 — 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

In observance of Earth Day, the National Congress of American Indians reaffirms our dedication to protecting the inherent sovereign rights of Tribal Nations. Our commitment is especially vital as sensitive ecosystems like the Boundary Waters face renewed threats from mining interests that bypass established environmental reviews. 

For Tribal Nations, environmental stewardship is not merely a matter of regulation; it is an affirmation of our sovereign rights to the land, health, and cultural survival. When federal actions prioritize extractive development by bypassing the consultation frameworks that protect our resources, they directly threaten Tribal self-determination and the federal trust responsibility. 

NCAI’s latest policy brief, “Environmental Stewardship and Tribal Sovereignty: Assessing the 2025 Executive Actions and Impacts on Indian Country,” outlines how recent federal executive actions have dismantled critical environmental stewardship offices and suspended standard consultation timelines. 

We encourage you to share this document to help raise awareness of our efforts to safeguard ancestral lands and treaty-protected resources from unilateral development. Together, we can ensure that Tribal sovereignty and the ecological integrity of our communities remain a priority for generations to come.



NCAI Celebrates Earth Day through Latest Policy Brief

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

 | As tensions rise across the United States, especially in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the number of incidents where Tribal citizens are being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is increasing.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is deeply troubled by these and other incidents and encourages Tribal citizens to ensure they are familiar with their rights both as citizens of their Tribal Nations and as citizens of the United States.

The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has compiled 

Resources for Individuals and Nonprofits Approached by ICE

. This document includes information about Tribal citizen rights if approached at home, work, or in public.

NCAI encourages all Tribal citizens to carry at least one form of legal identification (e.g., non-expired Tribal or state ID, passport, or birth certificate). It is particularly important to note that federal law enforcement may not be familiar with Tribal IDs. If an ICE agent does not accept your Tribal ID as identification, NARF recommends that you request to speak to their supervisor. Native Americans who believe their rights have been violated can call NARF at 303-447-8760.

NCAI stands with Tribal Nations and their citizens across the United States impacted by recent ICE actions and enforcement activity. We will remain unified in supporting Tribes with accurate information, rights-based education, and coordinating resources to protect our communities and Native people.

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 a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights. For more information, visit 

Knowing Your Rights as Citizens of Tribal Nations and the United States

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) strongly requests the Department of Education (ED) immediately hold meaningful Tribal consultation on its transfer of the administration of programs across Elementary and Secondary Education as well as Postsecondary Education to agencies outside of ED. This decision by ED, done without input from Tribes, weighs heavily on the future of our next generation, as NCAI underscored in our March 2025 statement on proposed transfers of Tribal-serving education programs. 

The Administration has had more than eight months to engage in meaningful, government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations before taking final action. Rather than fulfill its trust and treaty obligations to the Native learners of this country, ED announced the dismantling and transfer of Native education programs on November 18, 2025 — during NCAI’s 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace — at the very moment when Tribal leaders, Native educators, youth, and stakeholders had gathered to discuss these issues and, together, passed two resolutions reaffirming the need to protect Native education programs and honor Tribal consultation. Moving forward with these inter-agency agreements without prior, robust consultation not only disregards the federal trust and treaty responsibility, it sidelines the very governments most impacted by changes to Title VI, Native language, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian education, Tribal college programs, and Impact Aid.

“We gathered in Seattle for NCAI’s 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace to strengthen Tribal sovereignty, protect our children’s futures, and speak with one voice on issues just like this,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Instead, while Tribal leaders, educators, and students were meeting in good faith and passing resolutions to safeguard Native education, key programs were dismantled and reassigned without the meaningful, government-to-government consultation we have been calling for since March. Our message is simple: Do not make decisions about Native education without Native Nations at the table. We expect the Departments of Education, Interior, and Labor to pause implementation and immediately engage in formal consultation with Tribal leaders to ensure these changes strengthen — not weaken — services to our children and communities.”

Last week, NCAI passed two resolutions related to the ED actions: SEA-25-024, '

Requiring Tribal Consent in All Matters Related to the Education of American Indian and Alaska Native Students and Changes to the Department of Education' 

Protection of Native Serving Programs by Ensuring Robust Staffing Levels for all Indian Education Programs

.' Through these resolutions, NCAI opposes “the dismantlement or winding down of the U.S. Department of Education and the signing of Inter-Agency Transfers without Tribal Consultation and Tribal consent,” demands Tribal consultation happen before any programs are transferred, and demands, if programs are transferred, that ED detail all current staff with the expertise of administering the programs and funding transferred to the recipient agencies.

NCAI calls on the Department of Education, the Interior, and Labor to immediately conduct formal Tribal leader-driven consultation on all aspects of these transfers — including Interior’s capacity to absorb additional responsibilities — before further implementation proceeds. NCAI further calls on Congress to immediately schedule oversight hearings on the ED action, focusing on the lack of Tribal involvement in the decision-making process and the impact of any proposed transfer of funding and programs on Native learners.

