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.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act with their ruling in

. The Native American Rights Fund and the National Congress of American Indians who have fought for Native voting rights since their inceptions more than 50 years ago respond:

Today’s decision cruelly undercuts the Voting Rights Act, the foundational tool for Native voters and other voters of color to protect themselves from racial discrimination when voting, including in redistricting. This decision mocks our shared democratic principles and will have a direct impact on people’s lives. When a Tribal Nation or Native American community’s political voice is diluted, so is its ability to secure good schools, adequate infrastructure, health care access, environmental protections, and economic opportunity. Taking away voting protections, like what happened with today’s decision, makes it harder and at times impossible for Native voters to elect representatives who will respond to their needs.

Native American communities and other voters of color continue to face 

unique and unreasonable obstacles to voting and having their votes count

. This ruling denies the reality that racial discrimination is prevalent and ongoing, but it does not change the fact it is. Indeed, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has never lost on the merits of any redistricting lawsuit it has brought on behalf of Native people and Tribes. In just the last five years NARF and our partners have successfully brought cases in 

. Across this nation, the Voting Rights Act once stood as an important deterrent to those who would undermine the fundamental rights of Native voters, but today’s decision will embolden racial discrimination against Native voters and other voters of color.

Every voter’s voice should count. Over the more-than-fifty years since our foundings, we at the Native American Rights Fund and the National Congress of American Indians have — over and over again — joined organizers and advocates across the country to repel attacks on voting rights. In fact, every major civil rights victory in our history has grown out of a moment such as this one. We will continue to fight for justice for Native voters and all voters because our country is stronger when our democratic values are honored and every vote is protected.

NCAI and NARF Joint Statement: SCOTUS Ruling Guts Voter Protections

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

St. Paul, Minnesota- On Monday, at NCAI’s 2015 Mid Year Conference, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn 

 to amend the regulatory process on how the Department of Interior officially recognizes Indian tribes. The ruling fulfills a promise to speed recognition and make the steps more transparent in a process that has long been considered broken.

Tribes putting forth their sovereign status for federal acknowledgment need to prove that they were a community that had a governing authority since 1900. Supporting documents can be placed online during the recognition process, with opportunity to file comments as the process moves forward.

“This updated rule is the product of extraordinary input from tribal leaders, states, local governments and the public,” said Assistant Secretary Washburn. “It is a fair compromise. We have a responsibility to recognize those tribes that have maintained their identity and self-governance despite previous federal policies expressly aimed at destroying tribes.”

“Although this is a compromise, NCAI greatly appreciates the effort and commitment from the Administration to get these regulations finalized and to improve the process,” said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby. “NCAI has been pushing for years for all tribes seeking recognition to have a fair and equitable process. “

The NCAI membership has supported the proposed changes through NCAI Resolution 

 Supporting the Bureau of Indian Affairs Proposed Reform of the Federal Recognition Process.

New Federal Recognition Rule Announced at NCAI Conference

 – Today, June 25, 2015, the United States Supreme Court delivered a ruling in the 

 case that upholds a key provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The decision allows for the continued provision of premium tax-credit subsidies towards the purchase of health insurance in federally facilitated exchanges for those that meet income eligibility requirements. Many American Indians and Alaska Natives live in states with federally facilitated exchanges so this decision is significant.

In his remarks from the White House, President Obama stated “…health care is not a privilege for a few but a right for all. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay.”

After hearing this morning’s ruling President Cladoosby said “The U.S. Supreme Court decision in 

 today is great news for Indian Country! Insurance subsidies are critical to ensuring access to affordable health insurance for American Indians and Alaska Natives.”

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) issued 

 in the decision with the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Demos, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Collaborative for Health Equity, National Council of La Raza, National Urban League, PICO National Network, and the Poverty & Race Research Action Council.

Supreme Court Upholds Insurance Subsidies in Federal Exchanges

The American Bar Association Journal showcases Indian tribes restored criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit offenses of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.

Indian Tribes Are Retaking Jurisdiction Over Domestic Violence On Their Own Land

SMART FY 15 Promoting Evidence Integration in Sex Offender Management: Applying Circles of Support and Accountability in Indian Country Project Sites

In fiscal year 2015, the SMART Office is pleased to announce its first SMART FY 15 Promoting Evidence Integration in Sex Offender Management: Applying Circles of Support and Accountability in Indian Country Project Sites Program.The goal of this project is to support the development of a holistic program in tribal communities for those affected by crime by providing support for the victim, encouraging responsibility for the offender, and facilitating changes designed to minimize the risk of future abuse. SMART will fund up to two Indian Country jurisdictions, and an accompanying technical assistance provider (through a separate solicitation). Tribal communities may receive up to $250,000 each. 

