View the 2026 Mid Year Final Adopted Resolutions below.  You can view and download the resolutions by clicking the Resolution Number.  

Stay tuned for updates on the opening of the 2026 Annual Policy Resolutions Process, coming soon.

2026 Mid Year Adopted Resolutions Now Available 

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the nomination of Mark Cruz (Klamath Tribes) of Oregon to serve as Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, he will be responsible for ensuring comprehensive and culturally respectful healthcare delivery to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives across the United States.

Mr. Cruz has extensive experience working in the federal government as a Senior Advisor to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and previously as Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs for Policy and Economic Development at the Department of the Interior under Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney.

During his time at HHS, Mr. Cruz has strongly advocated for the interests of American Indians and Alaska Natives, overseeing a Presidential Budget that requests historic increases in appropriations to IHS of nearly $1 billion, assisting with the mobilization of more than 70 Public Health Service officers from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to IHS facilities across the country, and working to reduce barriers preventing Tribal Nations from developing health responses that take into account the unique needs and traditional practices of the community.

NCAI supports the Senate’s swift confirmation of Mr. Cruz as IHS Director and looks forward to working collaboratively with him in this position to improve health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native communities, prevent chronic diseases, address infrastructure needs, and strengthen the healthcare workforce.

NCAI Applauds Nomination of Mark Cruz for Director of IHS

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) strongly opposes the use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove the 2025 Monument Management Plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. NCAI urges Congress to vote "no" on H.J. Res. 151 and S.J. Res. 109, which would overturn the Grand Staircase-Escalante Resource Management Plan and eliminate critical protections for Tribal Nations’ cultural resources, sacred places, and ancestral homelands.

“The Grand Staircase-Escalante landscape is inseparable from the histories, cultures, and lifeways of the Tribal Nations who have inhabited this land since time immemorial,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “This plan was developed through years of public input, scientific research, and meaningful Tribal consultation. Overturning it through the Congressional Review Act would disregard Tribal engagement, weaken protections for sacred places, and create unnecessary uncertainty for Tribal Nations and surrounding communities.”

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, first designated in 1996, protects nearly 1.9 million acres in southern Utah. The landscape includes places of immense religious, spiritual, historic, and cultural significance, including ancestral footprints, petroglyphs, springs, plants, animals, and other resources central to Tribal Nations’ ways of life.

The 2025 Monument Management Plan includes important resource management directives that support the protection of Tribal cultural resources and sacred places, including the consideration of Indigenous Knowledge. NCAI is deeply concerned that the legislation now before Congress would eliminate these protections without the same level of consultation and engagement that shaped the plan.

Federal planning documents such as the Grand Staircase-Escalante Resource Management Plan provide transparency, trust, and informed decision-making for Tribal Nations with sovereign interests in protecting irreplaceable cultural landscapes. NCAI strongly opposes the continued misuse of the CRA to undo years of Tribal engagement and federal planning processes.

Using the CRA to overturn resource management plans also sets a dangerous precedent. Until recently, resource management plans had not been treated as rules subject to CRA review. This approach creates legal uncertainty, undermines informed land-use decisions, and places ancestral lands, cultural sites, and sacred resources at greater risk of looting, vandalism, and degradation.

NCAI calls on Congress to uphold Tribal consultation, protect sacred and culturally significant landscapes, and reject H.J. Res. 151 and S.J. Res. 109.


NCAI Statement Opposing Congressional Review Act Efforts to Overturn the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan

 — As the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Tribal Nations, and advocates observe Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives (MMIWR) Awareness Day, we are reminded that this crisis is not abstract — it is personal. Behind every recommendation are families still searching for answers and communities working to keep their people safe.

The work to prevent tragedy and keep our women, children, and relatives safe is further strengthened by the leadership of the NCAI Violence Against Women (VAW) Task Force, which has consistently elevated the priorities of Tribal Nations in addressing violence against Native women and communities. The Task Force has played a critical role in ensuring that federal policies are informed by those closest to the issue and grounded in the realities facing Tribal communities. Their work reinforces a fundamental truth: Effective solutions must be shaped and led by the voices of victims, survivors, and families.

NCAI underscores the critical importance of the Not Invisible Act Commission (The Commission), the Not One More: Findings & Recommendations of the Not Invisible Act Commission (Not One More Report), and the response reports from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as foundational efforts to address the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).

The work of The Commission reflects the voices of Tribal leaders, survivors, and families who have long called for action — not more studies, but real solutions. Together, they provide a roadmap to improve coordination, strengthen data systems, enhance victim services, and respect Tribal sovereignty in protecting our communities.

Shannon Holsey, NCAI VAW Task Force Co-Chair and President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians, expressed her thoughts on the importance of this day of observance: “Today is a powerful reaffirmation of why the Violence Against Women Task Force exists — to center the voices of Native women, survivors, Tribal leaders, and advocates, and to ensure that safety for our women and families remains a national priority grounded in Tribal sovereignty. The Task Force’s work, including the recommendations advanced through the Not Invisible Act, reflects years of Tribal expertise, lived experience, and survivor‑led advocacy.”

She added, “These recommendations were not meant to sit on a shelf. They require full implementation, sustained coordination across federal agencies, and accountability at every level of government. The federal government has a responsibility to follow through — to move beyond acknowledgment and toward action — so that the commitments made to protect Native women and communities result in measurable, lasting change.”

