WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 15, 2026) | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the 

National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)

 condemn President Donald Trump’s proclamations reducing Bears Ears National Monument by 

 and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by 

. These actions directly attack Tribal sovereignty, sacred places, cultural resources, and hard-won advances in Tribal-federal collaboration.

Bears Ears was established through the unified leadership of the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Pueblo of Zuni, creating a historic co-management framework rooted in Indigenous land stewardship. Similarly, Grand Staircase-Escalante holds profound cultural, spiritual, and historical significance for the Tribal Nations of Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition — the Hopi Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Navajo Nation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Zuni Tribe. Stripping away protections from these interconnected homelands abruptly exposes sacred sites, ancestral burial grounds, and ceremonial areas to immediate threats posed by extraction, industrial development, looting, and vandalism.

NCAI’s opposition to these cuts is grounded in years of formal organizational policy:

The resolution urged Congress to take legislative action affirming that only Congress — not the President or executive agencies — may modify, reduce, or revoke national monument designations, and called on federal agencies to obtain free, prior, and informed consent from affected Tribal Nations before altering monument boundaries or protections.

 The resolution urged the permanent protection of the 1.9 million-acre Bears Ears region and the establishment of a historic Federal-Tribal Collaborative Management framework.

 As filed previously in federal court alongside the Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA), NCAI maintained that removing Tribal involvement and shrinking monument boundaries would inflict irreversible damage on sacred landscapes and severely fracture the government-to-government trust relationship.

 NCAI continues to vigorously oppose legislative maneuvers, such as the misuse of the 

, that seek to overturn the hard-fought 2025 Monument Management Plans for 

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

, which codify Tribal consultation and the use of Indigenous Knowledge in land management.

NATHPO and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers work on the front lines to protect sacred places, ancestral sites, burial places, cultural objects, and historic properties. Any federal undertaking affecting lands removed from monument protection must fully comply with the 

 and other applicable laws, including requirements to meaningfully consult with affected Tribal Nations and their Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.

 authorizes presidents to designate national monuments. It does not authorize presidents to unilaterally dismantle existing monument protections.

NCAI and NATHPO call upon the administration to:

Rescind the proclamations and restore the full boundaries and protections of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.

Immediately halt new development, extraction, leasing, permitting, and other ground-disturbing activities on lands removed from monument protection while legal challenges proceed.

Engage in meaningful nation-to-nation consultation with every affected Tribal Nation.

Consult directly with affected Tribal Historic Preservation Officers before authorizing any action that could affect sacred places, cultural landscapes, historic properties, or ancestral remains.

Preserve and strengthen Tribal participation in the stewardship and management of both monuments.

Uphold the federal government’s trust, treaty, historic preservation, and consultation responsibilities.

We further call upon Congress to defend the integrity of the Antiquities Act by rejecting 

 and any similar legislation that seeks to weaken protections for Tribal sacred places, cultural resources, and ancestral homelands.

Protecting these lands is not simply a conservation matter. It is a matter of Tribal sovereignty, religious freedom, historic preservation, cultural survival, and justice.

Grand Staircase-Escalante Inter-Tribal Coalition

, and all affected Tribal Nations as they continue to defend the monuments in the consolidated 

 litigation, which was remanded to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah following the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ June 2026 decision. NCAI and NATHPO will also support Tribal Nations in pursuing appropriate legal remedies challenging these unlawful reductions, informed by the legal theory first advanced in the Tribes' 2017 lawsuit, 

, which remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, while continuing to oppose legislative efforts to weaken the Antiquities Act.

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 

About the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers: 

NATHPO is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization, founded in 1998, of Tribal preservation leaders protecting culturally important places that perpetuate Native identity, resilience, and cultural endurance. Connections to cultural heritage sustain the health and vitality of Native peoples. We provide guidance to preservation officials, elected representatives, and the public about national historic preservation legislation, policies, and regulations. We promote Tribal sovereignty, develop partnerships, and advocate for Tribes in governmental activities on preservation issues. For more information visit our website at 

NCAI and NATHPO Condemn Trump’s Massive Cuts to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante

America’s History Must Include the Truth About Tribal Nations.

| The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the oldest and largest organization representing Tribal Nations and Native peoples, expresses profound concern over the White House’s report, 

, which seeks to redefine how our nation’s history is interpreted and presented to the American public.

The story of America cannot be told honestly by erasing or minimizing the histories of the original peoples of this land. Tribal Nations have existed since time immemorial and continue to exercise their inherent sovereignty today. Any effort to reshape our nation’s history that ignores the experiences, voices, and legal status of Tribal Nations undermines both historical accuracy and the government-to-government relationship recognized in the United States Constitution, treaties, federal law, and centuries of judicial precedent.