SMART Office Funding Opportunity DEADLINE: May 18, 2015

Washington, DC- On March 7, 2015, Tribal governments may elect to begin exercising jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, or violate a protection order against a Native victim on tribal lands.“

This is a major step forward to protect the safety of Native people, and we thank all Members of Congress for passing the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 and recognizing tribal authority,” said Brian Cladoosby, President of the National Congress of American Indians and Chairman of the Swinomish Tribe.

So far three Tribes, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and the Tulalip Tribes have been able to exercise jurisdiction over non-Indians under a 

 since February 6, 2014. To date the Tribes have charged a total of 26 Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction cases.“

I want to encourage all tribal governments to get this law on their books,” said Juana Majel, Chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women. “The main goal is deterrence of domestic violence. On most reservations there are a handful of bad actors who have figured out how to slip between jurisdictional boundaries. They need to get the message. If they continue to assault our women we will prosecute and put them in jail.”

Violence against Native women has reached epidemic proportions. The root cause is a justice system that forced tribal governments to rely on distant federal — and in some cases, state —officials to investigate and prosecute misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence committed by non-Indians against Native women. However, outside law enforcement has proven ineffective in addressing misdemeanor level reservation-based domestic violence. The Justice Department has found that when non-Indian cases of domestic violence go uninvestigated and unpunished, offenders’ violence escalates. The 2013 VAWA Reauthorization authorizes tribal governments to investigate and prosecute all crimes of domestic and dating violence regardless of the race of the offender.

Tribes choosing to exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction must provide the same rights guaranteed under the Constitution as in state court. This includes the appointment of attorneys for indigent defendants and a jury drawn from the entire reservation community. “Many tribal courts are already providing these protections to defendants, and it isn’t a big step to provide indigent counsel to all. Just like county courts, tribal courts can contract for public defenders on a case-by-case basis,” encouraged President Cladoosby.

61% of American Indian and Alaska Native women (or 3 out of 5) have been assaulted in their lifetimes

34% of American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped in their lifetimes

39% of American Indian and Alaska Native women will be subjected to violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes

59% of assaults against Native women occur at or near a private residence

59% of American Indian women in 2010 were married to non-Native men

46% of people living on reservations in 2010 were non-Natives (single race)

US Attorneys declined to prosecute nearly 52% of violent crimes that occur in Indian country; and 67% of cases declined were sexual abuse related cases

On some reservations, Native women are murdered at more than ten times the national average

For an overview on tribal VAWA, and more information please see: 

. The Tribal Law & Policy Institute has developed a Legal Code Resource for implementation at 

Tribal Governments Able to Take Criminal Action on Non-Indians

Washington, DC – In an announcement today at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Executive Council Winter Session, the White House invited tribal leaders to join the 

. Earlier this month, the White House launched the Gen-I challenge, an initiative focused on building a bright future for Native youth. Existing elements of the Gen-I challenge include the recently launched Cabinet officials’ Native Youth Listening Tour and a steering committee of Native youth to plan the first ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering.

 to take concrete steps to engage with Native youth in their communities including: working with or creating a youth council; hosting a joint meeting between youth and tribal leaders; or partnering with youth to plan a program to support positive change in their community.

The following tribes have already accepted the Gen-I challenge:

Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

The White House Announces Next Phase In Native Youth Initiative

Washington, DC- The White House today joined with 250 American Indian and Alaska Native youth attending the 

 Midyear Conference to launch the Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) Native youth Challenge. Native youth, in Washington, DC for leadership training, learned how to become actively involved in the Gen-I challenge. Other Native youth are invited to join in. The challenge provides Native youth with an opportunity to use various digital platforms to tell their stories and share the positive contributions they are making in their communities.

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell kicked off the Native youth listening tour on Tuesday, February 10, in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the course of the year, other Cabinet Secretaries will join the tour across the country. A gathering planned by Native youth will be held later in the year.

Gen-I was created to enhance the lives of Native youth by removing barriers that stand between Native youth and their opportunities for success. With new investments and increased culturally appropriate engagement, this initiative takes a comprehensive approach to increase opportunities and improve outcomes.