Last year, the DOJ removed the “Not One More Report” from the DOJ website, eliminating access to this critical resource. Public access to these materials is essential. When they are removed or made difficult to find on government websites, it creates real barriers for those working on the ground to implement solutions and to hold the government accountable. This action raises serious concerns about transparency and signals a step backward at a time when sustained commitment is needed most. For Tribal Nations, this kind of erasure cuts deeper as it risks undermining the trust built through consultation and shared work.

Carmen O’Leary, NCAI VAW Task Force Co-Chair and Director of the Native Women’s Society of the Great Plains, stated, “The efforts to bring about the Not One More Report were time- and resource-consuming. Choosing commissioners was thoughtful work and brought together a group that included multiple disciplines and many Tribal Nations. The report analyzed the emotional accounts of many to identify the gaps in policy, law, and procedures that have led to the deaths and injustices suffered in Indian Country and beyond. Ignoring the final product of this work enables the injustices to continue and wastes the precious time and resources expended to shape the recommendations, to resolve problems, and create safety.”

#SEA-25-081: Supporting a Whole-of-Government Implementation of the “Not One More” / Not Invisible Act Commission Recommendations to Address Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples and Human Trafficking

 — adopted by the NCAI General Assembly at its 82nd Annual Convention — Tribal Nations expressed their unified voice: The federal government must restore these resources and fully implement the recommendations. This is not just a policy request; it is a call to honor the time, testimony, and lived experiences that shaped these efforts. When the voices of victims, survivors, and families are centered, the path forward becomes clearer, more effective, and more just.

Not One More Report and related responses

 from DOJ, DOI, and DHHS publicly available to ensure Tribal leaders, families, and advocates can continue to access these tools, push for progress, and hold the federal government accountable. This is the first time in over a year that these three documents have been presented together on a publicly accessible website.

NCAI calls for the immediate restoration and preservation of these resources on federal platforms as well as full implementation of the recommendations by Congress, the President, and all relevant federal agencies. Ensuring continued access and implementation is one step toward honoring survivors, supporting families, and making meaningful progress toward ending the MMIPR crisis. The work has already been outlined. What is needed now is follow-through.

Tami Truett Jerue, NCAI VAW Task Force Co-Chair, Executive Director of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center, and Not Invisible Act Commission Member, added, “The Not Invisible Act Commission was built on the voices of survivors, families, and Tribal Nations who trusted that their pain would be heard and their testimony would lead to change. That trust demands a response. The Commission identified gaps in law, policy, and practice that have allowed violence against Alaska Native and American Indian women and girls to go unaddressed for far too long. May 5th, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, is a reminder that those recommendations are not suggestions. They are the pathway to safety. The recommendations exist. The path is clear. Our communities have waited long enough. It is time to act.”

Not One More Report and Related Resources

NCAI and VAW Task Force Co-Chairs Commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Awareness Day

 — The National Congress of American Indians was honored to be represented by NCAI President Mark Macarro and Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr., during events held in conjunction with His Majesty King Charles III’s visit to Washington, D.C., including the Garden Party hosted at the British Ambassador’s residence. Guests included Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs; Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson; former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul; and Holly Cook Macarro, wife of NCAI President Macarro. In addition to the Garden Party, President Macarro was a special guest of King Charles III at the joint meeting of Congress, along with other dignitaries and leaders of causes important to His Majesty.

Their participation reflects the importance of ensuring Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples are visible and included in diplomatic, governmental, and international spaces where relationships are strengthened, histories are acknowledged — including difficult histories — and shared futures are discussed. NCAI’s inclusion in these events was meaningful and emblematic of a broader acknowledgment of the sovereign status of Tribal Nations and the importance of Indigenous representation in diplomatic spaces.

NCAI’s presence at these events underscores a fundamental truth: Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with enduring political, cultural, and diplomatic relationships that long predate the formation of the United States and continue to shape the world today. As heads of sovereigns, Tribal Leaders must be included in conversations with other Heads of State and Government to ensure our interests and rights are being preserved, protected, and enhanced.

“It was an honor to meet His Majesty King Charles III during his visit to Washington, D.C., and to attend the Garden Party at the British Ambassador’s residence alongside NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr.,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “We were also deeply honored to be among those invited to attend the King’s historic address before Congress. Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples must be seen and included in spaces where diplomacy, history, and future partnerships are being shaped, and NCAI is proud to represent Indian Country.”

Since ascending to the British throne, His Majesty King Charles III has met with and engaged in dialogue with Indigenous leaders from Canada and Brazil. King Charles III will conclude his visit to the United States by meeting with Tribal representatives at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

NCAI looks forward to continuing its work with Tribal Nations, partners, and allies to advance sovereignty, uphold trust and treaty obligations, and strengthen the visibility and influence of Indigenous leadership at every level.

NCAI Statement on President Mark Macarro and Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr.'s Participation in Events During His Majesty King Charles III’s Visit to Washington, D.C.

June 14–17, 2026 | Renasant Convention Center

Join us for NCAI's 2026 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace! Work collaboratively with federal partners and Tribal organizations to defend and enhance Tribal sovereignty. 

Tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and partners from across Indian Country will gather for daily thematic programming featuring plenary panels and breakout sessions highlighting Tribal civic engagement, pertinent legislation and advocacy updates, and Tribal governance best practices.

Register Now for Mid Year 2026

“Protecting our sacred places is non-negotiable. USDA Secretary Perdue and the federal government are duty-bound to defend and preserve tribal nations' places of cultural and religious significance, including Oak Flat (

),” said Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians.

