 — 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

First round of Cobell settlement checks scheduled this week

On Monday the Indian Trust Settlement Administrator began issuing checks for the Cobell settlement to an estimated 400,000 American Indians who are Individual Indian Money (IIM) account holders. In an effort to raise awareness about the possibility of fraud and scams targeting these account holders the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has released a Public Service Announcements (PSA) for radio stations as part of the organization’s 

“This settlement can benefit you, your family and your communities, but we must all be aware of the potential negative impacts. You or others may be a target for scams,” says NCAI’s Jefferson Keel in the radio PSA being distributed to Native American radio stations throughout the United States (click here to download). “Dishonest people know about the settlement and are figuring ways to take money from you. Be aware and be watchful. If you suspect a scam, you can contact your State’s Attorney General Office of Consumer Protection or your tribe.”

Keel and NCAI is also encouraging Native people to become educated and visit the organization’s site full of information on the issue at 

. NCAI has also developed an “alert” with information for tribes to provide to their members (download here).

Keel closes the PSA by saying, “Remember, it’s your money, it’s Native money. Let’s keep it that way for generations to come.”

NCAI outlines specific ways in which recipients may be targeted. Individuals in these circumstances usually get mail, phone calls, and email with ideas for how to spend the money. For example, individuals or their family might get offers for new or used vehicles, credit card or loan offers, rent-to-own “deals”, or an advance on the money. The organization is encouraging individuals to determine how to save or spend their money, and to be wary of scams that encourage people to “Act Now!”, make big promises, offer no risk, or tell people to “keep it secret” referring to the offer.

NCAI says the best way to protect Native money is to make a plan, “take your time” when deciding how to spend the money”, ask questions, and talk to someone your trust.

 settlement payments, being made by the Indian Trust Settlement Administrator, will be distributed in two payments with the first being the $1,000 to everyone in the class. These payments are expected to be mailed on Monday December 17, 2012. The remaining payments will go out within six months of the first payment. $1.5 billion is slated for individuals in these initial payouts. $1.9 billion will go to repurchase fractionated interests over the next 10 years. A major number of the recipients are in Montana, North and South Dakota, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

NCAI has also learned that the court will issue an order this week appointing a "special master" to oversee the distribution of the funds with a focus on efforts to locate all eligible beneficiaries. Efforts will be made to reach out to tribes to help locate members who may be eligible but who may need to update their addresses.

NCAI is directing individuals who have questions about payments for class members of the 

 settlement, to contact the claims administrator, Garden City Group, Inc., directly.


Mail: Indian Trust Settlement, P.O. Box 9577, Dublin, OH 43017-4877

Trust Beneficiary Call Center -- beneficiaries can contact the Trust Beneficiary Call Center for the Office of Special Trustee, toll-free, at 1-888-678-6836

Cobell Settlement Money on the Way; NCAI Launches Radio Ad Campaign to “Protect Native Money”

Former Chairman of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii Passes On

U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii passed away, Monday December 17, 2012, at the age of 88, with his wife and son by his side at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, DC. A World War II combat veteran, Inouye served the second-longest term of any U.S. senator in history, representing the great State of Hawaii since its statehood in 1959. Inouye was a prominent member and leader of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, serving as its chairman for ten years during two different periods. He passed away from respiratory complications.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released a statement following the loss of a great friend and warrior for the rights of all people, including Indigenous peoples and tribal nations:

“Senator Inouye was one of the most honorable and courageous men modern Indian Country has known. He was a distinguished warrior, and he served his country and people with dignity and a strong sense of advocacy. As a member and chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs he championed the rights of Native peoples, and we will always remember him for holding the line on numerous issues critical to cultural protection and tribal sovereignty. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. This country has lost a true patriot and statesman.

In the words of our Native Hawaiian brothers and sisters we say 

 for his service and commitment and will forever remember this son of Hawaii as a great leader.”

Inouye's outstanding commitment to Indian affairs was demonstrated by his long service on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, serving as the Chairman from 1987 - 1995, the Vice-Chairman from 1995 - 1997, and again as Chairman from 2001 - 2003. He was slated to continue his role as a committee member in the 113th Congress.

Throughout his incredible tenure, Inouye worked closely with NCAI and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes as he advocated for tribal sovereignty, tribal colleges and universities, and housing and community development, among many other issues. He also supported the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act and was later able to secure funding for Native Hawaiians to purchase property as a part of the Home Lands effort. Senator Inouye was honored by NCAI in 1999 with the NCAI Leadership Award for his service to Indian Country.