Together with Tribal Nations, Native educators, families, and students, NCAI stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to design solutions that truly honor Tribal sovereignty and strengthen — not undermine — Native education. Our children deserve more than unilateral decisions made without their Nations at the table; they deserve stable, well-resourced programs that reflect their languages, cultures, and inherent rights. NCAI will continue to press for full transparency, robust consultation, and concrete action to ensure that every change in federal education policy moves us closer to educational equity, Native self-determination, and brighter futures for the next seven generations.

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 a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights.

NCAI Calls for Immediate Meaningful Tribal Consultation Prior to Transfer of Native Education Programs

Officers elected to serve on the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Executive Committee for the 2025–2027 term were sworn in Friday during the final general assembly of NCAI's 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace in Seattle, Washington. The Convention brought together Tribal leaders, delegates, and citizens from across Indian Country to conduct the vital business of the organization and elect its leadership.

Following nominations and candidate speeches earlier in the week, NCAI delegates and individual members voted Thursday to elect the following leaders who will guide the organization’s work for a two-year term:

Mark Macarro, Chairman, Pechanga Band of Indians

Brian Weeden, Chairman, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

Christie Modlin, Secretary, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma

Ashley Cornforth, Secretary/Treasurer, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

A full list of NCAI’s Executive Committee, including Regional Vice Presidents and Alternate Vice Presidents, is available on NCAI’s website at 

“These elections are more than a procedural step — they are a statement of who we are as Tribal Nations,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “At a time when a federal government shutdown, funding uncertainty, and travel disruptions could have kept people home, Indian Country chose to show up. Our delegates and members traveled long distances, navigated changing flight schedules and worked through real hardships because they understand the power of coming together. That commitment is what strengthens Tribal sovereignty and ensures our voices are heard at every level of government.”

The record turnout and successful elections demonstrate the resilience of Tribal leaders and communities. “Even when the federal government is gridlocked, Indian Country is not,” Wright continued. “We come together to debate, even disagree at times, but ultimately unite around a shared agenda for our people. The leaders elected this week carry the trust of their Tribal Nation and Indian Country as a collective. Together, we will press for stable funding, respect for Tribal sovereignty and solutions that reflect our Nations’ priorities.”

The newly elected Executive Committee will work alongside NCAI’s team, members, partners, and allies to advance policy priorities — including those reflected in the nearly 100 resolutions passed via consensus by NCAI membership this week — that uphold Tribal sovereignty, protect treaty and trust obligations, and improve the lives of Native people across the United States.


National Congress of American Indians Announces 2025 Election Results at 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace

 – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) today released the Tribal Workforce Development Toolkit 2.0 at its Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington. This updated, comprehensive resource is designed to help Tribal Nations, Native organizations, and Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) make informed, strategic decisions that strengthen local workforces and economies. Building on the original 2018 edition used by Tribal governments and partners across Indian Country, the new toolkit distills effective practices and lessons learned from the field, adding practical tools that leaders can apply immediately. Toolkit 2.0 includes:

15 strategic considerations for workforce development;

30 “Indian Country Snapshot” summaries of leading workforce development approaches;

a new “Visualizing Workforce Development” infographic section;

100+ governance self-assessment questions; and

80+ policy tips based on lessons learned and proven strategies from the field.

“Toolkit 2.0 reflects the wisdom and practicality of Tribal self-determination, and the innovation that follows when that self-determination is fully and freely expressed,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “We are grateful to the Northwest Area Foundation for its continued partnership in making accessible governance resources available to Tribal leaders and practitioners.”

“As someone who led an intertribal workforce development non-profit organization in my home state of Louisiana for more than two decades, I can say firsthand that this extraordinary resource should be 

 go-to desk reference for Tribal leaders, workforce development practitioners, and others who do the hard work of developing the workforce skills of Native people each and every day,” said Lora Ann Chaisson, Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation and NCAI Alternate Vice-President for the Southeast Region. “It translates proven Indian Country strategies and effective approaches into practical steps we can replicate to build our Nations for the next seven generations.”

“This toolkit is an amazing blueprint and roadmap to build our capacity for sustaining self-determination and self-governance for the next 50 years,” added Regis Pecos, Former Governor of Pueblo de Cochiti. “Thank you, NCAI, for your vision and highlighting the many extraordinary ways people across Indian Country are responding to their respective challenges in incredibly resilient ways.”

To access the digital version of the new toolkit and its online resource center, please visit: 

. Limited printed copies upon request on a first-come, first-served basis.

NCAI Launches Version 2.0 of “Tribal Workforce Development” Toolkit to Drive Strategic Decision Making and Action Across Indian Country

Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) opened its 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace in Seattle, Washington. The Convention will run through Friday, November 21. As the nation’s largest and longest-running convening dedicated to Tribal sovereignty and self-determination, the NCAI Annual Convention brings together Tribal leaders, youth, elders, advocates, and partners from across Indian Country to set a unified policy agenda, conduct organizational business, and celebrate Native innovation and culture.