The Center for Native American Youth and National Congress of American Indians are partnering with UNITY, the Administration, and other stakeholders to help build and accomplish the goals of Gen-I.

To find out more about the Gen-I Challenge 

The White House Announces Generation Indigenous Native Youth Challenge

Washington, DC- On Wednesday, February 4th, NCAI released an 

analysis of the President’s fiscal year 2016 budget

, which highlighted the impact on funding for Indian programs. The budget proposes an overall an increase of 12 percent for BIA over the FY 2015 enacted level, the largest increase in more than a decade (excluding Recovery Act funding) and a 9 percent increase for the Indian Health Service.

Overall, several proposals in the FY 2016 budget request would improve the federal government’s fulfillment of treaty and trust responsibilities in the federal budget, proposals which should benefit from bipartisan support. NCAI and tribal leaders will continue to work with Appropriators and members in both the House and Senate to underscore the importance of strengthened investments in direct services to tribes and funding for programs administered by tribes.

President Brian Cladoosby responded to the fiscal year 2016 budget release with, “Indian Country strongly supports the several increases that recognize the treaty and trust responsibilities, with the goal of parity in governmental resources for tribes. Tribes also strongly support the proposal to make BIA and IHS contract support costs mandatory, which tribes have called for in tribal consultation over many years.”

Highlights of FY 2016 President’s budget include:

Mandatory Contract Support Costs: The FY2016 budget includes a legislative proposal to reclassify contract support costs as permanent funding beginning in FY 2017.

Native Youth: The creation of Generation Indigenous, which is a comprehensive multi-agency initiative to help improve the lives of and opportunities for Native youth in multiple areas such as broadband access and college and career-readiness.

Tiwahe (Family) Initiative, a comprehensive and integrated approach to address the inter-related problems of poverty, violence, and substance abuse faced by Indian communities, The FY16 budget would provide $15 million to expand the Tiwahe Initiative, $6 million more for Social Services, $4 million more for law enforcement for alternatives to incarceration, and $5 million more for aid to tribal family courts.

Public Safety: The budget includes $417.4 million for the Department of Justice (DOJ) public safety initiatives in Indian Country, which is a $102 million increase.

Tribal Behavioral Health Grant (TBHG) increases. The TBHG would receive an additional $25 million as part of Generation Indigenous. With the expansion of the TBHG program, SAMHSA aims to reduce substance use and the suicide among Native youth and address conditions which impact learning in BIE schools.

Indian Education funding would increase for Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), expanding broadband for BIE schools, and scholarships and higher education.

As Congress makes decisions as a part of the appropriations process in the coming weeks and months, NCAI urges law-makers to support parity in governmental and program funding as well as promote Indian self-determination to achieve the vision of broader progress in Indian Country. 

NCAI Releases Analysis of President's FY 2016 Budget Request

Eligibility: Tribal governments, tribal courts, non-profits, and victim service providers can apply for up to $500,000 for a 3-year project.

Eligible Activities: Please review the solicitation for the full range of eligible activities, but possibilities include:

developing or enhancing court infrastructure (such as specialized courts, consolidated courts, dockets, intake centers, or interpreter services);

community-based initiatives within the court system (such as victim assistants, pro se victim assistance programs, or community-based supplementary services);

offender management, monitoring, and accountability programs;

safe and confidential information-storage and information-sharing databases within and between court systems;

education and outreach programs to improve community access;

other projects likely to improve court responses to violence against women;

OVW Justice for Families Grant Funding: DEADLINE Feb. 11, 2015

Eligibility: Tribal governments can apply for up to $1 million for a 3-year period.

Eligible Activities: Please review the solicitation, but this program is very broad and tribes could apply for a range of activities related to implementing VAWA including: 

the creation of a specialized court or docket;

offender management, monitoring, and accountability;

cooperative efforts and projects among law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other related parties to investigate and prosecute incidents of domestic violence;

training and salaries for law enforcement, prosecution, and court personnel. 

OVW Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Stalking Grant Funding – DEADLINE: March 4, 2015

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking applications for funding to improve public safety and victim services in tribal communities. This solicitation provides federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia an opportunity to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization issues and to apply for funding. DOJ’s existing Tribal Government-specific programs are included in and available through this single Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation.


Applicants must register with GMS prior to submitting an application

. An applicant will not be able to submit an application without registering in GMS before the application deadline of 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on February 24, 2015. Applicants should begin the registration process immediately to meet the GMS registration deadline, especially if this is the first time using the system. It is strongly recommended that applicants register early, but 

, in order to resolve difficulties well in advance of the application deadline.

DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Grant Funding- DEADLINE

Washington, DC – The National Congress of American Indians was pleased to give testimony during the Senate Committee on Indian Affair’s first oversight hearing on Indian Country’s priorities for the 114th Congress. The bi-partisan nature of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs was evident as Committee members voted for Senator Barrasso (R-WY) as Chair and Senator Tester (D-MT) was voted to be Vice-Chair. The Chairman and Vice Chairman committed to work closely together to improve the lives of Native Americans throughout the Country.

NCAI’s testimony strongly focused on restoring tribal homelands and asked for swift action on 

 fix legislation, trust modernization, tribal infrastructure, and juvenile justice.

NCAI Area Vice President Aaron Payment stressed that, “The trust relationship [between tribes and the federal government]is one that we have inherited. As tribal leaders, we are elected to uphold the trust relationship, and as Senators, it is one that you agree to uphold when you take the oath of office.” 

Chairman Payment also asked that the committee include 

 to Congress entitled “Promoting Self-Determination, Modernizing the Trust Relationship” into the hearing record stressing that “funding decisions made by Congress are an explicit expression of the trust relationship between our governments.” Payment, requested that the members of the Indian Affairs Committee, eight of whom are also on the Appropriations Committee, use their voice on that Committee to represent the interests of tribal governments and tribal citizens. 

Other panelists included the National Indian Health Board, National Indian Education Association, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development and Vance Homegun from the Center for Native American Youth who laid out education, health care, economic development, and youth priorities.

NCAI is also encouraged that the Committee is going to take up four bills at a Business Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 4, 2015, including:

S 184 — Native American Children's Safety Act

S 209 — A bill to amend the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act of 2005, and for other purposes.

S 246 — A bill to establish the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes.

Draft Bill — A bill to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by Indian tribes, and for other purposes

NCAI strongly supported Chairman Barrasso’s energy bill during today’s hearing, and is pleased that Committee is taking up issues impacting Native Youth so early in this session. NCAI has also supported movement on bills to improve the self-governance program for tribes in ways that make it easier for tribes to carry out programs and make decisions on how those federal programs can best meet the needs of their members.

NCAI looks forward to working with the Committee on these bills and in this session of Congress.

NCAI Pleased to Highlight Tribal Priorities at first Indian Affairs Hearing of 114th Congress

Washington, DC – In an address to members of Congress, senior Administration officials, and leaders of tribal nations, the President of the National Congress of American Indians called on Congress and the Obama Administration to follow through on a policy action plan to improve economic opportunity, education, and innovation in Indian Country.

During the annual State of Indian Nations address, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby, chairman of the Swinomish Nation, also called for the federal government to modernize trust relations with tribal governments and remove barriers to economic growth. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs delivered the Congressional response.

“Indian Country is leading. Indian Country is innovating. Indian Country is growing. And the state of Indian nations grows stronger by the day,” said Cladoosby in the opening moments of the speech. Cladoosby is President of NCAI the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. 

“Today, I bring a simple message from the tribes of the 21st Century: We must tear down barriers to growth, simplify regulations that are limiting opportunities, and acknowledge that tribes have the capability as governments to oversee our own affairs,” continued Cladoosby during the address delivered to a studio audience at the Newseum in Washington, DC. “Congress and the Administration need to find ways to help bring federal agencies out of the 19th Century and into the 21st Century. We need them to be partners for growth and not barriers to growth. “

Remarking on the historic visit by President Obama to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation last year, President Cladoosby extended a personal invitation to Speaker Boehner, Leader Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Reid – as well as every Member of Congress to visit Indian Country in 2015.

During the major policy address NCAI and Cladoosby outlined a clear plan and top-level priorities for Congress and the Administration that could attract bipartisan support:

The organization released a 130 page report 

The FY 2016 Indian Country Budget Request; Promoting Self-Determination, Modernizing the Trust Relationship

, outlining a plan for funding the federal government’s trust responsibility through the budget process.


NCAI called on congress to advance tribal tax reform to enable tribes to raise tax revenue free from overlapping state taxation, and to create incentives for business and jobs.

NCAI proposed the federal government accelerate work to partner with the private sector to expand broadband connectivity in Indian Country and ensure a comprehensive study of the digital divide facing tribal nations. 