The official statement released by Inouye's office 

describes his long history of military service:

“Senator Inouye began his career in public service at the age of 17 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He served with 'E' company of the 442 Regimental Combat Team, a group consisting entirely of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Senator Inouye lost his arm charging a series of machine gun nests on a hill in San Terenzo, Italy on April 21, 1945. His actions during that battle earned him the Medal of Honor.”

Inouye, a second-generation Japanese-American, was a true son of Hawaii who created a national legacy of leadership. His role as the first Japanese-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and later the first in the U.S. Senate, blazed a trail for the record number of Asian Americans now serving in Congress. Fourteen total members were set to make up the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in 2013, with five new Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders elected to serve in the 113th United States Congress - the largest caucus of Asian American and Pacific Islander Members in any single congressional session.

NCAI Remembers Inouye as a “Distinguished Warrior”

Recap of Statements by Republican and Democratic members;
Path forward on VAWA remains open in lame duck but window closing

Washington, DC – On Thursday December 13, House Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) held a meeting with Republican members of both the House and Senate to discuss the tribal provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization. In a statement provided to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) by Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK), Cole spoke to the meeting and the bipartisan support for the tribal provisions.

"We had a very productive meeting today (Thursday) to determine the way forward for tribal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act. Majority Leader Cantor appreciates the seriousness of the problem and is genuinely trying to find an appropriate solution that can pass both houses of Congress,” said Representative Cole in a statement sent to NCAI.

“In my view, the best remedy is to provide tribal communities with the same authority granted to every other local municipality to police their communities and protect their residents,” continued Cole. “There is bipartisan support to give tribal law enforcement authorities the necessary jurisdiction and resources to combat the epidemic of domestic violence against Native American women in Indian Country. I appreciate the efforts of Rep. Issa and Sen. Crapo to advance creative legislative solutions. This is a serious problem that is not going away, and we'll continue to work for a solution in the next Congress if time runs out in this session."

NCAI’s Executive Director Jacqueline Pata responded to yesterday’s developments, issuing the following statement.

“We’re very appreciative of the Majority Leader Cantor’s focus on VAWA and this critical issue for protecting Native women. This meeting indicates that progress is being made and we continue to hope that members will find a path forward on tribal provisions that address the jurisdictional gap at the root of the problem and protect Native women,” said NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Pata. “We’re going to keep urging bipartisan collaboration by congressional leadership to pass an inclusive VAWA until the day the legislation passes in the House and Senate. Native women and all other victims who suffer from domestic violence and related crimes depend on this outcome and we remain committed to seeing that day become a reality.”

Last week, Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced H.R. 6625, a new stand-alone house version of VAWA which contains language to address tribal court jurisdiction and judicial parity in prosecuting non-Indian defendants. NCAI is supportive of this legislation, and in a letter to the Senate authors of VAWA, Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID), NCAI called for support of this legislation.

referenced the House Leader’s meeting in a statement

 on the bipartisan progress being made on VAWA, “I have heard that Republican leaders are meeting today to finally discuss the issue,” Leahy said. “It is my hope that they will show real leadership by supporting crucial protections for tribal women, rather than offering empty proposals that do not change existing law and will not move us forward or help us to address this crisis.”

, Patty Murray referenced the failure of Congress to agree on an inclusive, bipartisan VAWA: “Today marks 18 years to the day since President Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act into law. And since that day, this law has protected countless women across the country - as seen most directly by the fact that annual rates of domestic violence have dropped by more than 60 percent. But Madam President, today also marks a far less celebratory day in the history of this critical bill. And that is because today is also the 139th day of delay by the House of Representatives since the Senate passed an inclusive, bipartisan VAWA bill by a vote of 68-31.”

House Majority Leader Hosted Meeting on Tribal Provisions of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Significant progress is being made on the long sought after Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization, including the critical tribal provisions of the bill, and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is calling on House Majority Leader Cantor and authors of recent Senate and House legislation to continue discussions and pass final legislation.

