NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS COMMENDS ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION FOR ITS LEADERSHIP ON DEROGATORY MASCOTS

“The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends our partner the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) for its leadership in establishing a new criterion for the RWJF Sports Award excluding any sports team with derogatory mascots from award eligibility. A strong advocate for healthy communities, RWJF is standing on the right side of history as we work together to create healthier communities across the country through cultural awareness and understanding. Congratulations to RWJF on taking this important step into the future, and NCAI looks forward to our continued partnership.”

NCAI Commends Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for its Leadership on Derogatory Mascots

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Yesterday, the Senate failed to come up with the necessary votes to proceed with a full vote on the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, an amendment to the National Labor Relations Act that would include tribes in the same exempt category as all other government employers in the United States. The Senate voted 55-41 in favor of moving forward with the legislation, but this tally fell short of the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster.

“Obviously, this is disappointing,” said NCAI President Keel. “But I want to thank the Senate for taking up this important issue, and thank each Senator for the time he or she spent to understand the issue and the nature of tribal governments. From the comments we heard on the Senate floor today, we still have much work to do to educating Congress about the fact that tribal sovereignty is not a conditional proposition. However, I am encouraged that we won a majority of votes, and that our issue made it to the Senate floor. We will be back.”

The purpose of the legislation is to fix a problem created by the National Labor Relations Board’s decision to single out Indian tribes as the only form of government in the United States subject to the National Labor Relations Act. Over 90,000 other units of government in America, who employ over 21 million Americans, are not subject to the NLRA. The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act is a crucial step for Congress to ensure that the United States consistently respects the sovereignty of tribal governments.

Keel continued: “Everyone knows that the U.S. Constitution set up our federal system of government, but far too few know that the Constitution also recognizes the sovereignty of Indian tribes. The reason is found in our history. Our lands and resources were stolen despite the guarantees of treaties and federal laws, and when there was little left to take from us, our rights have simply been ignored. This is the dark history we have inherited. However, tribes have struggled and succeeded in establishing the federal policy of tribal self-determination, economic development is taking hold in many places, and our government structures are growing ever more effective and secure.

“Tribal sovereignty is not an abstract principle. Tribal self-government is critical for us to maintain our cultures and our viability as distinct groups of people. We want our children to grow up with the same traditions and values that we grew up with. These are reasons that everyone in America can understand because these are the basic values of cultural survival that we all share just as much as our need to breathe the air.”

According to NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Pata, “The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act builds upon a principle that has been long established by Indian tribes across the country: when tribal sovereignty is respected and acknowledged, successful, accountable and responsible governments and economies follow. This is not merely a legal issue but a moral imperative of protecting and defending the sovereignty of America’s Indian tribes, and guarding against any discrimination against those tribes. There is no good reason to treat tribal governments in any way different from other governments. Federal law should uphold, not undercut, parity of treatment and equality of opportunity for tribal governments.”

About the National Congress of American Indians:

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 

NCAI President Jefferson Keel Responds to Senate Vote on Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act

In life, timing is everything as they say. And the time is now for the United States Senate to take up and pass the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, a bi-partisan bill that has been pending for years that would uphold the inherent rights of Indian tribes to self-governance. TLSA would provide parity for tribal governments by ensuring they have the same ability as all other governments to regulate labor relations for our government employees.

When the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) was enacted in 1935, Congress deliberately excluded from its coverage federal, state, and local government employers. For seven decades after the enactment of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held the law also did not apply to tribal government employers, affirming their official status as governments as recognized in the U.S. Constitution. The NLRB’s position made sense, because labor strikes risk paralyzing tribal governments and causing havoc in their communities (just as it would for other governments).

In 2004 – without any directive change in the law – the NLRB pulled an about-face, arbitrarily deciding for the first time that the NLRA applies to tribal government employers. Developed to right the NLRA’s unfounded wrong, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act reflects our unwavering belief that tribal sovereignty is not conditional. There is no alternative when it comes to treating tribal governments with the same respect and deference accorded to federal, state, and local governments when it comes to the NLRA.

Sovereignty in this instance simply means tribal governments should be allowed to enact their own laws regulating labor organizing by government employees – just like other governments have always been. The truth is that many tribal nations openly welcome labor unions into the enterprises that they own, and a growing number have designed and enforce their own labor regulations. As tribal governments, we all strive to attract and retain employees and provide the best working conditions and the best incentives for workers. Tribal nations, like other governmental employers, have a huge interest in ensuring that our employees are satisfied and productive. In fact, tribal government employers regularly are hailed as the best employers in our regions.

The NLRB’s decision not to exempt tribal nations as governmental entities gives outside third-party unions the power and control to call a strike of a tribal government’s workforce. This can be devastating to tribal nations, as their governments face potential shutdowns that would stall the provision of public services and vital revenue-generating operations. Therefore, tribal nations must not, have not, and will not stand for the NLRB’s position.