NCAI proposed extending access to capital by recognizing the equal status of tribal governments to access tax exempt bonds and ensuring tribal inclusion in the New Markets Tax Credit Program.

NCAI urged Congress to pass Indian energy legislation like that proposed by Chairman Barrasso that would provide tribes with greater control and flexibility to develop their traditional and renewable energy resources.

NCAI called on Congress and the Administration to ensure that tribal nations have a seat at the policymaking table by consulting with tribes on all policy issues such as the Keystone Pipeline, renewable energy, health care, and education.

NCAI called on Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year with tribal provisions to encourage tribal-state partnerships, strengthen local control of education, and begin to help every school deliver a high-quality education.

NCAI proposed that Congress should enact legislation that supports Native language programs so education for our children is rooted in our history and culture.

NCAI called on financial sponsors of the Washington DC football team to join “fair-minded Americans” by standing with NCAI, tribes, Native organizations, civil rights organizations, religious leaders, and others to change the mascot of the Washington DC football team;

NCAI applauded the President’s proposal to make the first two years of tribal and community college free. NCAI promised to work with Congress & Administration to make this investment in assuring K-through-14 education in America.

NCAI President Calls on Congress & Obama Administration to Act to Improve Tribal Economies, Invest in Education, and Support Innovation;

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is announcing the results of joint efforts with Google to ensure better visibility for Indian reservations in the United States on Google Maps. Over the past year, Google launched several improvements for the way reservations appear on Google Maps, including labeling reservations, highlighting reservation borders in search results, and ensuring that their reservation dataset is as comprehensive as possible. The most recent update was rolled out in November to coincide with Native American Heritage Month.

In 2012, NCAI and the Google American Indian Network co-hosted a summit at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. At the summit, tribal leaders underscored the role of tribal nations as first American governments, explained the significance of land to Native peoples, and urged Google to consider closer partnerships with Native peoples as the first American innovators.

As a result of those discussions, Google Maps now makes it easier than ever to search for federally recognized tribal reservations. The project was led by the Google American Indian Network (GAIN) and the Google Earth Outreach (GEO) team in close collaboration with NCAI and the Tribal Technology Taskforce. Including reservations on Google Maps is an important part of creating a comprehensive map of the United States and the world. Google and NCAI worked together to accurately represent reservation labels, borders, and additional details in a way that was respectful of Indigenous communities.

Welcoming the development, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby released the following statement:

“NCAI congratulates Google on this important innovation to acknowledge the place of tribal nations in the American family of governments. America’s 566 federally recognized tribes are acknowledged alongside foreign nations and state governments in the US Constitution and they have jurisdiction over a land base of over 100 million acres. This land base is larger than all but three American states.

Thanks to the partnership between NCAI and the GAIN and GEO teams, the lands of America’s first governments are now clearly highlighted on Google Maps. We look forward to our ongoing partnership to improve the representation of tribal lands on Google Maps.

This is a great step forward to acknowledge the place of tribes in the past, present, and future of the United States, but it is not the last. NCAI will continue to build partnerships with tech companies like Google to ensure the first American innovators remain on the front lines of 21st century innovation.“

NCAI Congratulates Google on Changes to Better Acknowledge Tribal Nations on Google Maps

Vice President Biden Addresses Tribal VAWA Provisions at the White House Tribal Nations Conference

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, President Obama hosted more than 300 tribal government and youth leaders at the Sixth Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. During sessions throughout the day, ten Cabinet Secretaries and the Administration highlighted their deepening partnership with tribal nations, particularly on the critical matters of Native youth, tribal economic development, and climate change. The President was introduced by Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, who declared that President Obama “promised to meet with us annually, and he has kept his promise. During this time, we have accomplished many things for our communities.”

President Obama focused his remarks on Native youth, building upon his summer 2014 visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, where the President and First Lady visited with a group of young people. He shared how they stayed longer than planned as the young people opened up about the extraordinary challenges they faced.

The President then made a series of concrete commitments designed to create new avenues of opportunity for Native youth:

The release of the White House Native Youth Report detailing the realities that Native young people face and offering recommendations to address those issues

The launch of the Cabinet Native Youth Listening Tour, through which each Cabinet Secretary will pay visits to Indian Country in 2015 to hear directly from Native Youth

The establishment of the Generation Indigenous (Gen I) national initiative, which will seek to identify and remove obstacles standing in the way of Native Youth success

The creation of the Native Youth Community Projects, which will facilitate collaboration between tribes and schools to support students in a range of areas

The convening of the First White House Tribal Youth Gathering in 2015

The President stated: “The United States shares a sacred bond with our Native nations. We have a sacred responsibility to all our young people, including Native youth..”