Right now, the USDA is fast-tracking the transfer of the Oak Flat area in the Tonto National Forest – a place rich with sacred, cultural, historical, and ecological significance for many tribal nations in Arizona and New Mexico – to Resolution Copper, a foreign-owned private limited liability company. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper will annihilate this place and the religious and cultural connections tribal nations have with it. Contact Secretary Purdue and demand that the USDA #SaveOakFlat.

· Please contact the following Trump Administration officials and urge them to save sacred Oak Flat, located in the Tonto National Forest and listed as a Traditional Cultural Property on the National Register of Historic Places, and stop the giveaway of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, a shell limited liability company owned by foreign mining conglomerates Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, for a mine that will destroy it:

o Jim Hubbard, Undersecretary, National Resources and the Environment, USDA, 

o Vicki Christiansen, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, USDA, 

o Diane Cullo, Director, Office of Tribal Relations, USDA, 

o Douglas Hoelscher, Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, White House, 

o William Crozer, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, White House, 

o Tyler Fish, Senior Policy Advisor & Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, White House, 

Save Sacred Oak Flat Federal Land and Stop Giveaway to Foreign-Owned Resolution Copper

(CNAY) is proud to announce the winners of the third annual 

 in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Creative Native is a call for art launched in 2018 to support Native American artists ages 5-24. For the second year, NCAI and CNAY have partnered to expand this opportunity and platform for Native artists. The 2020 prompt focuses on the strength and resilience of Native youth: Native youth are medicine. Where do you get your strength from?

From throughout the country, young people submitted their artistic response to the prompt. All submissions will be displayed in a 

. Winners from each age category receive a $250 award. The grand prize winner will be featured as the cover artist for CNAY’s Annual State of Native Youth Report. Submissions will be featured on the NCAI website and have special mentions on social media.

“We are continually inspired by the work of Native youth. This year’s call for art is affirmation that Native American youth are medicine,” says CNAY Executive Director Nikki Pitre, “we are grateful to our relative at the National Congress of American Indian for their continued partnership on this meaningful project.”

“NCAI strives to support events which bring youth together on a national scale and we take every opportunity to celebrate youth achievements,” says NCAI CEO Kevin Allis. “This artwork gives us an opportunity to look at the world through the eyes of our youth and we are proud to continue partnering with CNAY to lift up this beautiful work. NCAI congratulates the winning artists and all the youth participants.”


Naataani is an 8-year-old in 3rd grade. He performs often by singing or drumming for events. He has advocated for Native American issues such educational rights, pipeline placement, water rights & recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day in his area. Naataani knows that he makes his grandparents hearts and minds happy when he carries on traditions of singing songs and speaking his language.


Kharma is an 11-year-old who loves music, basketball, art, science, English Language Arts, and her cat, Lucy. She is an only child being raised by her mother and is close to her maternal side of her family that encourages her academically and in her extra-curricular activities. She enjoys volunteering at Feed My Starving Children with her mom and friends. Kharma enjoys making up her own choreography to music and traveling with her mother.

Cheyenne Arapaho Choctaw Chickasaw Oglala


Tvli is sophomore at the Institute of American Indian Arts, working towards his Bachelor of Fine Arts, majoring in Studio Arts, and plan to work with Native Youth in his community after graduating. His work is both a reflection of his life and what it means to me to be Two-Spirit. Because of colonization, Tvli has felt unaccepted and disregarded by his own family. To help heal others, he uses many creative platforms by making videos, digital works, paintings, and drawings. Through his artwork, Tvli aspires to help heal others from the physical, mental, and intergenerational trauma his viewers have endured.


Henrietta Raven Dial-Stanley is an enrolled member of the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina; largest tribe east of the Mississippi River. Even though her lineage comes from Pembroke, NC she currently resides in Greensboro, NC. Raven has been diligently working in Native American affairs for most of her life. In 2018-2019 she served as Miss Indian North Carolina where she became an ambassador for all the indigenous people in the state. In all aspects of her being she employs optimism and creativity. Therefore, Raven uses her artistry to tell the story of her people and their presence.

The Center for Native American Youth and the National Congress of American Indians is grateful to each submission to our annual Call for Art. Native youth are medicine, thank you for sharing your strength with us.

The Center for Native American Youth is a national education and advocacy organization working to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of Native American youth ages 24 and under. Founded by former US Senator Byron Dorgan, Center for Native American Youth is a policy program within the Aspen Institute, headquartered in Washington, DC. While a part of the Aspen Institute, Center for Native American Youth is also overseen by a Board of Advisors. We strive to bring greater national attention to the issues facing Native American youth while fostering community-driven solutions, with special emphasis on youth suicide prevention. To learn more, visit

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 Center for Native American Youth and the National Congress of American Indians Announce the Creative Native Call for Art Winners

The National Congress of American Indians is proud to announce, with support from Google.org, the Small Business Stabilization Grant program – a $1 million investment in Indian Country. This new funding is an expansion of a $250k NCAI small business support program, also funded by Google.org.

NCAI is issuing business stabilization grants in the amount of $5,000 each to a total of 170 Native-owned small businesses that have been severely impacted by the curtailing of commercial activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awarded applicants can use the funds to address their most urgent needs to stabilize and strengthen their businesses, such as (but not limited to):

making monthly payments on small business loans that have lapsed due to declining business revenues;

purchasing equipment/software to transition or grow their businesses online.