State and local governments are very similar to tribal governments. They employ hundreds of thousands of workers in government-owned enterprises, including hotels, convention centers, state casinos and lotteries, state parks, golf courses, ski resorts, as well as revenue-generating banks, flour mills, and facilities for vehicle repair. All of these state employers and those they employ are exempt from the NLRA. Tribal governments simply ask for the same treatment – fair treatment.

The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act is a simple amendment to the National Labor Relations Act that would explicitly name tribal governments in the same exempt category as all other government employers in the United States. At the end of the day, policy, as in life, means making choices that define who we are and what we value. The Senate has the opportunity to correct the NLRB’s flawed decision by voting to pass the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, upholding tribal self-governance and providing a measure of justice to tribal nations and Native people.



Jefferson Keel is the Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and the President of the National Congress of American Indians.

Ernie Stevens is the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association.

Editorial: Support Tribal Sovereignty and Pass the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act


WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke urging him to publish notice in the Federal Register of gaming compact amendments for the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes of Connecticut. 

The letter states the following: “These (tribal gaming compact) amendments are very important to economic development for both tribal governments as well as the State of Connecticut, and publication of amended compacts is within your duties under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. We urge you to act with dispatch.”

“Under federal law, the Secretary’s publication of gaming compacts is not discretionary. The Secretary may disapprove a compact only if it violates federal law or the trust obligations of the United States. If the Secretary does not approve or disapprove a compact within 45 days, the compact shall be considered to have been approved. At that time, the Secretary is required by law to act;” the law says the Secretary “shall publish in the Federal Register notice of any Tribal-State compact that is approved, or considered to have been approved.” 25 U.S.C. 2710(d)(8).”

The state of Connecticut, in conjunction with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes, is currently suing DOI in an effort to get the department to follow the law and publish these tribal gaming contracts. The case is currently working its way through the Federal court system. View the letter 

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

The National Congress of American Indians Calls on the Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to Publish Tribal Gaming Compact Amendments

WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has released a new report summarizing results of the first five years of tribal government-expanded criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians under the tribal provisions of the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA 2013).

The report was released in conjunction with the March 19th Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on “The Need to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.”

VAWA 2013 created a framework for tribal courts to prosecute non-Indians for certain violent crimes against Indian citizens—something that has not happened in 35 years, since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in 

 VAWA 2013 recognized and affirmed the inherent sovereign authority of tribal nations to exercise criminal jurisdiction over certain non-Indians who commit domestic or dating violence against Indian victims on tribal lands.

NCAI works closely with the 18 tribal nations who have arrested non-Indians under this landmark provision. These tribes report 143 arrests of 128 different non-Indian abusers. These arrests have led to 74 convictions and 5 acquittals to date, with some cases still pending. VAWA 2013 has allowed tribes to finally prosecute these long-time abusers who previously had evaded justice, and provide increased safety and justice for victims who previously had little recourse against their abusers. The report highlights specific examples illustrating successes as well as gaps in the law that Congress should address.

The report documents how committed each tribe has been to successfully implementing VAWA and ensuring the effective administration of justice in their communities. Not only do non-Indian offenders receive a fair day in court, but many tribes include broader resources aligned with cultural values for community wellness to ensure that these defendants receive help and support. Fifty one percent of the defendants were sentenced to batterer intervention or other rehabilitation programs as a part of their tribal court sentences.

“The success of VAWA 2013 demonstrates that tribes can and will provide effective justice to their communities, and fair process to all those who appear in tribal courts,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. 

VAWA 2013 only allows tribal courts to prosecute non-Indians for a narrow set of crimes. The report also documents the limitations of the law, including the lack of tribal court jurisdiction over crimes against children, law enforcement personnel, and sexual assault crimes committed by strangers. Tribes express continued frustration at their inability to prosecute these crimes—many of which occur in conjunction with a domestic violence offense—often with dangerous and devastating consequences for victims. Many tribes also report that a lack of funding is the only thing preventing them from implementing VAWA. “NCAI and its member tribal nations stand ready to advocate for further expansions of this law to ensure public safety and justice in Indian Country,” said Juana Majel-Dixon, Co-Chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women.

This project was supported by the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice however this report does not necessarily reflect the view of the Department of Justice.

, as well as additional resources on NCAI’s 

. Please direct any questions to NCAI Legal Counsel John Dossett at 

 and NCAI Project Attorney Elizabeth Reese at 

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

NCAI Releases Five-Year Report on Tribal Governments Exercising VAWA 2013 Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction Over Non-Indians

WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and South Dakota Tribal Nations today filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in 

, a case that could greatly affect tax policy in Indian Country in South Dakota and nationwide.



While the brief supports neither party to the case, it was filed to ensure that the Justices take tribal governments’ concerns into account when writing their opinion in this tax case.

“The Commerce Clause recognizes tribes as sovereign governments with the authority to collect taxes and to be immune from certain taxes,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. “We are urging the Supreme Court to protect these fundamental principles as it considers whether to expand state authority to collect online sales taxes. Tribal governments operate and fund courts of law, police, road systems and schools, and have a great need for tax revenue to fund governmental services.”