“We believe there is a path to bipartisan agreement on the tribal provisions of VAWA. We remain hopeful that a comprehensive VAWA bill can and will move forward before this session of Congress ends,” said Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director of NCAI. “It’s hero time on both sides of the aisle, and we believe all the discussions happening on VAWA, in addition to the discussions surrounding the Issa/Cole version, will be successful and will protect all women, including Native women.”

a statement released last week, Senator Leahy

 referenced this letter and provided an optimistic response on the record, “the National Congress of American Indians has urged Senator Crapo and me ‘to take a serious look at the Issa/Cole provision.’ We are. I urge the House Republican leadership to do so, as well.” 

Yesterday a letter was sent by a group of bipartisan members of Congress

 calling on Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor for action on a comprehensive VAWA.

Female tribal leaders and members of NCAI's Violence Against Women Task Force are actively meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week to ensure Indian Country's voice is heard and to see that the tribal provisions are understood.

NCAI Statement on Bipartisan Movement on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and Tribal Provisions

Download NCAI's Complete Tribal Nations Summit Overview

The 4th Annual White House Tribal Nations Summit convened the President, eight members of his Cabinet, numerous high-level Administration officials, and hundreds of tribal leaders from across the country in our nation's capital to discuss key issues facing tribal nations.

"Three years ago, I was proud to see that this conference was the largest gathering of tribal leaders in our history," remarked President Obama, "back then an event like this was rare. Today, it's gotten routine. What I told you then is that I was committed to more than a unique nation-to-nation relationship, I was committed to getting this relationship right, so that your nations could be full partners in our economy and your children can have a fair shot at pursuing the American dream and that no one has to live under the cloud of fear or injustice."

The administration responded with action to address top tribal priorities through a number of important announcements.

Secretaries Salazar and Vilsack announced an interagency policy on sacred places. Secretary Vilsack noted that "the President is very, very insistent that these sacred sites are protected and treated with dignity and respect." Secretary Vilsack also announced his department's report on sacred places, a collaborative effort with tribes and the Forest Service, would be released 

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Neal Wolin announced the release of a 

guidance document on General Welfare Exclusion

, which includes a wide range of benefits, for example, assistance with housing, utilities, education, job placement, elder assistance, disabilities, emergency/temporary assistance, and religious/cultural activities payments.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced 

 for the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse the Indian Health Service for services provided to Native veterans. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced the finalization of the 

 and several secretaries underscored key new investments that are detailed in 

Throughout the Summit, the administration also underscored its commitment to key tribal priorities during the Lame Duck session, including protecting the Indian Country budget, passing a clean 

 Fix, and reauthorization of a Violence Against Women Act with tribal priorities included. 

Secretary Ken Salazar, Department of the Interior

Secretary Arne Duncan, Department of Education

Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin, Department of the Treasury

Acting Secretary Rebecca Blank, Department of Commerce

Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services

Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture

Leaders of Each Tribal Leaders Breakout Session

Secretary Ray LaHood, Department of Transportation

Secretary Hilda Solis, Department of Labor

To effectively monitor progress on tribal leader priorities, NCAI is inviting tribal leaders to share their notes from the summit breakout sessions. Please submit notes via email to Peter Morris at 

, via fax at 202-466-7797, or via phone at 202-466-7767 x210.

Save the Date! NCAI Transition Meeting - January 22

In advance of the Tribal Nations Summit, NCAI and regional intertribal organization partners developed a 

 outlining key tribal priorities. One aspect of this book was a 

Framing Paper of Nine Transformative Steps

 that the President could take to advance our nation-to-nation relationship. The nine steps are as follows: 

Establish an Administration-wide Policy on Sacred Places

Promote Economic Security by Ensuring Governmental Parity between Tribes and States

Recognize our Nation-to-Nation Relationship in International Forums

Prioritize Appointments that Impact Indian Country

Direct the Census Bureau to Lead a Periodic Indian Country Economic Survey

Ensure Tribes are Included in National Policy Reform Efforts

To continue this important work and dialogue with the administration, NCAI will host a transition meeting on 

 to set the agenda for Congress and the Administration for the next four years. 

