— The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) met today during the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to advance work on their renewed Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation (“the Declaration”), which was renewed and signed in a ceremony on March 24 of this year. The Declaration is a shared commitment to advancing the rights, well-being, and self-determination of First Peoples across the Canada–United States border.


Building on the momentum of the renewed Declaration, NCAI and AFN leaders met to advance collaboration and Indigenous-led solutions across key commitments. The meeting today focused on Indigenous free trade and border mobility, including the removal of tariffs on Indigenous trade, and the international trade of medicines, cultural, and traditional items related to Indigenous health. Today’s meeting reflects a continued focus on practical actions and collective leadership during a time of evolving political landscapes in both countries.

“Today’s meeting reflects the strength of our renewed kinship and our shared responsibility to act together on behalf of our Nations,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Our Peoples have always maintained connections across these borders, and through this work with the Assembly of First Nations, we are advancing practical, Indigenous-led solutions that protect our rights, support our well-being, and strengthen the future for generations to come.”


“The First Peoples have always maintained relationships that exist and extend well beyond imposed borders,” said AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “We are joining together to make tangible progress that supports our economies, ensures our people can move freely, and ensures our rights are upheld and respected. Our unity and momentum send a clear message to all governments and Nations: we can work together in partnership to advance solutions that benefit everyone.”

The theme of the 25th session of the UNPFII is 

“Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict.”

 The AFN and NCAI recognize the importance of youth in all their work and were actively involved in today’s meeting, leading a session on Indigenous mental wellness, addictions and health.

“As young First Peoples of Canada, we are carrying both the impacts of intergenerational trauma and the strength of our Nations,” said Hanna Sewell, citizen of Batchewana First Nation and member of the AFN National Youth Council. “Our Nations are tackling mental wellness by grounding preventative solutions in our languages, revitalization of traditions, and connections to our sovereign territories. While the world is trying to adapt to the constantly changing geopolitics, young people across the globe are looking for a positive path forward that can benefit us all. We know the solutions that work. Cooperation across colonial borders allows us to share knowledge and build stronger, healthier futures for youth on both sides of the Medicine Line for seven generations to come.”

During the meeting, NCAI and AFN reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, strengthening advocacy at the international level, and advancing shared priorities through coordinated action. The NCAI and AFN will continue to meet regularly as affirmed in the Declaration. This work reflects a renewed and focused leadership approach rooted in unity, respect, and the enduring kinship among First Peoples.

###

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 www.ncai.org.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.

First Nations Leaders from Canada and the United States Demonstrate Unity and Joint Action at UNPFII

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) honors former National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland (Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe) for her longstanding service to Tribal Nations and her broad contributions across Indian Country as she ends her federal service. Hovland has built a career grounded in public service, Tribal leadership, and a deep commitment to strengthening Native communities. At the NIGC — where she served in multiple leadership roles and as Vice Chair since January 17, 2021 — she has helped regulate and protect the integrity of more than 500 Tribal gaming facilities operated by over 245 Tribal Nations across 29 states.

Throughout her time in leadership, Hovland championed Tribal sovereignty, supported the long-term strength of Tribal gaming, and helped ensure that the industry continues to serve as an economic engine for Tribal Nations and their citizens. In recent years, her work has also included elevating awareness around urgent community safety issues, including efforts to combat human trafficking and other threats facing Tribal communities. The NIGC has specifically highlighted her advocacy for protecting Tribal sovereignty, developing the next generation of gaming leaders, and securing federal resources to address these issues.

“Jeannie has been a long-time friend and someone I have respected for many years,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “Her work has never been limited to one lane. She has shown up for Indian Country across many areas — always with professionalism, heart, and a sincere commitment to Indian Country. She understands the responsibility that comes with leadership, and she has carried that responsibility with grace, strength, and consistency. Beyond her diligence and advocacy, I have always appreciated the way she has remained grounded and active in service to Native communities. Her contributions have made a real difference, and we are grateful for all she has done.”

NCAI recognizes that Hovland’s service reflects the kind of leadership that matters deeply in Indian Country: leadership rooted in relationships, accountability, and a clear understanding that the work must always center on supporting Tribal Nations and future generations.

NCAI extends its appreciation to Vice Chair Hovland for her years of service and wishes her continued success in all that lies ahead.