At issue is the State of South Dakota’s request that the high court change the current law on internet and mail-order taxation so that the state can receive revenue from these “remote” purchases. Under Court decisions from 1967 and 1992, South Dakota is prohibited from charging sales taxes on items that South Dakotans order from internet or mail-order retailers that are located outside South Dakota with no stores or other facilities in the state.

NCAI’s brief makes three arguments for the Court’s consideration:

• 

, tribes, like states, have the inherent sovereign power to impose taxes on certain transactions. If South Dakota is permitted to tax items that a distant internet or mail-order retailer delivers to, say, Sioux Falls or Rapid City, then a tribe can tax the same items when the same retailer delivers them to tribal members, or others living on Indian land, on the tribe’s reservation.

• 

, if South Dakota is permitted to tax remote sales, it can

 tax items delivered to the tribal government or tribal members on the tribe’s reservation, where Indians are immune from state sales taxes. Otherwise, families living on reservations could suffer from “double taxation,” as they suddenly would become subject to both tribal and state sales taxes.

• 

, straightforward mechanisms, like tribe-state intergovernmental agreements and blanket exemption certificates, can protect these fundamental principles of Indian law – tribes’ power to tax and Indians’ immunity from state sales taxes – regardless of how the Court decides this case.

“We’re simply asking the Court to safeguard tribes’ taxing power and Indians’ immunity from state sales taxes,” said Jenner & Block Partner Sam Hirsch, who co-leads the firm’s Indian law work and is representing NCAI in the matter with Partner Ian Heath Gershengorn, chair of the firm’s Appellate and Supreme Court Practice, and Associate Leonard R. Powell, a member and former elected official of the Hopland Band of Pomo Indians. “Tribal governments impose sales taxes just like state and local governments do, and commonly enter tax agreements with neighboring jurisdictions. At the heart of this case is the Commerce Clause, which expressly protects not only states, but also Indian tribes. The Supreme Court should do the same.”

Oral argument in the case is set for April 17th. View the amicus brief 

SOUTH DAKOTA V. WAYFAIR: NCAI AND SOUTH DAKOTA TRIBES FILE AMICUS BRIEF ON TRIBAL TAX AUTHORITY FOR ONLINE SALES

WASHINGTON, D.C. | On Wednesday, February 14, 2018, more than 500 tribal representatives from across the United States raised a unified voice in opposition to the FY 2019 President’s Budget during the Third General Assembly at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2018 Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS) in Washington, DC.

NCAI President Jefferson Keel, on behalf of the NCAI Executive Committee, voiced concern for the untenable cuts proposed for programs that directly uphold the treaty and trust obligations of the federal government to tribes.

“We seek only those things promised to us and every citizen by the U.S. Constitution, and the solemn treaties and agreements reached between our Tribal Nations and the United States. At the founding, the United States dealt with our tribal governments as sovereign equals. In exchange for federal protection and the promise of certain benefits, our ancestors gave forever to the people of the United States title to the very soil of our beloved country. To settle the process for admission of new states, the thirteen original states agreed to transfer western land claims to the United States under the principles in the Northwest Ordinance, including:

The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their land and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.

These provisions signify the intent of the Framers to provide for the governance of Indian Country, a compact between the original states and all that followed. We have never asked anything except that these protections be continued. Today the federal government is threatening to limit this protection and these benefits.

The proposed budget cuts to tribal governmental services, if enacted, would represent a clear retreat from the federal commitments and treaty promises made to tribes.

This week, we see the President’s budget would cut the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by about half a billion dollars, or 15%. BIA Social Services would be reduced by more than 30%, Indian Child Welfare by more than 25%, and critical human services programs, law enforcement and courts programs, environmental protection, housing, and education programs would face unconscionable reductions. Infrastructure programs such as the Indian Community Development Block Grant would be eliminated, and the Indian Housing Block Grant and road maintenance would be reduced.

We support proposals that treat tribal governments equitably, such as the proposed budgetary set-asides in the Department of Justice for tribes. Tribal parity should be the guiding principle for every other department or initiative as well, including addressing the opioid epidemic and building and repairing infrastructure.

We call on Congress to uphold the federal government’s trust responsibility to tribal nations. When tribal nations agreed to accept a smaller land base, the federal government promised to safeguard our right to govern ourselves and to enable tribal governments to deliver essential services, and provide them resources to do so effectively. That is the trust relationship embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Congress and the Administration are responsible for carrying out that trust in the federal budget.”

NCAI released the Indian Country FY2019 Budget Request and provided and in-depth analysis of the impact of the President’s proposed budget on tribes. To learn more, read the initial NCAI FY2019 Budget Analysis 

Contact NCAI Communications Associate Erin Weldon with any questions at 

Statement on Tribal Nations Concern on the President’s FY2019 Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) congratulates the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond tribal nations on the recent passage of H.R. 984, the 

Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017

. President Trump signed the bill into law on January 29, 2018, after being introduced by Rep. Wittman in February of 2017 and receiving strong support from Senators Kaine, Warner, and Virginia’s Congressional delegation.