“Each year, NCAI’s Annual Convention serves as Indian Country’s compass – we deliberate, decide, and deliver on priorities that strengthen Tribal Nations,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Seattle’s deep ties to Native peoples and its role as a national hub for innovation make it an ideal host city for our 82nd convention.”

“From plenary sessions and federal briefings and consultation to committee work and the resolutions process, this gathering is where collaboration becomes action,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “This week, we’ll navigate hard, honest conversations about the current climate of our Tribal Nations and amplify the important work to protect our most vulnerable and our sovereignty. Our charge is clear: turn dialogue into action that safeguards children, honors elders, and strengthens every Tribal Nation.”

Throughout the week, attendees will participate in General Assembly sessions featuring national addresses from Tribal leadership and federal partners, engage in policy meetings that inform NCAI’s advocacy, and consider and vote on resolutions that guide the organization’s positions on issues impacting Tribal Nations. The Marketplace will showcase Native businesses, artists, nonprofits, and government and corporate partners. Programming will uplift intergenerational leadership through youth and elder engagement and offer opportunities to celebrate the cultures and traditions of Tribal Nations.

NCAI Opens 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace in Seattle, Washington

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) welcomes the bipartisan agreement passed by Congress to reopen the federal government and restore stability to critical services relied upon by Tribal Nations and families across the country. We acknowledge lawmakers from both parties worked through significant differences to reach this outcome and keep key programs operating through the end of the year. We look forward to President Trump signing this into law and for funding to start flowing to Tribal Nations soon.

This agreement, coupled with the continuing availability of advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS), helps ensure Native patients and providers experience fewer disruptions in care. During the shutdown, IHS operations remained largely open because of advance appropriations — an important legislative victory Indian Country fought for — and today’s action helps maintain that stability as other agencies resume operation.

But stability also depends on Congress extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of 2025. If allowed to lapse, average premium payments for subsidized Marketplace enrollees, which includes Tribal Citizens and Employees, are projected to more than double in 2026, driving coverage losses and pushing more uncompensated care onto hospitals and local governments — costs that ultimately raise prices for everyone. NCAI is encouraged by a growing number of members of Congress who are coming together to negotiate a deal that would prevent sharp premium hikes, coverage losses, and downstream strain on community health systems.

Importantly, reopening the government restores funding for nutrition assistance programs — including SNAP — so states can resume issuing benefits that millions of families experienced during the shutdown.

Still, this moment underscores an enduring reality: temporary fixes are not enough. Government shutdowns and stop-gap funding force Tribal governments to divert time and resources away from serving our people. NCAI renews our call for Congress and the Administration to enact forward funding and, where appropriate, mandatory funding for all Tribal programs — across IHS, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and other federal agencies — to fully honor trust and treaty obligations and shield essential services from political brinkmanship. Data and testimonies obtained during the shutdown made clear how fragile the status quo is for Tribal communities; the solution is lasting, structural funding reform.

NCAI stands ready to work with our bipartisan champions to ensure that the lessons of this shutdown lead to permanent protections for Tribal Nations and the citizens we serve.

NCAI Statement on Bipartisan Agreement to Reopen the Federal Government 

View the final adopted 2025 Resolutions below. You can view and download the resolutions by clicking the Resolution Number.

2025 Annual Final Resolutions Now Available 

WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) calls on the Administration to immediately utilize United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) emergency funds for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure uninterrupted benefits across Indian Country, so no person goes hungry. One in four Tribal citizens experiences food insecurity. As a result, an estimated 170,000–500,000 Tribal members who are unable to participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) participate in SNAP. 

Allowing SNAP to go unfunded for the first time in the program’s history is a choice. Healthy food access is not optional. As of November 5, 2025, we are now in the longest shutdown in American history. Indian Country will not accept austerity imposed on our most vulnerable families and communities because of federal political impasse.

“If the United States can simply suspend access to food during a shutdown, then every promise to safeguard our rights and well-being becomes conditional on political convenience. That is unacceptable by any measure,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “The federal trust responsibility exists because this government took our homelands and pledged to protect Tribal Nations’ welfare. SNAP is an important mechanism to guarantee that responsibility by making certain that our children, families, and communities are fed. Let this be the last time that Native American Heritage Month opens with hunger instead of honor.”

November 1, 2025, the day that SNAP benefits stopped, was also the first day of Native American Heritage Month — a time to reflect on the contributions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives to this country, as well as the sacrifices made that give rise to the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations.