Visit the event page for more information

Tribal leaders, worried "fiscal cliff" spending cuts could impede progress, meet with Obama

Spending cuts shadow Obama meeting with tribes

Tribal programs should be spared axe in any deal

2012 Tribal Nations Conference Roundup: Economic Renewal, Carcieri, and the Looming "Fiscal Buffalo Jump"

What you didn't see at the White House Tribal Nations Summit

President Obama Meets with Tribal Leaders 

By Deandra Corinthios WGBA-TV Green Bay, WI

Alaska Native Leaders Attend White House Tribal Nations Conference

2012 White House Tribal Nations Summit Recap

As political leaders scramble to keep the United States from slipping off the fiscal cliff, tribal leaders are wondering if the first boulder to fall will land on tribal nations. The Indian Country budget will be one of the main concerns discussed on Wednesday when leaders from the 566 federally recognized tribal nations meet with the President and the Obama Administration for the fourth annual White House Tribal Nations Summit.

The federal responsibility to tribal nations is not driving the deficit. In fact tribal programs, as part of the discretionary budget, have already done their part to reduce the deficit following the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles commission and enacted through the bipartisan Budget Control Act. Federal responsibilities to tribes are already significantly underfunded and the problems we are working hard to confront will only be exacerbated if treaty obligations are treated as line items.
Tribal programs make up a miniscule part of the federal budget – for example the Indian Health Service is 0.12% of federal spending and Bureau of Indian Affairs is -0.07%. Cuts at the sequester level of 8.2 percent, or deeper, to investments in education, housing, roads, law enforcement, tribal courts, natural resources, energy development, job training, and health care will deal a devastating blow to already dire economic conditions in Indian Country.

A joint tribal letter sent last week to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, signed by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and 65 tribes and tribal organizations, outlines the risk of deep sequestration cuts to the already underfunded federal responsibilities to tribal nations.

NCAI estimates that if sequestration were implemented, the percentage cuts from fiscal-year 2010 Native programs (when adjusted for inflation) would represent cuts to essential government services of up to 35 percent. Health care and public safety are two examples where NCAI and tribal nations fear major progress in recent years could be reversed by deep budget cuts.

The 2010 passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) ushered in a new era where tribal nations are empowered to advance public safety in their communities. Before these changes took effect, data from 2000 to 2010, showed a growing crime problem in Indian country. Implemented using principles in the TLOA, the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Safe Indian Communities initiative, a two-year program that included targeted community policing, achieved a 35 percent overall decrease in violent crime across the four communities. Cuts to vital programs at Department of Interior for tribal law enforcement and funding for tribal courts under the Department of Justice will thwart emerging initiatives and significantly reduce critical funding for basic justice services.

Indicators in Indian Country highlight concerning disparities in health care for tribes, yet also show incremental progress in quality of life and health care. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the diabetes prevalence rate of 16.1 percent in American Indian and Alaska Native adults is almost twice the rate of 8.3 percent for the total U.S. adult population. At the same time, since 1973 Indian life expectancy has increased by approximately 9 years according to the Indian Health Service (IHS).

The sequester would be a setback to tribes and the IHS , which serves 2.1 million American Indians and Alaska Natives and is critically underfunded. The Cherokee Nation estimates that if the sequester hits IHS funding, 83,000 patients would not be seen, 127 health jobs would be lost, and a clinic may have to close. In addition, 1,000 fewer diabetes patients would be provided equipment, medicine and monitoring and 12,700 fewer people would be able to access preventative education about diabetes.

Tribal nations are members of the American family of governments. We are one of three sovereign governments recognized in the constitution. The federal government has solemn obligations to tribal citizens funded in the federal budget are the result of treaties negotiated and agreements made between Indian tribes and the U.S. in exchange for land and resources, known as the trust responsibility.

Before the fiscal cliff was ever a national emergency, tribal nations were already facing a steep economic valley. Many tribal nations are making significant progress to promote economic security and secure prosperity for our communities and grow entire regional economies. Given this success, Indian Country can’t afford a setback of this proportion, and neither can the United States.

It’s time that the president and Congress act to protect the Indian Country budget and ensure tribes are able to fully contribute to the economic recovery.



Keel is the president of the National Congress of American Indians, the nation’s largest and oldest American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization and is the Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, located in Oklahoma.

OPINION: Tribal programs should be spared axe in any deal

Washington, DC – Embassy of Tribal Nations –

 In advance of the 2012 White House Tribal Nations Summit this Wednesday, Native leaders are weighing in on the effect the fiscal cliff will have on the 566 federally recognized tribal nations and American Indian and Alaska Native citizens. A joint tribal letter sent last week to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, signed by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and 65 tribes and tribal organizations, outlines the risk of deep sequestration cuts to the already underfunded federal responsibilities to tribal nations.