“This is an important moment in U.S. history,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. “As the U.S. government continues to correct the mistakes of the past, we look forward to seeing the federal government honor its trust obligations to these six tribal nations in Virginia and all tribal nations.”

After many years of hard work by these six tribal nations in Virginia, there are now 573 federally recognized tribes recognized by the U.S. government. This status provides for a government-to-government relationship between the six nations and the U.S. Government, and endows them with greater ability to create and enforce their own laws and manage their lands and resources.

NCAI Congratulates Tribal Nations in Virginia on Federal Recognition

WASHINGTON, D.C. | NCAI applauds today’s announcement by Major League Baseball that the league’s Cleveland franchise will retire the Chief Wahoo mascot and logo in 2019. NCAI has advocated for the eradication of offensive Native American-themed imagery from sports since 1968, and today’s announcement represents an important milestone for Indian Country in this effort.

NCAI has worked to educate Major League Baseball about this issue in recent years, sending several letters to the league highlighting the importance of removing this harmful mascot and logo, which resulted in a meeting with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred last year. Damaging imagery like the caricature of Chief Wahoo denigrates Native people and is harmful to their self-esteem, particularly for Native youth. Commissioner Manfred recognizes this fact, and thus kept his word, fulfilling his commitment to work with the team to retire the Chief Wahoo logo. NCAI commends Major League Baseball and Commissioner Manfred for choosing to stand on the right side of history.

“Today’s announcement marks an important turning point for Indian Country and the harmful legacy of Indian mascots,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. “These mascots reduce all Native people into a single outdated stereotype that harms the way Native people, especially youth, view themselves. Today’s news is a big step in the right direction, but much work remains, and NCAI will press on with this struggle until every single one of these harmful mascots is gone from the sports landscape.”

MLB is setting the example for how professional sports leagues can and should respect Native peoples. NCAI encourages all major professional sports leagues to follow the lead of Major League Baseball by retiring all offensive Native American-themed mascots, names, and imagery.

Over the past four decades, NCAI, hundreds of tribal nations, and their many partners have succeeding in eliminating more than two-thirds (roughly 2,000) of the Native-themed mascots from sports at all levels (nearly 1,000 remain today). NCAI is pleased to add the Chief Wahoo mascot and logo to that long list.


 to learn how you can join the movement to eliminate harmful Native-themed mascots from sports.


NCAI Applauds Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Franchise for Retiring Offensive Chief Wahoo Logo

WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) appreciates the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s action to voluntarily dismiss the Bureau’s civil litigation against consumer lending companies of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe that had been pending in federal court in Kansas in Case No. 2:17-cv-02521. 

NCAI believed the legal theories that the Bureau had advanced in the case were incorrect. In the amicus brief NCAI filed in support of the tribal defendants’ motion to dismiss in November 2017, NCAI explained that the Bureau appeared to have overlooked important federal Indian law precedents and tribal sovereignty principles, namely that tribal powers of tribal self-government are inherent, and that their exercise is vital to fostering economic prosperity and healthy communities in Indian Country.

NCAI is pleased that the Bureau is following U.S. Supreme Court precedent and honoring sovereign rights of tribal governments by taking corrective action to dismiss the case. NCAI and its member tribal nations stand ready to continue to work with the Bureau on a government-to-government basis to assist the Bureau in its important mission.

View 

 in support of the defendant’s motion to dismiss, as well as 

 for additional details. Please direct any questions to NCAI Legal Counsel John Dossett at 

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 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Honors Tribal Sovereignty in Recent Federal Court Case

WASHINGTON, D.C | The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a Legislative Hearing today on H.R. 4532 – the 

Shash Jáa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act

. The bill would codify the recent executive action that reduced the Bears Ears National Monument.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) opposes this legislation, and stands with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition in efforts to preserve their historical and cultural objects within the Bears Ears region. The Coalition was founded by leaders from five tribes including the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, and Ute Indian Tribe to conserve the Bears Ears cultural landscape. Native people practice their freedom of religion in sacred places like the Bears Ears National Monument. NCAI also calls on Congress to uphold the right of Native peoples to freedom of religion.

“For years, NCAI has stood by the five tribes in protecting this sacred area and their cultural and religious practices,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. “NCAI will continue to support the five tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and their right to protect their sacred sites and freedom of religion, as well as standing by the many tribes impacted by the National Monument review.”

H.R. 4532 seeks to ratify the recent executive action that diminishes the Bears Ears National Monument in size and replace it with two smaller National Monument units: the 

 unit. This land designation would remove federal protections preserving thousands of tribal historical artifacts.