Indian Country cannot simply “fill the gap” left by this shutdown. The ability to build fully resourced, sovereign food systems has been systematically obstructed by federal policy for generations. In fact, the failure to fund SNAP evokes one of the darkest chapters of federal policy when the United States sought to eliminate buffalo to starve Tribal Nations of their food supply. This moment carries the same disregard for our humanity. The United States cannot spend over two centuries destroying, then preventing Tribal Nations from developing independent food infrastructure, and now act as if withholding federal obligations is a neutral act. Refusing to fund SNAP results in immediate material harm created by the same federal system that led to these conditions in the first place.

NCAI has been working closely with the Native Farm Bill Coalition, as a founding member, to address this issue and ensure this Administration immediately supports the continuity of benefits for SNAP recipients until Congress reopens the government, supports Tribal administration and self-governance options, and honors, in practice, the federal trust responsibility demonstrated through SNAP.

NCAI Calls on the Administration to Honor the Federal Trust Responsibility: Restore Full Funding for Nutrition Programs Serving Tribal Nations

 – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mourns the passing of Eugenia “Gena” Tyner-Dawson, a longtime federal and Tribal policy leader working to make Tribal communities safer and eliminate the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples crisis.

Gena, a native of Wichita, Kansas, was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation and descendant of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Her career began in law enforcement and direct Tribal service as a Certified Peace Officer in Oklahoma. She spent 11 years serving her own Tribal Nation – directing core community programs and serving in multiple governance roles including volunteering as a deputy court clerk and reserve police officer.

From there, she became a lobbyist for Tribal governments and national Tribal organizations in Washington, D.C. She entered federal service in 1998 with the Indian Health Service (IHS), Office of Tribal Self-Governance. She spent nearly 30-years working throughout the federal government, most recently serving for 7 years in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) as Senior Policy Advisor for the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Justice Policy Coordinator, and as the Not Invisible Act Coordinator the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Gena retired from federal service in February 2025. Even in retirement she was a fierce advocate for her community, recently running for and being elected Treasurer for Sac and Fox Nation.

Before joining the DOI, she spent over two decades working in federal leadership across the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and IHS impacting Tribal policy at national scale, including her time as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Attorney General for Tribal Affairs & Executive Director of the DOJ Justice Programs Council on Native American Affairs. She also served as Acting Executive Director of the HHS Intradepartmental Council on Native American Affairs and Acting Deputy Director of the Indian Health Service.

A trusted advisor to Cabinet-level leadership across multiple federal departments, Gena directed major Tribal government programs in housing, social services, education, public safety, health, and governance. In recognition for her exceptional leadership in advancing Tribal sovereignty and intergovernmental coordination, she was awarded the 2019 NCAI Governmental Leadership Award and honored by the Sac and Fox Nation at the 2019 Executive Council Winter Session.

“Gena believed that if we worked together we could create a better future for our children, families and communities,” said Meghan Bishop, Director of Policy who worked closely with Gena at DOI. “Gena was tough, fierce, and held everyone to account - she believed firmly in a future that was free of violence and full of hope.”

“For decades, Eugenia advanced Tribal public safety and justice – linking federal policy to on-the-ground solutions for MMIP, survivor support, and law enforcement capacity,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “Because of her leadership, more Tribal Nations have the tools to protect our people and pursue justice. We honor her by continuing this work with urgency and purpose.”

NCAI extends our deepest condolences to the Tyner-Dawson family, Sac and Fox Nation, and to all who are grieving the loss of such a hero. We honor her dedication and integrity through our work as we carry on the legacy of her achievements.

NCAI Mourns the Passing of Eugenia Tyner-Dawson

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) extends its deepest compassion and support to the Alaska Native communities impacted by the record-breaking storm surge that struck Western Alaska, including the villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. The disaster unleashed by Typhoon Halong has resulted in the loss of life, missing persons, and the displacement of more than 1,500 people across 49 communities. Homes have been destroyed, critical infrastructure compromised, and essential subsistence resources disrupted.

At this week’s Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. affirmed NCAI’s solidarity with Alaska Native communities. “In these hardest moments, your strength has been undeniable — neighbors helping neighbors, communities rallying overnight,” said Wright. “But this is who we are. We grieve, and keep going. We adapt, and hold the line.” He underscored NCAI’s commitment to working with Tribal, state, and federal partners to secure resources for immediate relief and long-term resilience that honors Tribal sovereignty and protects the well-being of Alaska Native peoples.

NCAI is working with Tribal leaders and partners to elevate the immediate needs of those impacted, including, but not limited to providing safe temporary housing and winter gear; heating fuel and generators; food, water, and medicine; and support to rebuild homes and community infrastructure. Without swift assistance, the risks to health and safety will grow as conditions worsen in the coming weeks.

“Elders, children, and families are facing imminent freezing temperatures without secure housing and subsistence stores for winter are gone,” said Wright. “Indian Country knows what it means to show up for one another. We are asking Tribal Nations, Native organizations, and allies to stand with Western Alaska — now.”

Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, housed at the Alaska Community Foundation

 to support near-term relief and long-term recovery. Every gift helps families secure warmth, shelter, and stability as they rebuild.

NCAI Extends Support Following Devastating Flooding in Western Alaska

 The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) strongly condemns the large-scale reductions in force (RIFs) purportedly resulting from the ongoing government shutdown, which disproportionately impact Tribal programs — particularly those supporting health care, housing, economic development, and education in Native communities.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought’s notice that “The RIFs have begun” on X (formerly known as Twitter) obscures the fact that these cuts represent the people and programs that are essential to the basic functioning of Tribes and their communities. Any reductions in force represent an immediate and direct threat to the sovereignty, well-being, and future of Tribal Nations, undermining decades of progress toward equitable federal-Tribal relations and self-determination, and are a direct affront to self-governance and self-determination.

"Targeting people who manage and support programs that are the backbone of Tribal communities — our health, our homes, our economic futures, and our children's education — is not just short-sighted, it's an abdication of the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations," said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. "Our communities are not expendable. These actions are a betrayal of the promises made to Tribal Nations, and we will not remain silent as the very infrastructure of our future is dismantled."

This year is the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA)

, which shifted the United States government’s policy from one of Indian reorganization to self-determination. In the past 10 months, Tribal Nations have seen continued impact on the people, programs, and funding that are fundamental to Tribal self-determination, upholding trust and treaty obligations, and bound to Tribal Nations’ inherent right to sovereignty. These hits collectively undermine the intent and purpose of ISDEAA. The actions taken by OMB and agencies are an affront to the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Tribes, and must not stand.

NCAI calls upon the Office of Management and Budget and subject agencies to immediately rescind these ill-advised reductions in force, restore positions and funding appropriated to Tribes and Tribal programs, and uphold its responsibility to consult with Tribal Nations before taking actions that affect our people. NCAI further urges Congress to end the shutdown immediately and fully fund Tribal programs to prevent further disruption across Indian Country.

Tribal Nations have honored their commitments. It is past time for the federal government to do the same.

Access NCAI's Resource Hub on the Federal Shutdown Here

NCAI Strongly Condemns Large-Scale Federal Layoffs Harming Tribal Programs

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK) and Norma Torres (D-CA) and Senators Heinrich (D-NM) for presenting resolutions recognizing the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day. “These resolutions are not just about a single day — it’s about truth, recognition, and respect for who we are as Native people,” said Larry Wright Jr., NCAI Executive Director. “For far too long, our histories and contributions have been ignored or erased. Indigenous Peoples’ Day provides an opportunity to reclaim our rightful place in the story of this nation — not just in the past, but in the present and future.”


These resolutions are more than symbolic; it is a meaningful step toward honoring the strength, resilience, and ongoing leadership of Tribal Nations. NCAI stands with Tribal communities across the country in urging the House to adopt this resolution, and in doing so, help ensure that our children and future generations see themselves reflected with pride and accuracy in the national narrative.


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 a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights.

NCAI Supports House Resolution Recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be hosting Tribal Consultations notwithstanding the federal government shutdown. To access registration links and further details, please visit the event pages below:

USDA Tribal Consultations on the Department Reorganization Plan in D.C.

 | Tuesday, October 14 at 2:00-5:00 p.m. ET

USDA Tribal Consultations on the Department Reorganization Plan in Denver, CO

 | Thursday, October 16 at 12:00-3:00 p.m. MT

USDA Tribal Consultation on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

 | Wednesday, October 22 at 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET

USDA to Host Tribal Consultations Notwithstanding Federal Government Shutdown

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) supports the efforts of U.S. Senators, including Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), in working together in a bipartisan manner to find a path forward to a continuing resolution that would reopen the federal government. Their leadership and collaboration in this critical moment are deeply appreciated across Indian Country.

Government shutdowns have a devastating and disproportionate impact on Native American communities. Tribal Nations have a unique government-to-government relationship with the United States, and many essential services in Tribal communities are directly funded and administered through federal agencies. When the federal government shuts down, it delays critical infrastructure projects, interrupts food assistance programs, and stalls law enforcement and public safety operations on and around Tribal lands.

“These disruptions are not just inconvenient — they are harmful and, in many cases, life-threatening,” said Larry Wright Jr., Executive Director of NCAI. “A lapse in federal funding undermines Tribal self-governance, strains already under-resourced programs, and creates uncertainty for thousands of Native families who depend on federally funded services to meet basic needs.”

We urge all members of Congress to continue working toward a long-term funding solution that respects treaty and trust obligations to Tribal Nations and ensures the stability and continuity of services our communities rely upon.

Again, we thank the Senators from both sides of the aisle for prioritizing the well-being of Native Americans and Alaska Natives and taking meaningful steps to end this harmful shutdown.