NCAI Honors Former National Indian Gaming Commission Vice Chair Jeannie Hovland

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

Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University

Open to Tribal Leaders and Tribal communications professionals, the fellowship provides targeted learning and hands-on practice to increase communication skills and expand media presence to meet their community needs.

Build the skills to amplify your Tribal Nation’s priorities in today’s media landscape.

By the end of this training, participants will know how to:

Create strong narratives, tell compelling stories, and deliver effective messages.

Use their voices and digital tools to advocate for policy change at all levels.

Build and maintain relationships with news outlets and media professionals.


I have never been in a room full of people who look like my cousins, studying communications. I was moved. I felt like I was part of something important and I am a vital piece moving forward.

 Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Arizona State University

 includes lunch and snacks for all program days

Transportation to and from the program site, lodging, and additional meals are not included. A room block is available at the U.S. government rate.

 who understand the unique media landscape of Indian Country

 and storytelling techniques to mobilize your communities & advance policy

 reporters, Tribal leaders, and political strategists on the importance of communications.

 and pitch stories that matter while navigating diverse interview environments.

fellows will receive 50% off their registration fee for NCAI's 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace

 in October 2026 after successful completion of the program.

Register Now for the 2026 Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) celebrates the achievements of Native women leaders of NCAI and across Indian Country. NCAI was established in response to federal termination and assimilation policies with a mission grounded in protecting treaty rights, defending Tribal sovereignty, and uniting Tribal Nations around shared priorities. In 1944, six women attended NCAI’s first convention, contributing to the organization’s formation and representing their Tribal Nations as they adopted resolutions that reflected this purpose.


“NCAI is strong because Native women continue to lead at every level of this organization,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Every day, the Native women of NCAI demonstrate what leadership looks like in service to Indian Country. We proudly recognize the women whose voices are guiding critical conversations on sovereignty, governance, community well-being, and the future of our Nations. Their service reflects the strength, wisdom, and responsibility that Native women have always carried in Tribal leadership.”


From the very beginning of NCAI’s history, women have served critical roles in advancing that work. NCAI’s earliest leadership included Ruth Muskrat Bronson (Cherokee), who served as the organization’s first Executive Director, followed by other influential leaders including: Helen Peterson (Oglala Sioux), Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne/Muscogee), A. Gay Kingman (Cheyenne River Sioux), Rachel Joseph (Lone Pine Paiute), JoAnn K. Chase (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara), and Jacqueline Johnson Pata (Tlingit). Women have also served across NCAI’s Executive Committee, including in NCAI’s highest elected office: Presidents Veronica L. Homer (Mohave), Susan Masten (Yurok), and Fawn Sharp (Quinault Indian Nation). These women, along with the countless others who have served in leadership positions with NCAI, have helped shape policy advocacy, elevate Tribal priorities on a national stage, strengthen organizational capacity, and move Indian Country forward across generations.


When asked about her experience, former NCAI President Susan Masten said, “It was an honor to be one of only three women to serve as President of NCAI, alongside Veronica Homer and Fawn Sharp. Native women bring strength, wisdom, and compassion to our Nations. Our leadership is rooted in culture and guided by our ancestors. During Women’s History Month, I honor the women who came before us and the young women who will carry our Nations forward.”


Today, the women serving on NCAI’s Executive Committee include Recording Secretary Christie Modlin (Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma), Treasurer Ashley Cornforth (Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community), Midwest Regional Vice President Wendy Merrill (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), Pacific Regional Vice President Geneva Mojado (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians), Southeast Regional Vice President Lora Ann Chaisson (United Houma Nation), and Eastern Oklahoma Alternate Vice President Pamela Shaw (Osage Nation). Their service reflects the enduring strength, vision, and commitment that Native women bring to governance, advocacy, and nation-building.


“When we look across Indian Country, we see the lasting impact of women leaders who have built strong institutions, defended Tribal interests, and created pathways for future generations,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “From the women who helped shape NCAI’s own history to the many women leading Native-serving organizations and Tribal Nations today, their work has advanced policy, protected families, strengthened communities, and helped ensure that our Native voices are heard and represented in every space where decisions are made.”


As NCAI continues its work to protect Tribal sovereignty and uphold nation-to-nation relationships, we honor the women whose leadership has helped define NCAI’s work for more than eight decades. Their contributions are woven into the history of NCAI, the progress of Tribal Nations, and the future of 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 

NCAI Honors the Women Who Have Helped Shape Indian Country and Strengthen Tribal Sovereignty

— The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) today renewed their shared commitment to unity, cooperation, and mutual support through a Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation among the Indigenous Peoples and Nations of North America. The declaration was signed during the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Reservation Economic Summit (RES).