The report dismisses or challenges well-established historical scholarship concerning Native American history, including the realities of land dispossession, forced removal, genocide, assimilation policies, and the federal Indian boarding school era. These are not matters of political ideology — they are documented historical facts supported by extensive federal records, Tribal oral histories, academic scholarship, and official findings of the United States government itself.

For generations, Native peoples endured deliberate policies intended to remove them from their homelands, dismantle Tribal governments, suppress Native languages, prohibit cultural and spiritual practices, and separate Native children from their families through the federal boarding school system. The devastating impacts of these policies continue to affect Tribal communities today.

The United States has acknowledged many of these truths. Federal investigations into the Indian boarding school system documented widespread abuse, forced assimilation, and the lasting intergenerational trauma experienced by Native families. These findings deserve recognition — not dismissal.

Similarly, discussions of land dispossession are not an attack on America; they are an acknowledgment of the historical processes through which the United States expanded while entering into hundreds of treaties with Tribal Nations — many of which were subsequently violated. Honest history recognizes that the United States and Tribal Nations share a complex history rooted in diplomacy, conflict, resilience, and survival.

“The report overlooks a fundamental truth: Native Nations are not simply another cultural or ethnic group. Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with a unique political relationship with the United States,” said Larry Wright, Jr., NCAI Executive Director. “Native citizenship in Tribal Nations exists alongside United States citizenship, a dual political status that reflects the enduring sovereignty of Tribal governments. This distinction is foundational to the U.S. government’s relationship with Tribal Nations and should never be minimized or mischaracterized.”

Museums, educators, historians, and cultural institutions have a responsibility to present history grounded in evidence, scholarship, and the lived experiences of the communities whose histories they interpret. Honest history does not weaken America. It strengthens our democracy by allowing us to learn from the past, honor those who endured injustice, and build a more informed future.

“As our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States, Americans deserve a complete history — one that recognizes both our country’s achievements and its failures. Patriotism is not built upon omission. It is strengthened by truth, accountability, and a shared commitment to justice,” said Wright.

NCAI stands with Tribal Nations, Native scholars, educators, cultural leaders, survivors of the federal Indian boarding school era, and all who believe that America’s story must include the voices of Indigenous peoples. Attempts to erase or diminish these histories dishonor not only Native communities but also the nation’s own commitment to truth and democratic values.

The National Congress of American Indians calls upon federal leaders, Congress, museums, educators, and the American public to reject efforts to politicize or revise the documented history of Tribal Nations. Instead, we urge continued support for historical scholarship, Tribal consultation, Indigenous language revitalization, implementation of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative recommendations, and education that reflects the full and accurate history of the United States.

“America’s story begins with Tribal Nations. It cannot be told truthfully without us.”

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 Responds to White House “Saving America’s Story” Report

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) listened to Tribal voices! We are thrilled to share that the FCC has 

officially delayed the upcoming Noncommercial Educational (NCE) FM Translator Filing Window

 to send a formal letter to the FCC urging them to push back the original August deadline. We emphasized that a compressed summer schedule simply does not provide Tribal Nations with adequate time to complete necessary engineering studies, conduct budget analyses, and secure essential Tribal Council approvals.

 The FCC agreed, directly citing our letter and acknowledging that "a November filing window better aligns with Tribal governmental processes."

Because NCE translator filing windows are rare, this extension is a massive victory. It ensures Tribal Nations have a realistic opportunity to participate, allowing communities to expand locally controlled media, preserve language, and strengthen emergency communications for decades to come!

FCC Extends Key Filing Window for Tribal Broadcasters

 The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) honors the life and service of Victor Roubidoux, an Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma elder, U.S. Army veteran, founder and former director of the Grey Snow Eagle House, former Treasurer of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, and former chair of NCAI’s Repatriation and Sacred Sites Committee.

Roubidoux’s life was marked by service, vision, and a deep responsibility to protect the cultural and spiritual relationships Tribal Nations hold with eagles. Through the Grey Snow Eagle House, he helped create a Native-led place of care for bald and golden eagles, supporting their rehabilitation, long-term protection, and when possible, their return to the wild. His work strengthened the role of Native leadership in conservation and reflected a lifelong commitment to honoring sacred responsibilities through action.

“Victor Roubidoux carried his responsibilities with humility, strength, and a deep love for our people,” said Christie Modlin, NCAI Secretary and Secretary of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma. “His service to the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, his leadership in protecting sacred places, and his lifelong care for eagles leave a legacy that will continue to guide and inspire our Nation and all of Indian Country.”