“Native-owned small businesses serve as the lifeblood of many tribal communities across the country,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “These businesses provide critical jobs and income to tribal citizens and their families, while at the same time enriching the quality of community life by providing goods and services to local residents and the public at-large. We are humbled by this support from Google.org and look forward to continuing to support American Indian and Alaska Native communities with this funding.”

“Google.org is proud to continue supporting NCAI to provide direct relief funding to the Native small business community,” said Olivia Hoeft, Google.org spokesperson and Google American Indian Network lead. “We're also working with NCAI to provide free Grow with Google training and support to more than 5,000 Indigenous business owners in the US to access digital tools and skills needed to grow."

To learn more about and apply for the Small Business Stabilization grant, please visit www.ncai.org/Covid-19. Read more about Google.org’s support for Indigenous businesses in the U.S. 

Google.org, Google's philanthropy, supports nonprofits that address humanitarian issues and apply scalable, data-driven innovation to solving the world's biggest challenges. We accelerate their progress by connecting them with a unique blend of support that includes funding, products, and technical expertise from Google volunteers. We engage with these believers-turned-doers who make a significant impact on the communities they represent, and whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change. We want a world that works for everyone—and we believe technology and innovation can move the needle.

National Congress of American Indians announces $1 million grant from Google.org

 | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) condemns the United States’ decision today to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. The Paris Agreement – a global accord designed to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change – features roughly 200 countries as signatories; the United States today becomes the first country to formally withdraw from it. In response, NCAI, the largest and oldest national organization comprised of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments and their citizens, reaffirms its formal commitment to support the Paris Agreement.

“While expected, today’s action by the United States represents a gut punch to the global effort to save our planet for future generations, and a clear dereliction of the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations to protect the ecosystems our communities and cultures depend on for their survival,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “But tribal nations, who are among the world’s most effective and innovative climate actors, will not be deterred. As sovereign governments, we will continue to wage an unrelenting battle against this existential threat to humanity.”

In 2017, tribal leaders from across the United States passed NCAI Resolution 

 to formally support the Paris Climate Agreement. In furtherance of that resolution, earlier this year, NCAI joined more than 3,900 federal, state, and local climate leaders in signing the “

” Declaration. The We Are Still In movement is the largest American coalition in support of climate action in history. Its signatories come from all 50 states and represent more than half of the U.S. population, nearly two-thirds of its economy, and more than half of the country’s emissions. It is are backed by over two-thirds of U.S. citizens, who have consistently supported the country’s participation in the Paris Agreement.

 in 2018 to identify and advocate for the policies and funding necessary to help tribal nations engage in effective, sustainable climate action, as well as document, inform, and support the climate action initiatives of tribal nations and organizations.

“Indian Country is on the front lines of climate change. Native people disproportionately experience its impacts, from the loss of subsistence hunting and fishing ecosystems that nourish our people, to changing weather patterns that harm our traditional plants and medicines, to the forced relocation of a growing number of our tribal communities,” NCAI Climate Action Task Force Co-Chairs Melanie Bahnke, Beverly Cook, and Leonard Forsman said in a joint statement. “Tribal nations are doing their part to reverse these alarming trends before we reach the point of no return, and it is imperative that the United States recommit to doing its part.”

With the outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election still uncertain, NCAI calls upon the next Administration to immediately rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, and ensure that tribal nations have an equal seat at the national and international climate action tables.

About the National Congress of American Indians:

NCAI Condemns Formal Withdrawal by the United States from the Paris Agreement; Reaffirms Tribal Nations’ Commitment to the Accord

Charmaine Riley, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, 

Kevin Perez-Allen, NALEO Educational Fund, 

Michelle Boykins, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, 

Lycia Maddocks, National Congress of American Indians, 

 last week, the 2020 Census is not over. Civil rights leaders and census experts held a press briefing Tuesday in partnership with Ethnic Media Services to urge Congress to pass an extension to the statutory deadlines for the Census Bureau’s data for apportionment and redistricting by 120 days each, as the Trump administration requested last April. 

 has been introduced in both the House and Senate to extend these deadlines to provide the Census Bureau the time it needs to ensure a fair and accurate 2020 Census.

A recording of the press call can be found 

Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said: “There’s a domino effect at play. If you erase people from the census, the tentpoles of our democracy like federal programs and fair elections start to fall. Congressional action is the only way to safeguard the data — and our democracy.”

“The fight for a fair and accurate Census is not over. Congress must assert its constitutional authority over the decennial count,” said Arturo Vargas, chief executive officer at NALEO Educational Fund. “The U.S. Senate should follow the House’s HEROES Act (H.R. 6800), which extends the December 31, 2020 deadline to deliver the apportionment counts, to April 30, 2021. We are tremendously concerned about the lasting effects on the Latino community of a politicized, truncated, and disaster-plagued 2020 Census.”

“Everyone in America, regardless of political affiliation or ethnicity, should be deeply troubled by the President’s attempts to undermine and misrepresent data from the 2020 Census,” said John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. “The decennial census sets the standard for data quality and should be something the U.S. Census Bureau can achieve without interference. Instead, the Trump administration has made countless efforts to sabotage the census to erase historically undercounted communities. The Supreme Court decision may have ended the census count but our push for accurate data continues, not only for Asian Americans but for all Americans.”