“Tribal nations are part of the American family of governments, and we know everyone in that family must identify budget efficiencies to keep America moving forward. However, the federal responsibility to tribal nations is not driving the deficit. In fact tribal programs, as part of the discretionary budget, have already done their part to reduce the deficit following the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles commission and enacted through the bipartisan Budget Control Act. Federal responsibilities are already significantly underfunded and the problems we are working hard to confront will only be exacerbated if treaty obligations are treated as line items,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI.

“Tribal programs make up a miniscule part of the federal budget – for example the Indian Health Service is 0.12% of federal spending and Bureau of Indian Affairs is 0.07%,” Keel continued. “An 8.2% across the board cut would mean deep cuts to critical tribal programs and will disproportionately impact already vulnerable Native communities. Tribal leaders are calling on the President, Congress, and leaders throughout the federal government to sustain current investments in critical infrastructure and support. Any deal, either in a short term framework or final bargain should not cut domestic spending, especially trust responsibility programs, any further. Tribal governments also urge Congressional action to advance tribal taxing jurisdiction. Until all tribes retain exclusive taxing jurisdiction within their tribal lands, federal support remains critical to ensure essential government services are delivered to tribal people and the trust responsibility is honored.”

The letter to Senate and House leaders identified exactly how cuts would impact Indian Country and called for leadership to secure and protect tribal communities by upholding commitments to health care, education, public safety, energy development, and infrastructure like housing, roads, and broadband, which are all in the non-defense discretionary portion of the federal budget. The letter outlines where cuts would impact specific American Indian and Alaska Native programs.
Using the estimate of 8.2% reductions just for the first year of sequestration, many tribal programs will face difficult reductions below FY2010 levels, when adjusted for inflation. NCAI estimates that if sequestration were implemented, the percentage cuts from fiscal-year 2010 Native programs (when adjusted for inflation) would be:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Tribes, cut by 35%

Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants, Tribes, cut by 25%

Tribal Community Oriented Policing Grants cut by 25%

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Trust Natural Resources cut by 24%

BIA, Operation of Indian Programs cut by 14%



Health care and public safety are two examples where NCAI and tribal nations fear major progress in recent years could be reversed by deep budget cuts.The 2010 passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act ushered in a new era where tribal nations are empowered to advance public safety in their communities. Before these changes took effect, data from 2000 to 2010, showed that homicides in Indian country rose 41% and rapes increased 55%. The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Safe Indian Communities initiative, a two-year program that included targeted community policing, achieved a 35% overall decrease in violent crime across the four communities. Cuts to vital programs at Department of Interior for tribal law enforcement and funding for tribal courts under the Department of Justice will thwart emerging initiatives and significantly reduce critical funding for basic justice services.

Indicators in Indian Country highlight concerning disparities in health care for tribes, yet also show incremental progress in quality of life and health care. For example, according to the Center for Disease Control, the diabetes prevalence rate of 16.1% in American Indian and Alaska Native adults is almost twice the rate of 8.3% for the total U.S. adult population. At the same time, since 1973 Indian life expectancy has increased by approximately 9 years according to the Indian Health Service (IHS).

The sequester would be a setback to tribes and the IHS , which serves 2.1 million American Indians and Alaska Natives and is critically underfunded. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma estimates that if the sequester hits IHS funding, 83,000 patients would not be seen, 127 jobs would be lost, and a clinic may have to close. 1,000 fewer diabetes patients would be provided equipment, medicine and monitoring and 12,700 fewer people would be educated.
The 2012 White House Tribal Nations Summit is the fourth annual nation-to-nation meeting hosted by President Obama and his Administration in as many years. During the day long meetings with federal agencies, tribal leaders will be discussing a range of transformative actions the President can take to partner with tribal nations to advance economic security and expand prosperity for Native peoples and all Americans. Many of these include no-cost opportunities to improve conditions in Indian Country through means such as increased flexibility for tribal governments for improving energy development on tribal lands, restoring tribal lands for economic development, and protecting Native women through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which provides enhanced tribal jurisdiction over crimes against Native women on tribal lands.