Before founding the Grey Snow Eagle House, Roubidoux served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Palm. He later served the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma as Treasurer for 13 years and contributed to national advocacy through his leadership with NCAI’s Repatriation and Sacred Sites Committee, helping advance efforts to protect sacred places, cultural items, and Tribal sovereignty.


NCAI extends its condolences to Victor’s family, the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, the Grey Snow Eagle House staff, and all those who carry forward his work. His legacy will be remembered through his service to his Tribal Nation, his care for eagles, and his enduring contributions to cultural protection across Indian Country.


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 www.ncai.org.

NCAI Honors the Life and Service of Victor Roubidoux

NCAI Statement on Protecting Native Voting Rights Following Supreme Court Mail-In Ballot Decision

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) notes that the Supreme Court of the United States upheld a Mississippi law that allows legally cast mail-in ballots to be accepted after Election Day as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. In many Tribal communities, voters face unavoidable delays from the United States Postal Service and other common carriers, which can result in disenfranchisement if their ballots cannot be collected and delivered to distant, state-designated locations in a timely manner.

Like Mississippi, many states have enacted similar legislation to ensure the voices of American voters in remote and rural areas – including the voices of many American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) voters – are still heard and included. As an amicus curiae with the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) and others, NCAI and its attorneys at the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) brought to the Court’s attention these very real logistical obstacles faced by millions of AI/AN voters.

Despite this positive ruling, Tribal Nations and their citizens must maintain vigilance over their hard-won voting rights, be aware of impediments and obstacles, and strategize now to ensure that their voices are heard in every election. Threats to AI/AN voting rights persist through regulations and executive orders that seek to impose administrative burdens on voting which disproportionately impact Tribal access to the electoral process.

“Since our founding over eighty years ago, NCAI has stood strong for Native voting rights in state and federal elections,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “The Court’s decision ensures one less barrier to counting Native votes. NCAI remains dedicated to ensuring each and every Native voice is heard at the ballot box.”

 for more information and for available resources on how you or your community can help in the ongoing work of ensuring Native votes count. If your Tribal Nation, organization, or collective is committed to increasing civic participation and strengthening the political power of AI/AN communities, we encourage you to apply for a Sko Vote Den 2026 Mini-Grant by 

. The application is online only and can be accessed using this 

NCAI calls on Tribal Nations and all Tribal citizens to exercise their civil liberties through voting at every election opportunity.

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has long been committed to strengthening the nation-to-nation relationship between the federal government and tribal nations. The trust and treaty obligations the federal government has to Indian Country provide the essential structure to the nation-to-nation relationship – but for decades Alaska Native tribes have been prevented from placing their lands into trust and so have been excluded from the benefits provided through the trustee arrangement.

Yesterday, the Department of the Interior announced it “is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would allow the Secretary of the Interior to consider petitions from Alaska Native tribes to take land into trust.” Upon hearing the news of the potential rule change, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby remarked:


“The trust relationship between the federal government and tribal governments is the foundation of all policies affecting Indian Country. That Alaska Native peoples have been cut out of this critical arrangement is unacceptable and has created myriad problems for those tribes.

I am greatly encouraged that Assistant Secretary Washburn has proposed a change to this rule. It is proof that this Administration continues to be committed to working for and with Indian Country. NCAI will work with the Interior Department to ensure that the rule change proceeds smoothly.”

When Alaska Native tribes are able to place their lands into trust, they will benefit from the same protections as the tribes in the lower 48 states. As the trustee for tribes, the federal government will: provide funding for essential services and self-sustaining prosperity, guard our right to govern ourselves on our remaining lands, and help manage those lands and resources in our best interests.

Letter to Tribal Leaders from Asst. Sec. Washburn

Proposed Rule regarding “Land Acquisitions in the State of Alaska”

Press Release from DOI regarding the Proposed Rule

NCAI’s Cladoosby “Greatly Encouraged” By Proposed Rule Change For Alaska Native Tribes

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) for his firm statement on the floor of the Senate today. After speaking about the morally responsible decision made by the NBA, Senator Reid spoke about Daniel Snyder’s team and encouraged the NFL to make the decision Snyder is unwilling to pursue.

“It is untoward of Daniel Snyder to try and hide behind tradition. Tradition? That’s what he says in refusing to change the name of the team. Madame President, tradition – what tradition? The tradition of racism is all that name leaves in its wake. Mr. Snyder knows that in sports the only tradition that matters is winning. So I urge Daniel Snyder to do what’s morally right and remove this degrading term from the league by changing his team’s name.