The declaration formalizes collaboration between NCAI and AFN to advance the well-being, rights, and priorities of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and First Nations on issues of shared international concern.

“Though borders were imposed upon our homelands, the relationships among our peoples never ceased,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “Trade did not end. Traditions endured. Our kinship has remained strong across generations. By renewing this declaration with the Assembly of First Nations, we reaffirm that our voices are strongest when we stand together in mutual respect, solidarity, and collective purpose.”

The renewed declaration reflects the enduring ties among Indigenous Nations across North America and strengthens collaboration on shared priorities, including international advocacy, sovereignty, and engagement with future generations of Indigenous leaders.

“With this agreement, we look forward to working alongside President Macarro today and the NCAI in unity, solidarity and friendship to realize the full potential our First Nations economy in North America,” said AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. “Despite the risks we face with Canada-US trade and the growth of extremism around the world, I am optimistic because First Nations on both sides of the Medicine Line are already making so much positive change. Unlike colonial governments, our leaders are showing it is still possible to tackle difficult cross-border discussions and shine a light on solutions. United, we can do anything we put our minds to.”

Leaders noted that RES provided an important space to publicly advance this renewed commitment. International convenings like RES create opportunities for Indigenous leaders to strengthen relationships, align priorities, and build momentum for cooperative action across Nations and across borders.

NCAI and AFN emphasized a shared belief that Indigenous youth must remain central to this work, ensuring that future generations inherit strong relationships, strong institutions, and strong pathways for collaboration.

“We are grateful to NCAIED and RES for creating the space for this important moment,” said Macarro. “This renewed declaration is a sacred affirmation that we are, and have always been, relatives — yesterday, today, and forever.”

NCAI and Assembly of First Nations Renew Declaration of Kinship and Cooperation at Reservation Economic Summit

 | 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: 

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

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

. This resolution authored by NCAI's Veterans Committee supports programs in tribal communities which train Tribal Veteran Representatives and tribal councils in assisting American Indian Veterans in accessing veteran benefits and services, compensation, and pension claims.

We thank all of the nation's veterans today, and we will continue our work to ensure their future is filled with the freedom and health, for which they fought to provide for all Americans.

NCAI continues to track information released by the Department of Defense related to American Indian and Alaska Native service members who have died or been wounded in military operations.

As of October 2012 reports from the Pentagon provide the following information on the sacrifices made by American Indian and Alaska Native service members since 2001 in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan):

70 American Indians and Alaska Natives have died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq

 (43 in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 27 in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan). A total of six American Indian and Alaska Natives have been killed since March of 2012.

513 American Indian and Alaska Native service members have been wounded in action since 2001

 (344 in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 169 in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan). This is an increase of 68 individuals wounded since May of 2011, when it was reported that 445 had been wounded (336 in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 109 in Operation Enduring Freedom).

The Pentagon also reported in March 2012 that 22,248 American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) currently serve in the military (active duty). Native personnel serve across the Armed Forces at the following levels; Army: 4,404; Navy: 13,511; Marine Corps: 2,128; and Air Force: 2,205.

The 2010 U.S. Census estimates that there are currently 156,515 American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. (Source: 2010 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population).

According to Department of Veteran Affairs, in 2006 more than 36,000 female veterans were AI/AN, representing almost 10 percent of all AI/AN veterans, and nearly twice the national average (6 percent of women in the overall population are veterans).

Honoring, Remembering, and Serving Native American Veterans

Voter ID laws being considered or already in place in six states could have a negative impact on Native voter participation in the 2012 election and in years to come. New analysis released today by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), warns that Native voters in Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, present significant barriers to Native Voter participation. 

NCAI, the nation’s leading Native American advocacy organization, also announced it is supporting increased voter protection efforts in Arizona, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, in response to historic and current voter suppression efforts.

“We will not be deterred – Indian Country is focused on turning out the largest Native vote in history this year – and this report helps us focus our protection and education efforts. Voter ID laws and photo ID laws are a major concern and we are working to make sure Native voters have the information they need to make their voice heard,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel from the organization’s 69th Annual Convention being held in Sacramento, California.