“President Trump’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment process represents a brazen attempt to amend the Constitution of the United States through a simple memo. The American people are being cheated of their Constitutional right to a representative government, the fair distribution of federal funds and an accurate Census. The National Urban League will continue to resist these unlawful efforts to erase our community through a manipulated census,” said Marc H. Morial, National Urban League president and CEO.

Kevin Allis, CEO of the National Congress of American Indians, said: “The Census Bureau normally needs 5 months to process the data and now, there’s less than three months to produce the apportionment counts and the time to produce the redistricting file is decreased significantly, meaning that many American Indian and Alaska Natives may not be accurately represented in the data. Data is very important to tribal leaders in managing their communities. There has never been enough meaningful tribal consultation that is deserved in these kinds of situations. This country has an obligation to communicate with Indian Country, hear their concerns, meet the challenges, and find solutions that make sure we’re not left behind or continue to be invisible.”

“In order to allow stakeholders to assess the 2020 Census’ fitness for use, the Census Bureau should produce the quality indicators recommended by the American Statistical Association,” said John Thomspon, former director of the US Census Bureau.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit 

. You can find out more about the Census Counts campaign at 

NALEO Educational Fund is the nation’s leading non-partisan, non-profit organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice | AAJC (Washington, DC), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice | Chicago.

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. The National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its 90 local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people annually nationwide. Visit 

 and follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @NatUrbanLeague.

Civil Rights Leaders Call on Congress to Ensure an Accurate, Transparent, Equitable Census

“The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is deeply disturbed by the intense escalation of actions by local law enforcement targeting nonviolent protestors in the traditional Tohono O’odham Nation’s homelands of southern Arizona. We will not stay silent while sacred sites are destroyed and unnecessary force is used against Native and non-Native land stewards,” says NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “The fact is the Nation should not have to continuously fight a battle borne of the federal government’s unwillingness to commit to tribal consultation. The Administration’s decision to build a border wall through the Nation’s sacred homelands, to avoid due process, and to destroy such a historic and meaningful place to the O’odham people illustrates a sheer lack of interest in a true government-to-government relationship.”

NCAI stands with the Tohono O’odham Nation and calls for the Administration to immediately stop border wall construction and perform the necessary consultation and environmental impact surveys that would protect and preserve land that holds sacred and irreplaceable significance to the Tohono O’odham people and their culture.

NCAI Denounces the Continued Destruction of Sacred Sites and the Disturbing Treatment of Peaceful Protestors on Tohono O’odham Homelands

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is extremely troubled to learn Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members infected with COVID-19 are being sent from South Dakota more than seven hours away to Minnesota to access appropriate hospital care, at a time when South Dakota is reporting that almost 20 percent of the COVID-related deaths in the state have been Native people. While the State of South Dakota claims to have adequate bed capacity, Native patients are being diverted to other states.

“Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members should not be treated like second-class citizens at any time, especially when seeking care for an infectious disease that has already caused more than 2,000 deaths among Native people across the country,” says NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “Not only are Native people experiencing COVID-19 infections at higher rates than the national average, the lack of access to quality healthcare and the discrimination Native people face when attempting to access care is unfathomable. This severe imbalance in treatment is caused by centuries of the federal government avoiding its trust responsibility to American Indian and Alaska Native people, which has caused deep social, economic, and health disparities, resulting in an inadequate quality of life for many in tribal communities.”

NCAI stands with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and calls for an immediate and thorough investigation into the handling of these cases. NCAI also calls on the Indian Health Service and state officials to address the lack of access to adequate healthcare facilities and hospital bed capacity for American Indians and Alaska Natives residing in South Dakota.

NCAI Calls for Immediate and Thorough Investigation of Access to Care for Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Members with COVID-19

The 2020 Census ends on October 31, 2020.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Trump Administration’s application to stay a federal court order that required the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) to honor its commitment to complete the 2020 decennial Census count on October 31, 2020. The stay is in place until the appeals are resolved. Effectively, the Supreme Court’s order ends the 2020 Census.

We strongly believe the Administration’s efforts to end the 2020 Census early are calculated to secure apportionment numbers, which are used to determine the number of each state’s congressional representatives, before the end of 2020. However, the Administration admitted that it could not meet the December 31, 2020 statutory deadline for apportionment data under any circumstances due to delays caused by COVID-19. The Bureau’s Associate Director for Field Operations acknowledged it was “ludicrous” to expect the Bureau to “complete 100% of the nation’s data collection” for the 2020 Census early, in the middle of a global pandemic. The Administration’s efforts will result in incomplete numbers, effectively excluding noncitizens and suppressing the count of minority communities, including American Indians and Alaska Natives.

In a vigorous dissent explaining why the Court’s action is improper, Associate Justice Sotomayor wrote, “meeting the deadline at the expense of the accuracy of the census is not a cost worth paying, especially when the Government has failed to show why it could not bear the lesser cost of expending more resources to meet the deadline or continuing its prior efforts to seek an extension from Congress.” Moreover, she observed that the lower courts already concluded that an “inaccurate count would affect the distribution of federal and state funding, the deployment of services, and the allocation of local resources.

”We join with Associate Justice Sotomayor’s concern that “the percentage of nonresponses” in the 2020 Census is highest “among marginalized populations and in hard-to-count areas, such as … tribal lands.” The Bureau’s own data supports that concern. 

Currently, the self-response rate among all tribal areas reported by the Bureau is just 41.6 percent; 25.1 percent below the national self-response rate.