But since Snyder fails to show any leadership, the National Football League should take an assist from the NBA and pick up the slack. It would be a slam-dunk, Madame President! For far too long the NFL has been sitting on its hands, doing nothing while an entire population of Americans has been denigrated. So I say to Commissioner Roger Goodell – I believe Roger Goodell is a good man, but it’s time for this good man to act. Remove this hateful term from your league’s vocabulary. Follow the NBA’s example and rid the league of bigotry and racism. Your fans will support it.”

The NFL and Daniel Snyder must now follow in the footsteps of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and those who have made the right decision in standing against racial bigotry. NCAI is committed to ending this era where racial slurs, mocking caricatures, and rampant stereotyping are acceptable.

Sen. Reid: “Since Snyder Fails To Show Any Leadership,” The NFL Should Remove Racism From The League

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released the following statement in response to the ongoing situation around the Los Angeles Clippers:

“NCAI condemns Donald Sterling’s appalling comments regarding African Americans. There is no place in modern society for that kind of hatred and discrimination. We also want to applaud the many athletes, sportscasters, corporations, and individuals who have spoken out against Sterling and his comments. It is encouraging to see so many people standing together and declaring that this behavior is unacceptable.

NCAI is no stranger to facing down racism and ignorance in American sports. Every incident of hate and racism – whether a singular incident or the repeated, high-profile use of offensive words and images – is unacceptable and has no place in the 21st Century. We will continue to support the LA Clippers players and fans as they face the fallout from Sterling’s words and we will continue to fight for a world in which no race or ethnic group is treated in this way.”

NCAI Condemns Sterling’s Comments: “No Place In Modern Society For That Kind Of Hatred And Discrimination.”

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is proud that the White House has chosen a representative of Indian Country as a “Champion of Change.”

Henry Red Cloud is the Founder and Sole Proprietor of Lakota Solar Enterprises (LSE) on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. One of the first 100% Native American-owned and operated renewable energy companies in the nation, LSE employs tribal members to manufacture and install efficient solar air heating systems for Native American families living on reservations across the Great Plains. Additionally, Henry manages the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC), a one-of-a-kind Native educational facility where tribes from around the U.S. receive hands-on green job training in renewable energy technology and sustainable building practices. Henry Red Cloud is providing Native Americans with “a new way to honor the old ways” through sustainable energy solutions that are environmentally sound, economically beneficial, and culturally appropriate.

Tribal nations are engaging in some of the most innovative and dynamic projects around clean energy development. NCAI is encouraged that the Administration continues to highlight this work and give Native enterprises the attention they deserve.

NCAI Proud Of Pine Ridge Champion Of Change

WASHINGTON, DC – Human rights expert and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples James Anaya today called the Washington NFL team’s current R-word team name a “

hurtful reminder of past suffering of Native American

.” The Oneida Indian Nation and its Change the Mascot campaign, as well as the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), are praising the UN for its powerful statement, which comes on the heels of Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter’s January meeting with the UN on the topic. 

“The United Nations is the latest to dispel the absurd claim by Washington's football team and its owner Dan Snyder that the term ‘redskins’ honors Native Americans,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter and NCAI Executive Director Jackie Pata. “This word is widely recognized throughout the globe as a racial slur. If the NFL wants to be a global brand that contributes to the positive image of the United States across the world, it needs to stop promoting this slur and change the name.” 

“I urge the team owners to consider that the term ‘redskin’ for many is inextricably linked to a history of suffering and dispossession, and that it is understood to be a pejorative and disparaging term that fails to respect and honour the historical and cultural legacy of the Native Americans in the U.S.,” said Anaya, who also contributed to a 2012 report on the situation of indigenous peoples in the U.S. “Indigenous peoples have the right to the dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations… Private actors also have responsibilities independently of the States’ obligation to promote and protect human rights.” 

The UN has taken a strong stand globally to combat racism in sports and played an important role in highlighting the damaging impacts of racism against Indigenous peoples. 

NCAI is the nation’s oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities. It has played a key role in opposing the Washington team’s continued use of the R-word racial epithet. 

Since the Oneida Nation’s launch of the Change the Mascot campaign last year, the derogatory name of Washington’s NFL team has become a prominent civil rights issue garnering support from top leaders across the country and internationally. Bi-partisan Members of Congress, city councils, leading civil rights organizations, top sports icons, prominent journalists and even President Obama have all spoken out against the team’s continued use of the harmful epithet. 