Tribal Nations Send Message about “Fiscal Cliff” in Advance of White House Tribal Nations Summit

Friday Nov. 23, 2012 Proclaimed by President Obama as Native American Heritage Day

Washington, D.C. – The Thanksgiving holiday is a time of reflection, remembrance, and celebration. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) joins all Americans in celebrating the diverse cultures and traditions that makes America so unique. It’s also a time to reflect on the shared history and future, of citizens of tribal nations – American Indians and Alaska Natives - and the United States.

The following is a statement regarding the Thanksgiving Holiday, by Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI:

“Thanksgiving and the month of November, Native American Heritage Month, are an important time for the nation to renew a year-round commitment to honoring and strengthening the relationship between tribal nations and the United States. We also commend President Obama for proclaiming the day after Thanksgiving, November 23, 2012 as Native American Heritage Day.

These days mark important times for reflection by the United States and tribal nations. We have a long shared history between our nations and citizens. Essential to our future as nations is our progress as an American family of governments, including tribal nations and Native peoples, and it is important we come together in celebration to share in the traditions we all cherish, and reflect on our shared history.

Our tribal nations and our people are strong. With over 600 tribal nations, both federal and state recognized tribes, and more than 5.2 million American Indian and Alaska Native people in the United States, our shared future will be determined by our unique contributions to the North American and global community.

While there have been many dark days in our shared history, our tribal sovereignty – outlined in the United States Constitution and upheld in legal documents over the centuries - is one of our greatest rights and we honor that right by celebrating our tribal nations every day of the year.

We also keep in our thoughts all men and women, Native and non-Native, who serve to protect our sovereignty and our nations, serving in the United States Military, and those veterans who have served so bravely but have not returned to their families and communities. Our prayers are with them and the over 22,000 active duty Native service members, the 150,000 Native American veterans, and all those service members and families affected by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We pray for their safe return and for a bright future for those veterans who have returned to contribute to their communities as civilians.

We believe in a prosperity that is enjoyed by all people and I am proud to speak on behalf of the members of the National Congress of American Indians and join with the rest of our American family in celebrating the hope all of our great nations offer to this world.”



Background Information on Native American Heritage Month & Native American Heritage Day



November is also Native American Heritage Month – a month long national celebration of the historic and contemporary contributions Native people make to their nations and the United States. For more information visit 



Following an over twenty-year old tradition, President Barack Obama declared November National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, remarking in his proclamation, “Native Americans are leaders in every aspect of our society -- from the classroom, to the boardroom, to the battlefield. This month, we celebrate and honor the many ways American Indians and Alaska Natives have enriched our Nation, and we renew our commitment to respecting each tribe's identity while ensuring equal opportunity to pursue the American dream.”

This proclamation also marks, November 23rd, the day following Thanksgiving, as Native American Heritage Day.

Download the White House’s Native American Heritage 

The Native American population is fast growing- in the 2010 Census, 5.2 million people or 1.7 percent of the US population identified as American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) alone or in combination with other races, an overall increase of 27 percent. Download more information on demographics here.


According to 2010 U.S. Census there are over 150,000 American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans living in the United States and ten percent of these veterans are women. The Pentagon estimates that well over 22,000 American Indian and Alaska Native active duty personnel currently serve across the Armed Forces.


The Bureau of Indian Affairs now recognizes 566 federally recognized tribes, with 229 of those tribes and villages located in Alaska; the remaining tribes are located in 34 other states.


In total, tribal governments exercise jurisdiction over lands that would make Indian Country the fourth largest state in the United States if all the lands were combined.


The Navajo Nation is larger than each of the following states: Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island.


19 tribal nations are each larger than the state of Rhode Island.


12 have a land base larger than the state of Delaware.

Reflections and Celebrations During Thanksgiving Holiday and Native American Heritage Month

 settlement is final and will soon go into implementation. All appeals have been exhausted, 

with the U.S. Supreme Court denying review

. Both appeals had challenged the commonality, or similar injuries, among class members. The Settlement will resolve many longstanding disputes over the federal government's mismanagement of Individual Indian trust funds and resources, and was approved by Congress with significant tribal support along with a debate over the details. 

$1.5 billion to pay individual Indian trust beneficiaries, including

Stage 1 - Trust Accounting - $1000 per beneficiary

Stage 2 - Trust Resource Mismanagement - payments vary -each individual Indian trust landowner will receive a resource mismanagement payment of a base amount (likely close to $800) plus a formula amount based on the average of theindividual's ten highest IIM account balances between 1985 and 2009. The resource mismanagement payment could range from the base amount to over $100,000, depending on historical account balances. The resource mismanagement settlement included an opt-out, but the time for opting out has passed.