Further, the bill does not recognize the inherent sovereignty of individual tribal nations in the establishment of management boards and councils. NCAI calls on Congress to recognize each individual sovereign tribal nation's authority to have representation on any such National Monument advisory committees.

NCAI encourages the House Natural Resources Committee to schedule a legislative hearing on H.R. 4518 – the 

Bears Ears National Monument Expansion Act

. H.R. 4518 would expand the Bear Ears National Monument to the 1.9 million acres originally proposed by the Bears Ears Coalition.


NCAI’s membership has strongly supported the designation of the full Bears Ears National Monument since adopting a resolution on this matter in 2015. Since then, NCAI has passed two subsequent resolutions supporting Bears Ears and all other National Monuments which were under review. View NCAI resolutions in support of National Monument designations 

, as well as NCAI’s comments submitted to the Department of the Interior 

NCAI Supports Bears Ears Coalition and Affected Tribes in House Natural Resources Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. | NCAI opposes President Trump’s efforts to reduce two monuments that hold tribal sacred places. Today, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamations reducing the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase national monuments in Utah. These monuments were initially designated as monuments to ensure that tribal and American citizens would have use of these significant landscapes for generations to come. The National Congress of American Indians stands by the efforts of all effected Tribal Governments and local communities who are determined to protect these sacred places in their entirety.

The Bears Ears National Monument was decreased by 85% removing protections from 1,148,000 acres. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument was reduced by 47% removing protections from 896,000 acres. With the two Presidential Proclamations signed today, National Monument protections were removed from over 2 million acres of land.

“The original intent of the Antiquities Act was to protect our tribal sacred sites and the cultural objects in those sites. The history of our indigenous ancestors lives in these sacred places. Today’s action to reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante endangers our freedom of religion, our histories and our communities,” stated Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI. “We stand with the Tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition as well as the Tribes impacted by other Monument designations.”

Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante were both designated under the original intent of the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act granted power to the President to create national monuments to protect Tribal sacred sites and cultural objects. The Act does not grant the President the authority to reduce and revoke the boundaries of national monuments as was done today.

NCAI’s membership is steadfast in its full support of all Tribes to protect their ancient objects and histories by National Monument protections. As the Administration continues the review process of national monuments, NCAI remains working to ensure all sacred sites remain protected.

View NCAI resolutions in support of National Monument designations 

 and NCAI’s comments submitted to the Department of the Interior 

NCAI Opposes Executive Action on the Reduction of National Monuments

Oneida Nation Homelands – Nov. 21, 2017 –

 A coalition of the country’s most prominent advocacy and civil rights organizations today called on media organizations to refrain from using the offensive R-word name of the Washington NFL team during their Thanksgiving Day coverage. The Washington franchise will take on the New York Giants in a high-profile, nationally broadcast game on Thursday.

Endorsees of the just-released letter include: NAACP, National Urban League, Advancement Project, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Demos, PICO National Network, Race Forward, UnidosUS, National Congress of American Indians, Oneida Indian Nation and Change the Mascot.

“Thanksgiving is often the only major American holiday that brings Native people and their history into the national conversation. Using the holiday to promote the Washington team’s derogatory name will further marginalize Native Americans who have already experienced histories of oppression and violence,” the letter states. “Media organizations can do their jobs by reporting on the team, but also refrain from using the slur and denigrating Native people.”

The letter goes on to highlight the substantial and tangible destruction caused by the use of the R-word. It points to social science research proving that such mascots and slurs lower self-esteem and mood among Native American youth, and also increase negative attitudes towards Native Americans among other races.

“In light of all of the evidence of destruction caused by the R-word’s use, we are hopeful that you will pledge to honor this modest request,” the letter continues. “At a time when our political debate is so polarized, media organizations should be able to agree to not explicitly promote a racial slur.”

Today’s plea to media organizations is part of Change the Mascot’s grassroots movement to educate the public about the damaging effects on Native Americans arising from the continued use of the R-word. This civil and human rights movement has helped reshape the debate surrounding the Washington team’s name and brought the issue to the forefront of social consciousness.

Since its launch, the campaign has continually garnered support from a diverse coalition of prominent advocates including elected officials from both parties, Native American tribes, sports icons, leading journalists and news publications, civil and human rights organizations and religious leaders. A full list of Change the Mascot supporters can be found at:


http://www.changethemascot.org/supporters-of-change/

.

The full text of today’s letter to media organizations can be found at:


http://www.changethemascot.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/CHANGE-THE-MASCOT-Broadcaster-Letter-Nov-21-2017.pdf

Top Civil Rights Organizations Urge Media Not to Use Washington NFL Team’s R-word Name on Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—both the House bill and the Senate Finance Committee bill.