The growing Change the Mascot movement continues to gain support from top leaders and organizations. Following a nationwide radio campaign during the past NFL season, Change the Mascot plans to continue their push into the 2014 NFL season and beyond. 

National Congress of American Indians & Oneida Indian Nation Applaud the UN for Condemning the Hurtful Name of Washington’s NFL Team

As published in the Washington Post on April 4, 2014

 a new foundation to benefit Native Americans was a clear acknowledgment of years of evasion of the most pressing concerns of Indian country by the pro football franchise he owns. While it was a positive first step, the creation of this foundation will only be significant if it remains standing long after the name of the Snyder’s team is retired.

In our past, Native communities have received blankets, coats, trinkets, donations and the uninvited sympathy of those who see us only as an inferior people. These contributions can be helpful, but they are like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg — they do nothing to solve the underlying problem. We have learned to be suspicious of gifts that stem from selfish interests, come wrapped in claims of generosity and serve to distract from the real problems at hand.

We have many non-Native friends — businesses, organizations and foundations — that partner with us. Our greatest successes have come when our allies respect our sovereignty, listen to us and do what they can to support our self-determination. While some in Indian country may have been welcoming to Snyder, it is our way to be gracious to friend and foe alike. He should not confuse that with approval of his team’s name.

The invisibility of Native peoples and lack of positive images of Native cultures may not register as a problem for many Americans, but it poses a significant challenge for Native youth who want to maintain a foundation in their culture and language. The Washington team’s brand — a name derived from historical terms for hunting native peoples — is a central component to this challenge.

It seems quite clear that Snyder’s foundation will do little to address the problems that the R-word brand compounds daily: racial inequality and a lack of understanding of the place of native people in our society, especially youth.

These youth are an especially vulnerable population. Many are at a disadvantage because their communities lack basic infrastructure; before dealing with the challenges of career development and higher education, they must overcome life without phone service, Internet access or even running water. The 

 is the highest among all American young people. 

 the use of American Indian-based names, mascots and logos in sports has a negative psychological effect on Native peoples and positive psychological consequences for European Americans.

Snyder has stated that his foundation will address issues facing Native youth, so we call on this new multimillion-dollar organization to advocate for a simple solution to address what many of the nation’s leading Native youth advocacy organizations have called for: the end of derogatory mascot imagery in our communities, media and culture. From that point forward, the organization will be able to spend its money even more effectively to address other institutional sources of racism and violence.

If the foundation does not address this issue, it will be clear that its works are window dressing to cover the team’s 

 against African Americans and Native Americans alike.

Snyder, his team and the NFL are welcome to join Indian country as allies and partners but only when they make their most significant contribution up front: Retire the name of this team. Only then will we truly know Snyder’s commitment to Indian country, to Native youth and to a future where tribal nations and our people are treated as equal to all other Americans.

Until the team’s name is changed, every week during football season American youth around the country — whether Native American or not — will watch Washington football fans dressed as “savage” Indians and wearing “redface” and conclude that it’s acceptable to defame and mock Native people. This will create another generation of Americans who think Native peoples are less than others, are characters and caricatures out of the past and are not due the rights promised to all.

Mr. Snyder, the NFL, the Washington football team and now Mr. Snyder’s foundation, we call on you to bring an end to the era of harmful Indian mascots. Change the name and join us in moving Indian country and America forward, together.

Pres. Cladoosby Opinion: A good project for Snyder’s foundation? Fighting the use of the word ‘re*skins.’

WASHINGTON, DC – The tragic mudslide that devastated the community of Oso in Washington state is still affecting families across the Northwest. “We have been praying for the families of Oso every day since this tragedy struck. There is no making sense of events like this. All we can do is join hands and rebuild together,” said Brian Cladoosby, NCAI President and Chairman of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Indian Country has rallied and Washington tribes have sent over half a million dollars to support relief efforts on top of the many tribal members who have assisted in the rescue operation. We will continue to do what we can to help the families in need and call on others to do the same. Please consider contributing to one or more of these organizations who are supporting the victims and their families:

Please Consider Donating To The Oso Mudslide Relief Effort

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is encouraged to see that after decades of insisting their team name supposedly honors Indian Country, the Washington, DC football team’s owner is dedicating time and resources to the challenges facing tribal nations.

However, this Foundation will only contribute to the problems in Indian Country if it does not also address the very real issue of how Native people are consistently stereotyped, caricaturized, and denigrated by mascot imagery and the use of the R-word slur. For Mr. Snyder and the Foundation to truly support and partner with Indian Country, they must first change the name of the DC team and prove that the creation of this organization isn’t just a publicity stunt.

