to put Native communities, and the nation as a whole, on the path to lasting prosperity.

“Our efforts to put Americans back to work must include policies to address the staggering rates of unemployment among Native Americans which stands at above 50 percent on many Indian reservations and in Alaska Native villages.

“Last year, Senate Democrats committed ourselves to making sure that tribes are at the policymaking table when we develop national policies. Investments in the Recovery Act are already showing promising job growth. As we developed the health insurance reform bill, having tribes at the table was critical to ensuring the underfunded Indian healthcare delivery system was protected and enhanced.

“I am honored to represent the people of Nevada, including every one of its 27 Indian Nations. These resilient and strong communities show us that when Congress allows tribes to more effectively meet the needs of their citizens, the whole country benefits. I remain committed to leading the Senate in collaboration with President Obama and tribal leaders to make sure that we continue the progress of the past year into a new decade.”

Reid: Achieving Lasting Prosperity In America Must Include Native Americans

On Jan. 25, the 2010 Census kicks off in the Inupiat Eskimo village of Noorvik, Alaska.

No roads lead to this community, so Census workers will arrive by air, snow machine or dog sled – and they will need to get there early before the ice melts and the residents leave for fishing and hunting season.

It is important to recognize the significance of Noorvik as the first place the census count begins. Our community of American Indians and Alaska Natives is one of the nation’s hardest populations to count, because of language barriers, barriers to travel and transportation to remote and rural communities, and a historic mistrust of government institutions and efforts.

Counting all Alaskans is critical, but it is especially so for Alaska Natives, given the unique, historical relationship between the United States federal government and that community. An accurate count of Alaska Natives means fair access to federal resources and fair representation in state legislatures and the United States Congress.

But equally important, it determines the annual distribution to states and tribes – and our communities and children – of more than $400 billion in federal funds annually over the next 10 years.

This federal money based on census data is used for everything from schools and roads to health care for low-income residents, veterans and senior citizens.

The goal of the 2010 Census is to paint a “Portrait of America.” Because the American Indian and Alaska Native population is relatively small, every Native person who is counted makes a huge difference in getting that portrait right.

We know Indian country faces many hurdles to an accurate Census count. Past Censuses have missed more than 1 in 10 Native people. The Brookings Institution recently found that for every person missed by the Census, the community loses more than $1,000 every year. The future of Indian country will be built on a foundation of reliable and accurate Census data.

As the president of the National Congress of American Indians, I encourage tribal leaders to get the word out to Native communities about how important the Census is to our future generations. I also urge all local leaders across the nation to encourage their community members to participate in Census 2010.

 and other national and local partners to prevail over the challenges of the past to make sure there is an accurate count of all Native peoples.

We know Indian country counts. Let’s make sure its people are accurately counted in the Census.

Let’s Make Indian Country Count

Today, the Departments of Interior and Justice and Eloise Cobell announced a settlement of the ongoing Cobell trust accounting litigation on behalf of Individual Indian account holders.

$1.4 billion dollars for settlement of accounting and mismanagement claims. This fund will be divided into two parts. Each account holder would receive $1000 for historical accounting claims. Resource mismanagement claims will be settled under a court-approved formula. The lawsuit must be modified to add resource mismanagement claims (not a part of the current litigation).

$2 billion for addressing fractionation of individual Indian land. Small fractionated interests would be purchased from Indian landowners on a voluntary basis, and the consolidated land will be turned over to tribes under the terms of the Indian Land Consolidation Act.

Creation of a Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust to make recommendations and oversee a performance audit of trust systems and controls. This provision appears to be intended to review the sunset of the Office of Special Trustee.

Approval by Congress and the Federal District Court Required. The settlement anticipates that Congressional approval will be required in order to use the federal Judgment Fund for the settlement. In addition, the overall terms of the settlement must be approved by the U.S. District Court.

There are many more details about the settlement available on the Department of Interior website at 

The proposed settlement of the litigation represents a significant breakthrough on an issue that has troubled Indian country for many decades. The settlement amount is lower than was expected when the litigation began, but is significantly higher than the $456 million awarded by Judge Robertson after a trial in 2008. The higher amount likely represents the value of adding trust mismanagement claims to the accounting claims. In addition, the funds for consolidating fractionated lands under tribal ownership will help to resolve longstanding land management problems and will increase economic development opportunities.

For more information, please contact NCAI at 202-466-7767, or 

Major Breakthrough Announced on Settlement of Cobell Litigation

WASHINGTON -- November 25, 2009 -- National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Jefferson Keel released the following statement on the eve of Thanksgiving Day:

"Indian Country was here at the beginning of our first national holiday, and we are still here four centuries later -- grateful that we stand proud of our tribal cultures and contribute their strength to the sustaining diversity of America.

Indian Country is grateful on many, many counts. A President and his Administration have heard our concerns and priorities, acknowledging the nation-to-nation relationship, at the first annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. The Embassy of Tribal Nations has opened its doors in the nation's capital. Congress is working in partnership with us to advance the priorities of Indian Country as seldom before. And a national museum on the Washington Mall bears witness to us for all who visit it.

We also have much to contribute to this great nation. Above all, our cultural heritage has positioned us to spearhead the historic task of restoring a human connection to the land, air, water, all living things and one another. We give thanks that the Creator has safeguarded our message of oneness in the web of life, for it is instrumental to restoring the global environment and good will among nations.

We must give thanks for other safeguards -- the warriors who guard our homeland, many of them far from home on this holiday of gratitude and reunion. Native men and women have steadfastly fought and died defending this country as the highest serving minority group in the U.S. armed forces. We give thanks for all who defend our country.

Also this year, we give thanks for the harvest that inspired the first Thanksgiving. Abundant as the harvest has been this year for many, for many others it is a lean year. We've known that unemployment is high and that household hunger is a growing concern.

As always, Americans give thanks this day for their individual and community harvest. But especially this year, NCAI calls on them to join the many tribes and individuals in Indian Country who are going the extra mile to help their needy neighbors, just as they did on that first Thanksgiving."

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