Indian Country has pressed for more than a quarter century for Congress to address tax code provisions that treat tribes inequitably and hinder economic growth in Indian Country. Tax reform can be a once in a generation opportunity to uphold the federal trust obligation by helping tribes build stronger economies, create jobs, and deploy critical infrastructure. NCAI and NAFOA have worked tirelessly in recent years to educate Congress on tribal tax provisions which would help stimulate tribal economic growth, but these provisions are not present in either version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

NCAI and NAFOA view it as deeply regrettable that neither the House nor the Senate bill takes seriously Indian Country’s priorities for tax reform. With respect to tribal nations, unless tribal provisions are included, the current tax reform legislation amounts to little more than a $1.5 trillion increase in the federal deficit over the next ten years. This deficit increase will inevitably create pressure to cut federal programs and services that are extremely important to tribal communities. Deficit-financed tax cuts that lead to austerity budget cuts would affect all Americans, but would disproportionately impact American Indians and Alaska Natives who rely on federal funding of the trust responsibility as well as social programs.

Accordingly, NCAI and NAFOA oppose the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. NCAI and NAFOA call on tribal governments to oppose these bills as well and contact their Congressional delegations to urge them to vote 

About the Native American Finance Officers Association

NAFOA represents tribal governments throughout the United States by advocating for sound economic and fiscal policy, developing innovative training programs in financial management, building the financial and economic skills of the next generation, and convening tribal leadership, experienced professionals, and economic partners to meet the challenges of economic growth and change.

The National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Finance Officers Association Oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the House and the Senate

SEATTLE, WA | Today, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), in coordination with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), are launching a joint #ChangeTheMascot social media campaign targeting Seattle, Washington and leading up to the NFL’s Washington Football Team vs. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 4:05 p.m. Eastern time.

“Sunday’s game features a stark contrast between the two teams,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel. “The Seattle Seahawks have demonstrated how an NFL team can and should work respectfully with Native nations. It collaborated with Indian Country to ensure that its logo is culturally appropriate and honors Native heritage. Conversely, the Washington team chooses to dishonor and disrespect Native peoples through its continued use of its name and logo. NCAI remains committed to its decades-long fight to see that this dictionary-defined racial slur is thrown into the dustbin of history.”

“We are long-past the point of debate,” said ATNI President Leonard Forsman, Chairman of the Suquamish Tribe. “The Washington Football Team’s name and its archaic caricature of First Americans are demeaning and damaging to Native people. We must unite our efforts against this injustice and demand that the league recognize that the use of culturally offensive names and mascots will not be tolerated by the people of this nation. “

“Redsk*n is the single most offensive name you can call an Indian,” stated Chairman Brian Cladoosby of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. “I have been around this Nation and engaged with people of all races, and let me say this: there is no racial group that would stand for a team name that disrespected and demeaned their cultural identity. But yet here Native people remain, embroiled in a fight against this deplorable treatment that has lasted for decades.”

As tribal nations continue to advocate against harmful mascots, ATNI and NCAI have created a social media toolkit featuring messages and images to share on social media platforms. The campaign includes a Twibbon campaign to add to your Twitter and Facebook profile pictures. It also includes a Snapchat filter to add to pictures or videos taken around the stadium on the app. Please see the toolkit here: 

. The campaign will run from Friday, November 3, 2017 through Monday, November 6, 2017 with the hashtag #ChangeTheMascot.

To learn more about #ChangeTheMascot, please see the full campaign here: 

About the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians:

Incorporated in 1953, ATNI is comprised of nearly 50 Tribal governments in the greater Northwest region and is dedicated to Tribal Sovereignty and Self Determination. ATNI is an organization whose foundation is composed of the people it is meant to serve — the Indian people.

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Announce #ChangeTheMascot Social Media Campaign during NFL’s Washington vs. Seattle Game

MILWAUKEE, WI | On Tuesday, October 18, 2017, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) membership overwhelmingly moved to support Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde’s request that NCAI join AFN in working to establish an Indigenous Chapter in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

National Chief Bellegarde was addressing NCAI at the NCAI 74th Annual Convention & Marketplace in Milwaukee, WI.

“I thank the National Congress of American Indians for passing a unanimous motion supporting in principle an Indigenous Peoples Chapter in a renegotiated NAFTA and supporting our work to protect Indigenous rights,” said Bellegarde. “This is a strong show of solidarity by the First Peoples of Turtle Island and a strong message to the nation-states involved in the negotiations. Our inherent rights, Treaty rights and international rights in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples must be respected in the negotiations and in any final agreement.”

AFN National Chief Bellegarde spoke passionately to the crowd of tribal leaders during the NCAI Second General Assembly about working across the borders that were created by others and separated our peoples.

“It is an honor to work with our brothers and sisters in Canada to ensure Indigenous voices are a part of the NAFTA negotiations,” said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. “NCAI member tribes see our collaborative work for inclusion of an Indigenous Peoples Chapter in NAFTA as a necessity to protect the rights of American Indian Tribes, Canadian First Nations, and the Indigenous peoples of Mexico.”

NCAI members will vote to approve a resolution entitled “

Supporting the Inclusion of an Indigenous Chapter in any Renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (MKE-17-053)

” on Friday, October 20, 2017 during the Sixth General Assembly.