For more information, please read the following reports on the effects of the R-word on Indian Country:

Ending the Legacy of Racism in Sports & the Era of Harmful “Indian” Sports Mascots

The Harmful Psychological Effects of the Washington Football Mascot

NCAI: True Support Of Indian Country Only Possible If DC Team Changes Name

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) appreciates the efforts of the Department of the Interior in issuing a new legal opinion and working to provide further guidance in defining the tribes “under federal jurisdiction” as of 1934 in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2009 Carcieri v. Salazar decision regarding the Indian Reorganization Act. The opinion, however, highlights the need for Congress to make clear that all Indian tribes are under federal constitutional authority to regulate.

The Indian Reorganization Act was enacted in 1934 to restore Indian tribal governments and tribal lands after the failed federal policies of termination and assimilation. The Act ensured that the tribal way of life would continue and thrive. In its Carcieri decision, the Supreme Court determined that the Secretary of the Interior does not have authority to take land into trust for tribes that were not “under federal jurisdiction” prior to 1934. However, the Court did not define what it means for a tribe to have been “under federal jurisdiction” as of the enactment of the IRA.

According to the DOI opinion, M-37029, the term “under federal jurisdiction” is ambiguous and undefined, therefore the DOI has the authority to determine which tribes do and do not fall under the statute and will proceed to make decisions about trust agreements accordingly. In previous legal work, NCAI has taken the view that the Constitution devotes authority in Indian affairs to the federal government and that the only question is whether an Indian tribe exists, as in the Supreme Court's decision in U.S. v. Sandoval in 1913.

Of the opinion, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby stated:

“NCAI is pleased the Department of the Interior has addressed one of the many problems created by the unclear and damaging language in the Carcieri decision. It is encouraging to see a federal agency work to strengthen the trust relationship – particularly the DOI, as one of their fundamental tasks is fulfilling the United States’ trust responsibility to tribal nations.

The opinion is encouraging, but Carcieri still stands. Tribes need a permanent, legislative solution and NCAI will continue to work towards a clean Carcieri fix. All tribes must be treated equally but as long as Carcieri is upheld, that is not possible and that is unacceptable.”

The Carcieri decision has affected all tribes – even those “under federal jurisdiction” as of 1934. Processing delays in trust land applications, additional bureaucratic red tape for potential economic investors, and confusion over legal jurisdiction are just a few of the consequences.

More importantly, the decision is a direct attack on tribal sovereignty. Indian trust land is the foundation of tribal economies and the only real federal protection of tribal authority from state and local governments.

NCAI is committed to the preservation of tribal sovereignty and ensuring a robust nation-to-nation between tribes and the federal government. We will continue to support and work with tribal leaders to advance these priorities.


NCAI Encouraged By DOI Opinion On Carcieri; Reaffirms Need For A Robust Fix That Ensures Tribal Equality

Washington, DC – Today marks the one year anniversary of a great victory for tribal nations and Native women. On March 7, 2013, President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013). At the signing ceremony, the President underscored the “inherent right [of tribal governments] to protect their people.”

For the first time since the 1978 Oliphant decision, VAWA 2013 restored tribal authority to investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence non-Indians who assault their Indian spouses or partners in Indian country. The law created a pilot project that enabled three tribes to begin exercising this authority last month.

Reflecting on the progress over the past year, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby remarked, “Today is a day to celebrate what we have achieved together and commit ourselves to ensure the ongoing success of this important law. It acknowledges that tribal nations are the best equipped to ensure public safety in our communities and provides the tools we need to protect Native women.”

“VAWA 2013 is a tremendous victory. I am grateful to those who have stepped up to take the lead in the implementation phase,” stated Terri Henry, Chairperson, Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Co-Chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women. “I want to congratulate the three tribes participating in the Pilot Project and remind everyone, we still have work to do.”

Juana Majel Dixon, Councilwoman, Pauma Band of Indians and Co-Chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women added, “To all our Native sisters throughout Indian Country, we have given a decade of our lives’ work—and this could not have been done without all of you. We hold a sacred trust as sovereign Native women to our people.”

NCAI Executive Director, Jackie Pata added, “VAWA 2013 does not mark the end of our efforts to combat domestic violence in Indian Country, it is an important step along the way. Tribal nations remain steadfast In the important work of protecting our Native women and securing our communities.”