                                                               ###

NCAI Supports Bipartisan Talks to Reopen Government

NCAI Congratulates William “Billy” Kirkland III on His Confirmation

 The National Congress of American Indians congratulates William “Billy” Kirkland III (Navajo) on his confirmation to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. This is a well-deserved recognition of his commitment and leadership to Tribes and Tribal members throughout the country. NCAI looks forward to his swearing in and the important work to follow. His service will be vital in strengthening tribal sovereignty, advancing self-determination, and supporting Native communities across the nation.

Tribal Trust Land Reaffirmation Act (H.R. 5257)

, aims to resolve a significant legal issue that has affected Tribal Nations for over a decade.

In 2009, the Supreme Court's decision in Carcieri v. Salazar created uncertainty regarding Tribal trust lands. The ruling limited the Department of the Interior's authority to take land into trust to only those Tribal Nations "under federal jurisdiction" as of 1934. This decision upended 75 years of federal practice and led to costly lawsuits challenging the status of Tribal lands, creating heavy administrative burdens for both Tribal Nations and the federal government.

The Tribal Trust Land Reaffirmation Act offers a straightforward solution. The bill legally reaffirms the status of all land taken into trust for any federally recognized Tribal Nation before the bill's enactment.

" because it secures all past land-into-trust actions but does not alter the process for future applications.

Trust land is essential for Tribal Nations to build housing, schools, and hospitals and to pursue economic development. By reaffirming the status of these lands, the legislation seeks to restore stability and protect Tribal sovereignty from expensive and burdensome lawsuits.

Tribal Trust Land Reaffirmation Act One-Pager

As legislation moves forward, future updates will be posted on the Lands and Natural Resources policy advocacy page.

Unpacking the "Carcieri Fix" and What H.R. 5257 Means for Tribal Sovereignty

— On October 1, 2025, the federal government shutdown after Congress failed to pass meaningful appropriations or a continuing resolution. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is deeply concerned about the immediate and disproportionate harm this federal government shutdown will have on Tribal Nations. While Indian Country has always met adversity with resilience and resolve, shutdowns interrupt the United States’ trust and treaty obligations and create cascading impacts on essential services that keep our communities safe, healthy, and strong.

When the federal government shuts down, delays in funding and reimbursements slow the administration of critical programs across Indian Country — public safety and justice services, health care and behavioral health, child welfare and education, housing and infrastructure, emergency management, nutrition programs, and more. While Tribal governments work tirelessly to fill federal gaps, government shutdowns result in Tribes front-loading scarce resources or pulling funding from other Tribal programs to keep essential services running. Many Tribal Nations do so at significant financial risk, straining local budgets, staff capacity, and long-term planning.

“Shutdowns land hardest on our people,” said Larry Wright, Jr., NCAI Executive Director. “Tribal leaders do what they’ve always done: show up for their citizens, keep clinics open, protect public safety, and care for our elders and children. As sovereign governments we should not have to uphold these commitments we made to our citizens at the expense of federal inaction. The United States must uphold its trust and treaty obligations regardless of the circumstance and without interruption.”

NCAI calls on Congress and the Administration to act swiftly to reopen the government and to enact durable solutions that prevent future disruptions to Tribal programs. This includes ensuring stable, on-time funding for Tribal governments; protecting and expanding advance appropriations where appropriate; and pursuing structural fixes that insulate core services from shutdown politics, such as designating key federal staff serving Indian Country as essential employees and exempting them from any reduction-in-force efforts. These steps are not special treatment — they are the minimum necessary to meet legal and moral obligations to Tribal Nations.

Even in this moment, Indian Country will continue to lead with unity, ingenuity, and care for one another. We urge federal partners to meet that leadership with certainty, respect, and action. NCAI is committed to ensuring Tribal Nations have the resources necessary to be informed.

Learn more and obtain resources for guidance, template letters, and agency contingency links related to the government shutdown, below.

NCAI Statement on Federal Government Shutdown: Indian Country Remains Resilient, But Tribal Communities Will Bear the Burden

 The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is profoundly troubled by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) decision to maintain the Medals of Honor awarded to U.S. soldiers for their actions at the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29, 1890. This choice disregards the historical record of the brutal, unprovoked, and wrongful massacre of the Lakota by the United States 7th Cavalry and the moral imperative to confront injustice with honesty and courage.

Wounded Knee was not a “battle.” It was the intentional mass killing of more than 350 unarmed Lakota men, women, and children seeking safety from invading U.S. soldiers at Wounded Knee Creek. Contrary to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s assertion that the awarding of these medals “in our nation’s history is no longer up for debate,” this act is an atrocity whose horror has been long recognized by historians, Tribal Nations, and even acknowledged by the U.S. Senate in 1990 via 

’s expression of regret. Preserving these medals champions this atrocious massacre and compounds the harm to the victims’ descendants and to all Native peoples.