The President also pledged his continued commitment and that of his Administration to promote economic growth in tribal communities, address the accelerating impacts of climate change, and submit a budget to Congress that seeks smarter, stronger investments important for Indian Country. 

NCAI President Cladoosby said, “President Obama has demonstrated his commitment to ensuring a stronger relationship for the next generation. He has committed himself and his Administration to building a bright future for Native Youth and a stronger tomorrow for tribal nations.”

President Obama Commits to Native American Youth

WASHINGTON, DC – Vice President Joe Biden joined over 300 tribal leaders at the sixth annual White House Tribal Nations Conference today. At the opening of the conference, Vice President Biden delivered an impassioned speech about violence against women in Indian Country saying “The most horrific prison on earth is the four walls of an abused woman’s home. For far too many Native American women that is a daily reality.”

The Vice-President, who was the original author of the Violence Against Women Act and has been its most steadfast supporter over the past 20 years, was introduced by Councilwoman Deborah Parker from the Tulalip Tribes , “Vice President Biden has led the movement to protect women against rape and domestic violence. Last year he helped pass the much needed protection to help Native women from violence. Mr. Vice President, you are correct when you say no means no -- no more abuse.” 

Referring to the provisions added to VAWA in 2013 that allow tribal governments to prosecute non-Indian domestic violence offenders in certain cases, the Vice-President apologized that it took so long to give tribal governments the tools to hold offenders accountable in their communities, saying “as long as there is a single place where the abuse of power is excused as a question of jurisdiction or tolerated as a family affair, no one is truly safe, and we cannot define ourselves as a society that is civilized.” 

The Vice President delivered a call to action saying, “Tribal governments have an inherent right, as a matter of fact they have an obligation, to protect their people. All people deserve to live free of fear.” He urged all tribal governments to be prepared on March 7 when the law goes into effect to use their authority to aggressively prosecute domestic violence offenders. He stressed the need to change the culture that too often leaves victims asking what they did wrong and instead to focus on sending a strong message that violence against women is always unacceptable.

Vice President Biden also acknowledged that we have much more to do to protect Native women from violence including giving Alaska tribes the same authority and expanding the provision to cover sexual assault and other crimes. Biden called on Congress to appropriate the $25 million in grants authorized in VAWA 2013 to implement the new law. 

Attorney General Eric Holder followed Vice President Biden, and strongly stated the Department of Justice’s commitment to improving law enforcement in Indian country, and to institutionalizing that commitment so that it will continue. He announced that he has implemented a Statement of Principles to guide the Department’s work with tribal nations into the future.

Attorney General Holder also announced a new initiative to promote compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act in partnership with the Departments of Interior and Health and Human Services. Holder stated that the initiative is “working to actively identify state-court cases where the United States can file briefs opposing the unnecessary and illegal removal of Indian children from their families and their tribal communities.” Holder went on to explain that DOJ will work with its partners and tribes to “to promote tribes’ authority to make placement decisions affecting tribal children; to gather information about where the Indian Child Welfare Act is being systematically violated; and to take appropriate, targeted action to ensure that the next generation of great tribal leaders can grow up in homes that are not only safe and loving, but also suffused with the proud traditions of Indian cultures.”

Tribal Leaders Meet with Vice President Biden who Addresses Efforts to End Violence Against Women Attorney General Holder Announces Initiative on Indian Child Welfare Act

AG Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence recommends expansion of jurisdiction over non-Indians to include child abuse.

Native American kids need more protection, advisory panel tells Holder in new report


Washington Post
By Sari Horwitz November 17

"A panel of Indian-country experts will recommend to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday that tribes be allowed to criminally prosecute non-Indians who sexually or physically abuse Native American children on tribal land, saying that juveniles on reservations are living with “dire” levels of violence and poverty.

The recommendation addresses a loophole 

 last year. The measure allowed the nation’s 566 federally recognized tribes for the first time to prosecute non-Indians who commit certain crimes of domestic violence against Native Americans in Indian country. But the law, opposed by most Republican lawmakers, does not allow non-Indians to be prosecuted by tribes for abusing Indian children on a reservation.

Closing that loophole is one of 31 wide-ranging recommendations made by the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence in 

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