NCAI Celebrates the One Year Anniversary of the Passage of VAWA 2013

In the coming weeks, the President's budget will be reviewed by Congress, and appropriations committees will continue holding hearings on the proposals. In January of this year, NCAI released its 

 which can be compared to the Administration's budget proposals.



 on March 4, 2014. It proposes $3.9 trillion in outlays for FY 2015, a $250 billion increase over the $3.6 trillion estimated for FY 2014. The President's budget adheres to the discretionary spending caps set under the December budget deal (PL 113-67), requesting $1.014 billion next year in base discretionary spending compared to the $1.012 billion that Congress enacted in the recent FY 2014 omnibus (PL 113-76). The Administration also requests an additional $56 billion, the "Opportunity, Growth and Security Initiative," as a kind of supplemental, split between defense and domestic accounts and funds programs such as education and infrastructure. The $56 billion in spending would be offset with spending cuts, such as reducing federal crop insurance subsides, reallocating spectrum, and reducing the tax benefits for multi-million-dollar retirement accounts. The White House plan also would replace the sequester cuts starting in FY 2016 to discretionary spending and states that the caps set under the Budget Control Act do not allow enough investment in the country's future needs.



Highlights of Proposed Funding for Tribal Programs

: Many tribal programs fall into the category of domestic discretionary funding. In preparation for the President's budget, some agencies have consulted with tribes about programs in the budget. Some recommendations from Indian Country are included in the FY 2015 proposal. Below are a few highlights from NCAI's initial analysis of the President's budget. Additional department summaries are addressed below, as well as links to many of the agency budget documents for even more in depth analysis.



Significant proposals in the President's FY 2015 Budget include:

funding for Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) contract support costs (CSC)

: BIA CSC would receive $251 million, including funding for the Indian Self-Determination Fund, an increase of $4 million above the FY 2014 enacted level. IHS CSC would be funded at $617 million, an increase of $30 million above FY 2014.

 a comprehensive and integrated approach to address the inter-related problems of poverty, violence, and substance abuse faced by Indian communities. The initiative would provide about a $5 million increase for Social Services and $4.7 million increase for ICWA, $550,000 increase for BIA Job Placement and Training, and a pilot program for providing alternatives to incarceration and increased treatment.

: The budget would provide $395 million for Department of Justice (DOJ) public safety initiatives in Indian Country and $352 million for Public Safety and Justice programs funded by the BIA.

 Treasury includes a proposal to exclude from income student loan forgiveness and certain scholarship amounts for participation in the IHS health professions program; a modification of the adoption tax credit to allow Indian Tribal Governments to make a status determination of a "child with special needs"; and changes to the rules governing tax-exempt bonds for Indian tribal governments, including permanent repeal of the essential governmental function test and allowance of Indian tribal issuance of certain private activity bonds.

 Tribal General Assistance Grants in EPA would receive a $31 million increase to $96.4 million - a 47 percent increase over FY14.

NCAI will work to ensure that the federal programs that fulfill the trust responsibility to tribes receive bipartisan support in the appropriations process. The White House has released a factsheet, "

Download the complete analysis of the President's FY 2015 Budget.

NCAI Analysis of the President's FY2015 Budget Request

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is proud to announce that Sherry Salway Black, our Director of the Partnership for Tribal Governance, has been appointed to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans (“the Council”).

The first meeting of the Council will be held Monday, March 10th where the appointees will begin to discuss their recommendations “on how to 

promote financial capability among young Americans

 and encourage building the financial capability of young people at an early stage in schools, families, communities, and the workplace and through use of technology.”

Sherry Salway Black, Oglala Lakota Nation, is a valuable asset to the Council. She served as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and is the former Senior Vice President of First Nations Development Institute, a Native-led nonprofit organization that works to improve the economic condition of Native Americans through promoting business development and financial education. Ms. Black is a member of the Honoring Nations Board of Governors and also serves on the boards of First Peoples Fund, the Hitachi Foundation, and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation.

Ms. Black plays a critical role at NCAI as she leads the 

 (PTG). The PTG program helps to organize, enhance, and distribute resources necessary to support tribes’ efforts to strengthen their governance. Ms. Black works to coordinate education, training, and technical assistance for tribes as they implement new policies while also helping to ensure smooth communication and cooperation among tribes, policymakers, and national organizations

NCAI PTG Director Appointed To The President’s Advisory Council On Financial Capability For Young Americans

FILM SCREENING, MUSIC PERFORMANCES, & LIVE PANEL DISCUSSION

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The National Congress of American Indians encourages all to attend this special, free event. The Smithsonian is screening an incredible new film about Native peoples living in Greenland. Of the screening, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby said:

“I hope those in the Washington, DC area make every attempt to attend the screening of 

. It is an inspiring story of two Inuit men, each fighting their own struggles but finding strength and solace in their friendship. 

 is also an honest depiction of the beauty, conflict, and persistence of Native cultures in modern-day life. It has never been more important to support the work of our Native peoples, especially when that work can bring a greater understanding of our culture.”