“Honoring those involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre with the United States’ highest military award is incompatible with the values the Medal of Honor is meant to represent,” said Larry Wright Jr., NCAI Executive Director. “Celebrating war crimes is not patriotic. This decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that Indian Country and the United States still need.”

Such despicable violence should not have been lauded in the first place. In an effort to right the wrongs of the past, in 2024, the Department of Defense initiated a formal review of these medals; this week’s announcement asserts the medals will remain, despite decades of advocacy from Tribal Nations, historians, and members of Congress to rescind them. NCAI stands with the Lakota Nations, all Tribal communities, and all active Native service members and Native veterans—who serve this country honorably and at higher rates than any other population—who have sought to correct the historical record and align our highest honors with our highest ideals.


NCAI stands with and uplifts the words of Tribal leaders whose communities carry the trauma and structural burdens these acts imposed upon them.


“Secretary Hegseth’s decision is another act of violence against our Lakota people,” said Chairwoman Janet Alkire, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. “The Wounded Knee Massacre was an unprovoked attack on men, women, children and elders who had been rounded up by the military. As Indian people, we know what bravery and sacrifice means. We serve in the military at greater rates than any other group in the United States. I served in the Air Force with men and women who were brave and served with honor. The actions at Wounded Knee were not acts of bravery and valor deserving of the Medal of Honor. There is nothing Hegseth can do to rewrite the truth of that day.”


“The Wounded Knee Massacre was one of the darkest days in U.S. history,” added Chairman Ryman LeBeau, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. “The U.S. Cavalry stopped our people out on the high plains, surrounded them with guns and cannons, disarmed them, opened fire, and murdered them. Women and children were chased down and shot in the back. This is one of America’s darkest days and the medals must be revoked. They tarnish America’s Medals of Honor. There is no honor in murder. Secretary Pete Hegseth made this decision on his own concurrence with no contact or request for consultation to the Tribes.”


We demand that DoD immediately release the report used to make this ahistorical decision, to reverse course, and to immediately meet with NCAI and the leaders of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association. Further, NCAI calls on Congress to honestly and accurately preserve American history through passing the “Remove the Stain Act” so that the nation’s highest honor fulfills its namesake by reflecting courage, not cowardice and cruelty.


NCAI Statement on Pentagon Decision to Maintain Medals for Soldiers at the Wounded Knee Massacre

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mourns the passing of Ernie Stevens, Jr., a towering advocate for Tribal sovereignty and a peerless champion of Tribal gaming. For more than two decades as Chairman of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), Chairman Stevens brought together Tribal Nations, educated policymakers, and protected the rights of Tribal governments affirmed in federal law.

A citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, Chairman Stevens dedicated his life in service to Indian Country. Before leading IGA, he served his Nation as an elected Tribal councilman and helped guide national intertribal advocacy as a former First Vice President of NCAI. He also led the reactivation of the IGA-NCAI Tribal Leaders Task Force in 2023. His leadership at IGA — spanning more than a dozen consecutive terms — coincided with the growth of Tribal government gaming into the largest segment of the U.S. gaming industry, strengthening of Tribal economies, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and generating revenue essential to providing critical services in Native communities.

Under his watch, Tribal gaming revenues rose from approximately $11 billion in 2000 to more than $43.9 billion in 2024. He tirelessly educated the media and Congress on the fact that Tribal gaming builds nations and is an essential tool in supporting healthcare, housing, education, public safety, and cultural revitalization across Indian Country. His lifetime of work and dedication to Indian Country has been recognized widely, including being inducted into the American Gaming Association’s Gaming Hall of Fame and through numerous national honors.


Chairman Stevens led with honor, humility, humor, and heart. He built coalitions, mentored the next generation, and always showed up — on Capitol Hill, in statehouses, and at Tribal community events — whenever Indian Country called. His legacy is measured not only in economic milestones, but in the relentless exercise of Tribal sovereignty and the countless leaders he lifted along the way.


“We lost a warrior today,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Ernie Stevens' voice and work carried forth a family legacy of service with great honor. Not only a national leader, but a smoke dancer and cultural practitioner, he represented the best of what we aspire to be as leaders in Indian Country.”


“Ernie had a gift for bringing people together,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “He believed in unity, and he proved that when Indian Country speaks with one voice, we not only win, but we make lasting change.”


NCAI extends our deepest condolences to the Stevens family, the Oneida Nation, and IGA. We honor Chairman Stevens by continuing the work he devoted his life to: defending Tribal sovereignty, advancing self-determination, and building a future worthy of the next seven generations.

NCAI Mourns the Passing of Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr.

 | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mobilized Tribal leaders and organizations from across Indian Country this week for the 2025 Tribal Unity Impact Days, held September 16–18 in Washington, D.C. Over the three-day event, Tribal leaders met directly with members of U.S. Congress, Congressional staff, and federal agencies to advocate for the priorities of Tribal Nations and reaffirm the inherent sovereignty of Native Peoples.