 Roughly half of all tribal areas have self-response rates below 40 percent, including at least 39 reservations on which those rates are in the single digits or teens. In the most populous tribal area, the Navajo Nation, only 22.2 percent of all households have self-responded to the Census.

We are facing an undercount of urban Natives and Indian Country of historic proportions. The current global crisis has shown us how critical it is that there be an accurate count of Alaska Natives and American Indians. In the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Indian Country lost hundreds of millions of dollars in funding because of the undercount in the 2010 Census. The U.S. Supreme Court’s grant of the Administration’s motion for stay pending appeal effectively stops the 2020 Census early and condemns Indian Country to a loss of political representation and its fair share of resources for the next decade.

In order to correct for the Administration’s decision to pursue a rushed 2020 census count, we urge a legislative extension of the 2020 Census statutory deadlines. Without an extension of the enumeration window to the originally requested end date of October 31, 2020, as well as extensions to the reporting deadlines, tribal nations will be left with inaccurate data and representation for the next decade. We cannot wait for lower court appeals to play out - Congress must act now.

The National Congress of American Indians, the Native American Rights Fund, and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition condemn the Administration’s pursuit of an incomplete 2020 Census. The Court’s decision effectively tips the scales of justice in favor of the Administration’s efforts to suppress the count of indigenous peoples in violation of the United States Constitution and the sacred trust the federal government owes to tribal nations. We condemn the Administration’s actions in the strongest possible terms. 

We urge Congress to take immediate action and pass the bipartisan 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act, H.R. 8250 and S. 4571.

Founded in 1970, NARF is the oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and individual Indians nationwide. For the past 50 years, NARF has represented over 275 Tribes in 31 states in such areas as tribal jurisdiction, federal recognition, land claims, hunting and fishing rights, religious liberties, and voting rights. For more information, visit 

About the National Urban Indian Family Coalition:

Created in 2003, the NUIFC advocates for American Indian families living in urban areas by creating partnerships with tribes, as well as other American Indian organizations, and by conducting research to better understand the barriers, issues, and opportunities facing urban American Indian families. The NUIFC works to ensure access to traditionally excluded organizations and families, and to focus attention on the needs of urban Indians. Learn more by visiting 

Native Organizations Condemn U.S. Supreme Court Order Ending the 2020 Census Early and Validating an Undercount of Historic Proportions of American Indians and Alaska Natives

The U.S. Census Bureau recently informed tribal nations that their reservations and communities are “completed” or are nearing “completion” of the 2020 Census. Unfortunately, the Census Bureau has not explained clearly what those statements mean. This misinformation has caused many tribal nations to mistakenly believe that all of their tribal citizens have been counted, yet Indian Country still remains undercounted.

The “completion” rates provided by the Census Bureau merely refer to the percentage of households not responding to the 2020 Census that the Bureau is no longer trying to contact. By saying they are “completed,” the agency means they have stopped their operations and are no longer contacting households on a reservation or in a community that have not yet responded. A reservation or community that the Census Bureau has said is “100 percent completed” can include many households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.

There are many reasons why the Census Bureau will stop trying to contact a household. Sometimes, it is because someone in the household self-responded online, by phone or by mail. Other times, it is because a Census taker interviewed a person from the household. But in far too many cases, it is because the Census Bureau determined that no one lived in a residence, a neighbor answered the questions, or the Census taker interviewed a complete stranger about the household.

For Indian Country, we are learning that we must ignore the “completion” rates that Census workers and the U.S. Census Bureau provide or announce about their operations. The only way a tribal nation can ensure that all of its citizens are counted is if each household responds to the 2020 Census. Tribal nations and Native organizations working on the Census should rely on the self-response numbers for their communities, which are available at 

https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates/self-response.html

. If a tribal nation or its communities have low self-response rates, especially rates that are below 50 percent, then it is certain that many of the tribal nation’s citizens have not been counted.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC) urge tribal nations and Native organizations to continue working on getting the count completed for the 2020 Census. The messaging for American Indians and Alaska Natives is simple. All tribal nations’ citizens must ensure their household is counted for the 2020 Census. Do not let others speak for you. There is still time to complete the 2020 Census online at 

, by phone at 844-330-2020 from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Eastern Time, or by mail.

Let’s work together to make sure that every urban Native and all of Indian Country counts in the 2020 Census!

Founded in 1970, NARF is the oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and individual Indians nationwide. For the past 48 years, NARF has represented over 275 Tribes in 31 states in such areas as tribal jurisdiction, federal recognition, land claims, hunting and fishing rights, religious liberties, and voting rights. For more information, visit

Created in 2003, the NUIFC advocates for American Indian families living in urban areas by creating partnerships with tribes, as well as other American Indian organizations, and by conducting research to better understand the barriers, issues, and opportunities facing urban American Indian families. The NUIFC works to ensure access to traditionally excluded organizations and families, and to focus attention on the needs of urban Indians. Learn more by visiting

The Count Must Continue: American Indian and Alaska Native Households are Still Well-Below the National Rates Indicated in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statements About Census Completion Rates

As Indigenous Peoples' Day gains in acceptance across the United States, more and more events as being held in commemoration of the holiday. We've gathered some of the events happening today which you can join virtually.


All Month
Hosted by the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Indigenous Peoples' Day: Opening Ceremony


10:00 a.m. EDT
Hosted by the Northern Michigan University Native American Student Association.