, meet Anne Andreassen, the founder of the Uummannaq Children’s Home, which is located 500 km north of the Arctic Circle and serves as the film’s home base. Music will be performed by some of the Home’s talented Greenland Inuit residents. Following the screening, participate in a panel where teens, curators, and film-makers will discuss themes from the film and the changing climate and lives of Arctic peoples.

In Greenland’s capital, sixteen year-old Inuk lives a troubles life with his alcoholic mother and violent step-father.

One morning, after pulling the half-frozen boy out of an abandoned car, the social services decide to send Inuk North, to a children’s home on a tiny island in the middle of the arctic sea-ice. There, Inuk meets Ikuma, a local polar bear hunter, who has his own share of problems. Haunted by his troubled past, his extraordinary hunting skills are mysteriously disappearing.

The children’s home’s warm-hearted director, Aviaaja, asks Ikuma to take Inuk on his annual seal-hunting trip. She is certain that despite the risks of such a long and dangerous voyage, Inuk will learn that he has a valiant past and a hopeful future.

So, when Inuk, the city boy, joins Ikuma, the great hunter of the North, on the epic dogsled voyage, they face much more than the bitter cold and fragile sea-ice. The most difficult part of the journey is the one they must make within themselves…

Created as an original road-movie on the sea-ice, “Inuk” is both an authentic story of Greenland today, a country torn between tradition and modernity, and a universal story about the quest for identity, transmission and rebirth after the deepest of wounds.

The authenticity of the film was intensified by the exceptional performance of the nonprofessional Inuit actors: teenagers from a home for neglected Inuit children and local seal hunters. “Inuk,” [Director Mike] Magidson’s first feature-length narrative, is the fruit of a unique friendship with them.

Inuk A Film by Mike Magidson

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians is grieving for Cedarville Rancheria today. When he learned of the tragedy, President Brian Cladoosby remarked:

“A great sorrow stretches across Indian Country for the heartbreaking tragedy in the Cedarville Rancheria community. I know that the country is joining us in prayer for the victims, their families, and the tribe as they gather their strength to walk together during this time.”

Tragedies like this know no boundaries of ethnicity, government, or religion and they are happening far too frequently. Our hearts are heavy as we lift up the families affected by this senseless act of violence.

Lifting Up Our Prayers For Cedarville Rancheria

WASHINGTON, DC – For the first time in decades, tribal nations will receive full payment on contracts signed with the federal government. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) have submitted plans to 

pay their 2014 contracts with tribes in full.

Many issues face Indian Country but one of the most far-reaching is the fiduciary relationship between tribal nations and the federal government. In setting out plans to pay their contract support cost requirements in full, the federal government will begin to treat tribal nations with the respect and honor due to them.

Under the Indian Self-Determination Act, the United States enters into inter-governmental contracts with tribes under which tribes administer federal programs for the benefit of tribal members. The Indian Self-Determination Act represents the cornerstone of this nation’s federal policy toward tribes for more than a third of a century and represents one of the most successful policy eras for tribes in US history.

Yet, time and time again, BIA and IHS have failed to pay the contract support costs in full while expecting the programs to be fulfilled completely. This cycle of negotiating contracts and then refusing to pay the agreed upon amount has prevented tribes from achieving self-determination and progress towards self-sufficiency. When Indian contract and self-governance compact contract support costs are short funded, tribes are actually penalized for exercising their self-determination rights, by being compelled to reduce program operations to cover these unavoidable costs.

While this recent development is a positive step for future contracts, federal agencies must also speed up the settlement of past claims. Agencies owe tribal nations millions of dollars in unpaid contract support costs – money that is critical for tribes to achieve full self-determination.

The National Congress of American Indians is committed to working with tribal nations and the federal government to ensure full payment of future contracts and to resolve the millions of dollars of debt owed to tribes.

For additional background information on Contract Support Costs, please read NCAI’s 

 on Contract Support Costs or the summary briefing document.

Contract Support Costs To Be Paid IN FULL By Federal Government

WASHINGTON, DC – National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Brian Cladoosby attended the State Dinner in Honor of French President Francois Hollande. After spending the evening with world leaders and American political elites, President Cladoosby remarked:

"Tonight was a true reflection of the place of Native governments on the global stage. The tribal nations of this country were honored and represented alongside foreign nations and the United States. I am so excited to help connect tribal leaders with those I met tonight and to do whatever I can to advance the goals of tribes and Native peoples."

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