Throughout the week, leaders highlighted critical policy issues, including, but not limited to: Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations, public safety, housing, Tribal taxation and economic development, self-determination, Tribal sovereignty and self-governance, agency hiring freezes, and holistic approaches to supporting the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native families.

“This gathering demonstrates the strength and unity of Tribal Nations when we speak with one voice,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Tribal Unity Impact Days is a reminder to Congress and federal partners that sovereignty is not negotiable; It is the foundation of our government-to-government relationship. Together, we are advancing solutions for the future of Indian Country.”

On Capitol Hill, Tribal leaders met with members of Congress, ensuring that Native voices remain central to the federal decision-making process. The event concluded with a press session at NCAI’s Embassy of Tribal Nations, where leaders emphasized that sustained, long-term investments in Tribal communities are necessary for self-determination and success.

“Indian Country has always persevered in the face of challenges,” added NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “By standing together, we honor the strength of our ancestors and continue the work of building a stronger future for Tribal Nations. We thank the members of Congress and the administration who stand with us... Thank you for listening and committing to a stronger Nation-to-Nation relationship.”

Strengthening Tribal Voices — NCAI Hosts 2025 Tribal Unity Impact Days in Washington, D.C.

NCAI is proud to announce the official logo for NCAI’s 82nd Annual Convention and Marketplace, which will be happening on 

This year’s logo was created by Nizhonia Toledo, a 21-year-old artist and enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Her work is grounded in community, tradition, and the belief that art is a living expression of culture.

Learn more about Nizhonia and her inspiration behind the artwork below.

My name is Nizhonia Toledo. I am a 21-year-old artist and a proud enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. From a young age, art has been more than a hobby for me, it has been a powerful outlet and a constant companion throughout my life.

My work is deeply rooted in my culture, community, and family. These connections are not only my inspiration, they are the heart of everything I create. Through my art, I honor the traditions and stories that have shaped me while carving space for contemporary Indigenous expression. I create not just for myself, but for those who came before me and those who will follow.

Art is my way of keeping our culture alive, of telling truths that words sometimes cannot, and of offering healing and hope. It’s my purpose, my passion, and my offering to the world.

The meaning behind the logo I created for the NCAI 82nd Annual Convention and Marketplace is, we are sovereign. We are resilient. We are culture in motion.

At its heart stand four Indigenous figures, adorned in traditional regalia, embodying the sacred diversity and collective strength of our peoples. They represent past, present, and future generations. Our ancestors who paved the way, our leaders who carry the fire today, and our youth who will rise to continue the legacy. Together, they form a circle of protection, reminding us that sovereignty is not given, it is inherent, lived, and defended.

Behind them rises Mount Rainier, not just as a geographical landmark, but as a spiritual and cultural backbone. It is the watchful guardian, rooted in ancient memory, standing as a symbol of the land we belong to, not land we own, but land we are in relationship with. The evergreen trees surrounding it echo our commitment to preserve, protect, the natural world, as our ancestors have always done.

The waters below represent life, renewal, and ceremony. From these waters comes the salmon, carried proudly by one of the figures, a revered first food and relative, vital to our sustenance, traditions, and ecological balance. The salmon tells a story of migration, return, and sacrifice, a reflection of our people's journey and resilience.

Held in another hand are huckleberries, another first food, symbolizing connection to land and seasonal gathering. These foods are more than nourishment, they are cultural memory, living traditions, and reminders that every act of harvesting is an act of prayer.

The regalia, beadwork, basketry, and adornments worn by each figure are expressions of culture, not frozen in time, but alive, evolving, and passed on through generations. They reflect pride in identity, language, and history. Each pattern woven with purpose, each bead a heartbeat of tradition.
Encircled in red and black, this emblem does not just frame a community, it protects it. Red for the blood we come from, black for the land we come from. The circle is sacred. It symbolizes unity among all Tribal Nations, and it affirms that despite colonization, and forced displacement, we are still here. Still rising. Still sovereign.

Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in Seattle, Washington, for its 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace from November 16 - 21, 2025 at the Seattle Convention Center.

Now more than ever is an essential moment for Indian Country to unite, amplify voices, and shape a powerful collective future. Tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and allies from across Indian Country will gather to tackle critical issues, strategize for the future, and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships.

Additionally, attendees will be able to browse the NCAI Marketplace, which features a variety of booths ranging from Native artists to federal job recruiters and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the ongoing mission of NCAI. 

Stay tuned for more information, including registration opening soon!

Meet Nizhonia Toledo, the Native Youth Artist Who Designed NCAI's 82nd Annual Convention & Marketplace Logo

 — The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Attorney Michael (Mike) E. Taylor, the Quinault Indian Nation, Tulalip Tribes, and all those whose lives he touched. We are profoundly saddened to learn of his 

The Forefront

Who We Are

Our Work

News & Events

Resources

Get Involved

Contractor Opportunities