$1.9 billion for addressing fractionation of individual Indian land

. Small fractionated interests will be purchased from Indian landowners on a voluntary basis, and the consolidated land will be turned over to tribes under the terms of the Indian Land Consolidation Act. This is a very significant benefit to tribal governments that will alleviate problems of fractionated ownership and benefit Interior's land management system. The BIA has indicated that it is working to prepare appraisals for as many as 37,000 allotments - those with more than 20 owners. A recent update from the Interior Department on their plans for land consolidation can be found 

. The Interior Draft Plan for land consolidation can be found 

. A recent presentation on the Land Consolidation program from Chickasaw Nation Industries can be found 

. NCAI's comments requesting more details on the plan can also be found 

Up to $60 Million for Indian Higher Education

 - the funds are derived from land consolidation transactions and serve as an incentive for fractionated landowners.

. The Commission is already functioning and is intended to make recommendations on the future of trust reform and to oversee a performance audit of trust systems and controls. Click 

For more information on the Cobell Indian Trust Settlement, you can go to

Consumer Protection for Recipients of Indian Trust Settlements

There is an urgent short term need to provide financial and consumer protection information to tribes and Native individuals. Two settlements with payments going to Native individuals and a large group of tribal trust fund settlements are scheduled to be distributed in 2012 and 2013. 

 settlement initial $1000 payments may be sent as early as December 2012 to an estimated 400,000 Native individuals. The 

 settlement checks of $50,000 to the majority of Indian farmer and rancher class recipients were mailed in August and September 2012. Tribal trust fund settlements were made to more than 50 tribes earlier in 2012 with payments to the tribes - and determination of how these funds will be used - still being made. These settlements total at least $3 billion in individual and tribal trust fund settlements that either has or will come to Indian Country by mid-2013. For more information on these settlements, go to

Tribal Leaders Can Help Protect Tribal Members

Tribal leaders should anticipate the arrival of 

 settlement funds to tribal members in the near future, and NCAI is encouraging a focus on financial education and consumer protection. A major number of the recipients are in Montana, North and South Dakota, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Minnesota. We anticipate, based on prior experience, that Native people will be targets of scams, theft and predatory practices. 

To assist tribal leaders with information and resources they can make available to their members, go to 

. Information resources include: a letter to tribal leaders with useful information on the 

 Settlement; a two page "consumer alert" that tribal leaders can send to their tribal members, post on their website or distribute at tribal and community events, an update on all the settlements, a list of frequently asked questions, and a list of resource documents about consumer protection and financial education. 

NCAI is also receiving requests from tribes that have or are receiving tribal trust fund settlements. A number of the more than 50 tribes that have recent settlements either have already or will be distributing a portion of their settlement on a per capita basis. NCAI, working with other resource organizations is prepared to help individual tribes with information to help them alert their tribal members to consumer protection tips and think about longer-term financial education. A growing number of tribes have some type of financial education programs to help their members manage their money - and to protect their money.

Cobell Settlement Final, Supreme Court Denies Appeals

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) joins with Indian Country and all Americans in honoring the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. As we do every day through our work, NCAI extends the deepest gratitude to our nation's veterans and to their families.

As the events and ceremonies come to an end in many parts of the country we must not rest in our pursuit to provide for our veterans, recently or long returned. Native American veterans have long served in the United States Military with honor and distinction, yet even today as service members return from duty, Native and non-Native service members too often find their greatest challenges lie ahead. As tribal nations, community members, and citizens of the United States, we must celebrate the commitment of these Native warriors with an equal unwavering commitment to their well-being and quality of life.

According to 2010 U.S. Census there are over 150,000 American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans living in the United States and ten percent of these veterans are women. The Pentagon estimates that well over 22,000 American Indian and Alaska Native active duty personnel currently serve across the Armed Forces.

NCAI is dedicated to serving veterans when they return to civilian life as they are equally entitled to the benefits that the federal government has made available. NCAI proudly seeks fair and dignified treatment of all veterans and also advocates for federal support and funding for American Indian and Alaska Native veteran programs and services.

At NCAI's recent 69th Annual Convention this past October in Sacramento, California, the NCAI membership passed resolution 

#SAC-12-002 - Support for Tribal Veteran Service Officers Training Programs

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