###


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.

The AFN is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada. Follow AFN on Twitter @AFN_Updates.

National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Joins Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Calling for the Development of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Indigenous Chapter

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Today, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment offered by Representatives Betty McCollum (D—MN) and Tom Cole (R—OK) that would support tribal public safety and victim services programs. The amendment was adopted by voice vote with overwhelming bi-partisan support.

“The McCollum-Cole Amendment comes as great news to tribal nations across the country,” said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. “We are so pleased that the Appropriations Committee recognized the appalling unmet need in tribal communities and took an important step toward ensuring that crime victims in tribal communities have access to the justice and services they deserve.”

Despite federal and tribal government attempts to reduce violence on Indian lands, reservations continue to face staggering rates of violent crime and victimization. A recent DOJ study found that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. Among American Indian and Alaska Native women, 55.5 percent have experienced physical violence by intimate partners in their lifetime, and more than half (56.1 percent) have experienced sexual violence. DOJ also found that Native victims are more likely to be injured as a result of their violent victimization, more likely to need services, and are significantly less likely to have access to services compared to their non-Native counterparts.

The McCollum-Cole Amendment is an amendment to the FY18 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations (CJS) bill. Without this amendment, the bill would have resulted in cuts of 43% to Department of Justice (DOJ) tribal justice system funding over FY16 levels. This would have had a devastating impact on DOJ programs that support tribal police departments, courts, juvenile justice, detention center construction, and other important public safety programs in Indian Country. The Amendment also created a 5% tribal funding stream from the Crime Victims Fund, the primary federal source for crime victim services, which currently includes formula funding for state and territorial governments, but not tribal governments. The House bill includes $4.6 billion in outlays from the Crime Victims Fund, and the amendment adopted today directs 5% of that funding to tribal governments.

With its adoption by the House Appropriations Committee today, NCAI hopes that similar language will be included in the Senate bill, thereby strengthening the future of Indian Country by addressing crime on tribal lands through restoration of tribal access to safety and justice and improvements in tribal public safety funding, strategy, and planning.

About the National Congress of American Indians

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.

The McCollum-Cole Amendment on Tribal Public Safety & Victim Service Passes in the House Appropriations Committee

 The National Congress of American Indians and the Change the Mascot campaign today responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this morning that federal trademarks can be registered, even if offensive or derogatory.*

Change the Mascot leaders National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Jackie Pata and Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter issued the following statement:

“We are gratified that this Supreme Court case amplified the intensifying public debate over the NFL's support for bigotry against Native Americans. The work of Amanda Blackhorse and other leading activists fighting against the use of the R-word has been tremendously successful and critically important. They have invaluably raised awareness about the problems with mascots such as the R-word epithet used by the Washington NFL team, and brought the important issue of mascotization to the forefront of social consciousness.

“This is an issue we have always believed will not be solved in a courtroom, and this ruling does not change some very clear facts. Washington's football team promotes, markets and profits from the use of a word that is not merely offensive – it is a dictionary-defined racial slur designed from the beginning to promote hatred and bigotry against Native Americans. This is a word that was screamed at Native Americans as they were dragged at gunpoint off their lands — and the hate-infused meaning of the word is precisely why this particular name was given to the team by avowed segregationist and first team owner George Preston Marshall.

“And the problems caused by the R-word epithet are still very real and present today. Social science research has shown that its continued use has devastating impacts on the self-image and mental health of Native Americans, particularly children.

“At a time when social and racial justice issues are woven into the fabric of our country’s sports culture, there is growing need and desire to evolve away from such outdated standards. This is evidenced by the outcry we’ve seen for the R-word name to be changed, from a diverse coalition of supporters including Native American tribes, elected officials from both parties, civil and human rights organizations and religious leaders, sports icons, leading journalists and news publications.

“If the NFL wants to live up to its statements about placing importance on equality, then it shouldn’t hide behind these rulings, but should act to the end this hateful and degrading slur.”

Change the Mascot is a grassroots campaign that works to educate the public about the damaging effects on Native Americans arising from the continued use of the R-word. This civil and human rights movement has helped reshape the debate surrounding the Washington team’s name.

*Supreme Court upholds offensive trademarks as form of free speech, 6.19.17, 

usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/19/supreme-court-upholds-offensive-trademarks-form-free-speech/100618478/

Change the Mascot is a grassroots campaign that works to educate the public about the damaging effects on Native Americans arising from the continued use of the R-word. This civil and human rights movement has helped reshape the debate surrounding the Washington team’s name and brought the issue to the forefront of social consciousness. Since its launch, Change the Mascot has garnered support from a diverse coalition of prominent advocates including elected officials from both parties, Native American tribes, sports icons, leading journalists and news publications, civil and human rights organizations and religious leaders.