Indigenous Peoples' Day Webinar with Kellen Lewis


12:00 p.m. EDT
Hosted by the University of Idaho


2:00 p.m. EDT
Hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition

Indigenous Peoples' Day: Indigenous Representation Virtual Panel


2:00 p.m. EDT
Hosted by the University of Utah

Our Talk, Our Land: Indigenous Languages, Identities, and Social Justice


6:00 p.m. EDT
Hosted by the Florida International University Center for the Humanities in an Urban Environment and the Global Indigenous Forum

"For the love of our people": A virtual California voter guide for Native people


9:00 p.m. EDT
Hosted by the University of Nevada

Events happening on Indigenous Peoples' Day

Haaland, Cole, McCollum Introduce Bill to Protect Indigenous Burial Sites From Unlawful Excavation, Theft

Bill will increase penalties for those who excavate and steal indigenous funerary objects, sacred objects, and other cultural patrimony from Tribal sites

Washington, D.C. – Today, Members of the Congressional Native American Caucus leaders, Co-Chair Deb Haaland (N.M.-01), Co-Chair Tom Cole (Okla.-04) and Co-Chair Emeritus Betty McCollum (Minn.-04) introduced and bill to protect indigenous burial sites from unlawful excavation and theft. The bill will amend the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to increase penalties for those who excavate and steal indigenous funerary objects, sacred objects, and other cultural patrimony from Tribal sites. This bill also creates efficiency in the administration and oversight of NAGPRA by transferring enforcement authority from the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) — the appropriate Interior department that works more closely with Tribes – and protects Tribe’s confidential information to prohibit the public disclosure of culturally sensitive information.

“Everyone’s loved ones who have passed on deserve to be laid to rest and their burial site protected, but throughout history indigenous burial grounds have been raided and stolen from without penalty or oversight,” said Co-Chair Haaland. “The bill that we’re introducing today, will make sure our cultural items don’t continue to be stolen from Tribal lands. While money is no replacement for stealing our living sacred items, we’re bolster the penalties so looters will be adequately held accountable so our ancestors can rest in peace. ”

Co-chair Cole said, “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to improve the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act. By delivering harsher penalties for the unlawful excavation of precious tribal items and streamlining enforcement of justice against such crimes, we can help preserve the priceless history and culture of tribal nations. The reforms outlined in our legislation will help safeguard the sacred treasures, artifacts and other items belonging to Native Americans.”

Co-Chair Emeritus McCollum said, “Excavating and stealing from sacred tribal sites is a crime, but the fines are currently so low that they do not deter this illegal conduct – which has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of sacred items. This important legislation strengthens NAGPRA by increasing penalties and transferring oversight authority to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. By passing this bill, Congress will reinforce the need to treat indigenous sacred and cultural objects with the respect they deserve, and provide tools to help Tribes to repatriate stolen objects and ancestral remains.”

The amendment to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) specifically

Amends existing penalties by increasing the monetary fine for violating NAGPRA protections to either 5% of the museum’s annual budget or 25,000, whichever is less for each substantiated failure to comply.

Transfers NAGPRA’s jurisdiction, enforcement, and all other activities delegated by the Secretary of the Interior from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Creates new section to protect Tribes’ culturally sensitive information when it is deemed “confidential” to prohibit public disclosure by the Secretary, museum, or federal agency.

Establishes additional public disclosure protections for confidential information that is submitted to the review committee provided that the affected party seeks to keep the information confidential.

The bill to amend NAGPRA has support from Tribes and organizations who have been working on this issue for generations.

“The disturbing and illegal taking of items of tribal cultural heritage has been condemned by many tribes throughout the United States, including the Pueblos. This NAGPRA amendment is a key step in strengthening existing laws to better prevent theft and trafficking and facilitate the repatriation of our living sacrosanct items used for worship and other cultural purposes that our ancestors passed down to us. These changes are long overdue. I commend the bipartisan Co-Chairs of the Congressional Native American Caucus for their ongoing work to fight for Indigenous rights and protect our living cultural identities and spiritual practices.” - 

Michael Chavarria, Chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors (APCG)

“Revision to NAGPRA is long overdue. While the original intent of NAGPRA was to wholly prevent the unlawful excavation and retention of our cultural items, it has in practice over the years provided only a minor hurdle to overcome for federally-funded local government agencies, academic institutions, and museums. Despite NAGPRA, tens of thousands of cultural objects continue to be removed from federal and tribal lands without tribal consent or meaningful consequences. The amendment to NAGPRA provides much needed revisions to help NAGPRA fulfill its original intent. We support the amendment to NAGPRA.” - 

Robert Deschampe, Tribal Chairman, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

"On behalf of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, I express support of U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland, Tom Cole, and Betty McCollum's new Amendment to the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act of 1990 and thank them for their leadership on this issue of great importance to Indian Country. The legislation would make important, practical, and long overdue amendments to the Act. It is practical and precise and would result in conforming NAGPRA to the human rights legislation that it was always intended to be, rather than a treasure map for pot hunters. It shows great respect for our ancestors, and we thank the Congressional Native American Caucus Chairs for their leadership on this enormously important issue.” - 

Chief Douglas Lankford, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

“As currently written, NAGPRA places a de minimis value on our invaluable and irreplaceable cultural objects and items. The amendment to NAGPRA helps remedy this shortcoming by increasing the fine to a more effective amount in order prevent calculated violations of NAGPRA. We fully support the amendment to NAGPRA.” - 

Kevin DuPuis, Tribal Chairman, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa

“Repatriation and protection of our sacred objects and ancestors are vital to our continued existence and to passing on our teachings and culture to the next generation. The NAGPRA amendment further strengthens these protections. We support the Chairs of the Congressinoal Native American Caucus' amendment to NAGPRA.” - 

Cathy Chavers, Tribal Chairwoman, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa

“Protection of our ancestral graves is the most important sacred duty as tribal leaders. Illegal excavation and looting of burial grounds is unacceptable and an insult to our spiritual and cultural beliefs. We applaud Representatives Haaland, Cole, and McCollum's efforts to protect our ancestors.” - 

Leonard Forsman, Chairman, Suquamish Tribe

“Returning our ancestors to their rightful home and allowing them to rest in peace is vitally important in Hopi culture. By strengthening the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Representatives Haaland, Cole, and McCollum's bill will help ensure our ancestors and sacred items receive the protections deserved. This critical legislation comes as we welcome home our ancestral remains from Finland.” 

- Clark Tenakhongva, Vice Chairman, Hopi Tribe

“Tribal Nations in New Mexico fight tirelessly to protect and bring home human remains and culturally significant objects that have made their way into museums and other institutions. The Indian Affairs Department applauds the efforts to amend NAGPRA, particularly the increased penalties that will be incurred by those that fail to comply with the law. It is vital that we work diligently with tribal officials to ensure that items of immeasurable significance to Tribal Nations are returned to their proper home.” 

- Lynn Trujillo, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department 

“The preservation of our Native cultures, lifeways, places, and histories for present and future generations is core to NCAI’s mission. These amendments are long overdue. NCAI is grateful to Representative Haaland and the co-sponsors of these important amendments and urges Congress to take immediate action to ensure our ancestors and sacred sites are protected.” - said 

Kevin Allis, CEO of the National Congress of American Indians

NCAI views the Kansas City Chiefs' announced modifications as positive yet modest initial steps in a long and ongoing educational process that ultimately will lead to comprehensive change, change that respects the humanity, diversity, resiliency, and vibrancy of tribal nations, cultures, and peoples. We remain committed to this process as long as the team and the NFL remain committed to genuinely listening and learning.

Statement on Kansas City Chiefs Announcement of Game Day Rituals

Today we applaud the broad coalition of tribal nations and foster and LGBTQ+ youth organizations who filed a lawsuit challenging the 2020 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Final Rule. The 2020 Rule rolled back state foster care agency data reporting requirements and undermined the ability of tribal governments, states, policymakers, and advocates to understand the unique experiences and needs of specific populations, and establish effective interventions to keep children safe and end decades of overrepresentation of Indian children in state foster care systems.

In a lawsuit filed today in Federal District Court in the Northern District of California, plaintiffs California Tribal Family Coalition, Yurok Tribe, Cherokee Nation, and a broad array of organizations serving LGBTQ+ youth assert that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (DHHS-ACF) violated the Administrative Procedures Act when the agency issued its May 12, 2020, AFCARS Final Rule. The Final Rule eliminated over 90 percent of the previous 60 plus AFCARS data elements for American Indian and Alaska Native children established within the 2016 AFCARS Final Rule. AFCARS is the federal government’s largest source of data on children who are in out of home placement.

“While this may sound like a technical data issue, at its heart the decision to not require states to collect data acknowledging the unique political status and needs of Native children means we will continue to be unable to fully understand how Native children and their families experience the child welfare system and support effective solutions to stabilize families and reduce trauma to Native children. Not collecting data about Indian children and LGTBQ+ children in effect makes these children invisible. We won’t see the important patterns and trends in their experience and know how to use existing federal protections like the Indian Child Welfare Act to improve their well-being,” said National Indian Child Welfare Association executive director Sarah Kastelic.

“All of the 2016 AFCARS data elements are key to ensuring that Indian children and their cases are accurately tracked and handled throughout state systems going forward,” said Kevin J. Allis, Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians. “Erasing 90 percent of the Indian children data points erases their specific needs and cases from consideration. We should be expanding federal data on Indian children and not immediately erasing it after the Agency has done its due diligence in creating the vital data points.”

DHHS-ACF’s stated reasons for eliminating the data elements for Indian children and families are the perceived burden to states to collect new data and questions about the value of the data. Ironically, these same issues were addressed in detail in the 2016 Final Rule that established the new data elements for Indian children and families.

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 Protect ICWA Campaign (the Campaign) was established by four national Native organizations: the

National Indian Child Welfare Association

. Together, the Campaign works to serve and support Native children, youth, and families through upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act. The Campaign works to inform policy, legal, and communications strategies with the mission to uphold and protect ICWA.

Protect ICWA Campaign Partners Applaud Lawsuit Challenging Data Collection Withdrawal in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Final Rule

Throughout Indian Country, women and girls don their Jingle Dresses and mesmerize powwows as they move lightly, kicking out their heels and bouncing to the drumbeat. The dresses – also known as Prayer Dresses – are lined with rows and rows of metal cones, or ziibaaska’iganan, traditionally made from rolled up snuff can lids and hung from the dress. The cones create another melody as the dancers move, mimicking the sound of falling rain and bringing a sense of peace to the whole endeavor.

The dance itself began just over a century ago when the granddaughter of an Ojibwe medicine man fell sick. As the man slept he dreamt, over and over, of four women as his spirit guides wearing Jingle Dresses and dancing. The women taught the man how to make the dress, what songs to play, and how to perform the dance. The spirits told him that making the dress and performing the dance would make his granddaughter well.

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