National Congress of American Indians and Change the Mascot Respond to Disappointing Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Derogatory Trademark

UNCASVILLE, CT | Today, tribal leaders gathered and adopted a resolution supporting the Paris Climate Agreement during the closing general assembly at the NCAI 2017 Mid Year Conference & Marketplace.

"As the indigenous people of this land, it is our sacred obligation to mother earth to respect and protect her," said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. "Our communities are on the front lines of climate change and are facing relocation in some areas, and the loss of hunting and fishing ecosystems and traditional plants and medicines in others.”

Indigenous peoples in the United States and around the world depend on the health of their ecosystems and natural resources for social, economic, and cultural vitality. Climate change threatens to destroy indigenous ways of life that have been sustained for thousands of years.

Resolution MOH-17-053: “Continued Support for the Paris Climate Agreement and Action to Address Climate Change” was adopted unanimously today by NCAI Membership. MOH-17-053 commits to supporting and advocating for initiatives that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote climate resiliency, and calls on all tribal Nations to uphold the Paris Agreement.

At the end of 2015, representatives from NCAI and many tribal nations participated in negotiations with the parties to the United Nations Framework on Convention on Climate Change in Paris. Reaching a universally binding agreement to address climate change, the agreement represented a global step forward.

“The Paris Climate Agreement is an important step toward a better future for our seven generations to come,” said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. “Indigenous knowledge is a proven tool in addressing climate change and our tribal leaders represented today are committed to sharing that knowledge as leaders in the global effort to address climate change."

The Paris Climate Agreement resolution was joined by a suite of 36 resolutions passed by the NCAI Membership at the Mid Year Conference. All text of the resolutions will be available on the NCAI website starting next week at 

http://www.ncai.org/resources/resolutions-home

Tribal Leaders Vote on Resolution Supporting the Paris Climate Agreement at NCAI Mid Year

WASHINGTON, DC | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) congratulates the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes on their successful defense of their lands and waters against the harms of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), and all of the Tribal Nations who supported their efforts.

“This case is not over but today’s decision demonstrates what tribal leaders have said from the beginning," said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. "These projects must include tribes early in the process so the negative impacts to our lands, waters, and sacred places can be avoided. Environmental justice demands that the rights of tribes are respected.”

Today's justice for the Missouri River tribes has reinforced the policies, treaties, and statutes upholding the legal obligation the United States has to tribes in their government-to-government relationship. Many Tribes are facing projects with similar impacts. Tribal Nations have governmental responsibilities to protect their people and advance their welfare.

The United States is obligated to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure development are fully shared by Tribes and that the burdens of infrastructure projects do not fall disproportionately on Tribal communities, lands, or resources.

About The National Congress of American Indians:

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.


Standing Rock Claims Confirmed – Justice Demands Tribes Rights are Respected

WASHINGTON, D.C. | In spite of the disappointing news that President Trump has decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change, Tribal Nations, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) remain firmly committed to representing and advancing Indigenous peoples’ interests in the ongoing process of implementing the Agreement.

“We will work to ensure that all parties respect, promote, and consider Indigenous peoples’ rights in all climate change actions, as is required by the Paris Agreement,” said NARF Executive Director John Echohawk.

However, because of that same close relationship to the land, Indigenous peoples possess an intimate knowledge of their surrounding environments – and have developed proven solutions for climate action from which the entire world can learn.

“It is essential that this place-based knowledge is included in any discussion of climate change,” said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. “Through years of tireless effort, the link between traditional knowledge, sustainable development, and cultural resilience is now reflected in the international conversations that take place around climate change policy.” According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,

“Indigenous and local peoples often possess detailed knowledge of climate change that is derived from observations of environmental conditions over many generations. Consequently, there is increasing interest in merging this traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)—also referred to as indigenous knowledge—with the natural and social sciences in order to better understand and detect climate change impacts. . . . TEK, however, does not simply augment the sciences, but rather stands on its own as a valued knowledge system that can, together with or independently of the natural sciences, produce useful knowledge for climate change detection or adaptation. . . .”

The parties to the Paris Agreement recognized the importance of place-based and traditional knowledge and established a platform for Indigenous peoples to share that knowledge and experience. We will continue to work with the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change to ensure a platform that best serves Indigenous peoples and preserves and shares traditional knowledge in a way that is respectful of Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, and that their rights to govern and manage their lands, territories, and natural resources are honored.

For additional information, please contact 

About The National Congress of American Indians

: 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

: The Native American Rights Fund is the oldest and largest nonprofit national Indian rights organization in the country. Since its inception in 1970, NARF has represented over 275 Tribes in 31 states in such areas as tribal jurisdiction and recognition, land claims, hunting and fishing rights, the protection of Indian religious freedom, and many others. NARF has been successful in representing Indian tribes and individuals in cases that have encompassed every area and issue in the field of Indian law. The accomplishments and growth of NARF over the years confirmed the great need for Indian legal representation on a national basis. This legal advocacy on behalf of Native Americans continues to play a vital role in the survival of tribes and their way of life. For more information, visit

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