, identifies three areas where voter ID requirements pose significant challenges for Native voters and can be characterized as having a disproportionate effect on the American Indian and Alaska Native vote: First, states with voter ID laws compromise the rights of Native voters by not accepting tribal IDs as valid forms of identification; second, such laws create barriers of cost, logistics, and distance to obtaining required IDs; and finally, these laws risk disenfranchising large numbers of Native voters through provisional ballots.

The report also states that of the 18 states that Native Vote has identified as focus states for protecting Native voter rights and increasing voter engagement, 11 have passed new voter ID laws that could disproportionately affect Native voters. A map and chart included in the report highlights the six states of greatest concern.

The report also outlines steps that can be taken by tribal nations, states, and election officials, to increase education and protection efforts for Native voters.

In January, Keel and NCAI called for the largest Native vote in history.

New Report: Voter ID Laws & the Native Vote

Embassy of Tribal Nations – Washington, DC -

 On Friday October 12, 2012 the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a 

 regarding the enforcement of laws that affect the ability of members of federally recognized Indian tribes to possess or use eagle feathers. The new policy is the result of numerous consultations with tribal leaders, tribal nations, and individuals. The policy covers all federally protected birds, bird feathers, and bird parts. 

In response the National Congress of American Indians released the following statement acknowledging the important step this policy represents:

“Eagle feathers are of great spiritual and cultural significance to many tribal nations and their citizens, and we view the Administration’s new policy as a positive step toward addressing the use and possession of these sacred items. We are hopeful that this policy will protect the rights of all Native peoples to practice their religion without fear of interference by federal officials,” said Robert Holden, Deputy Director of NCAI, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization. “After decades of confusion, this new policy clarifies the position of the federal government in a manner that strikes a more equitable balance between the rights of Native American practitioners and the preservation of eagles.”

NCAI has convened Eagle Feathers Work Group meetings with DOJ officials numerous times during the policy drafting stages, and in the coming weeks, the work group will take a thorough look at the new DOJ policy and its implications.


“In general, we anticipate this policy will be well received by the work group and Indian Country in general. It may well resolve some decades-old concerns and everyone who has played a role in the process—both on the tribal side and the federal side—should be commended for their efforts. We encourage continued review of the policy and urge the federal government to be very sensitive to religious freedom concerns when considering enforcement,” concluded Holden.


The DOJ policy provides that, consistent with the Department of Justice’s traditional exercise of its discretion, a member of a federally recognized tribe will not be subjected to federal prosecution for certain types of conduct (see below). The Department will continue to prosecute tribal members and non-members alike for violating federal laws that prohibit the killing of eagles and other migratory birds or the buying or selling of the feathers or other parts of such birds. The new policy makes clear that DOJ’s priority is on large-scale commercial cases and incidents of illegal poaching, not the every-day use and possession of eagle parts and feathers by tribal members.

The policy provides that, consistent with the Department of Justice’s traditional exercise of its discretion, a member of a federally recognized tribe engaged only in the following types of conduct will not be subject to prosecution:

Possessing, using, wearing or carrying federally protected birds, bird feathers or other bird parts (federally protected bird parts);

Traveling domestically with federally protected bird parts or, if tribal members obtain and comply with necessary permits, traveling internationally with such items;

Picking up naturally molted or fallen feathers found in the wild, without molesting or disturbing federally protected birds or their nests;

Giving or loaning federally protected bird parts to other members of federally recognized tribes, without compensation of any kind;

Exchanging federally protected bird parts for federally protected bird parts with other members of federally recognized tribes, without compensation of any kind;

Providing the feathers or other parts of federally protected birds to craftspersons who are members of federally recognized tribes to be fashioned into objects for eventual use in tribal religious or cultural activities.

NCAI Statement on DOJ Announcement of Department-wide Policy on Eagle Feather Use & Possession

National tribal organization calls for civil discourse
and immediate stop to politicization of Native identity

Embassy of Tribal Nations - Washington, DC --

 The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) issued the following statement in the wake of recent developments in the Massachusetts Senate election contest between incumbent Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and his opponent, Elizabeth Warren, who has stated she descends from Cherokee and Delaware Indian ancestry. 

NCAI, a non-partisan organization, is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization in the country.

NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Pata released the following statement:

“In the last week, the Massachusetts Senate race reached an extremely disturbing place. The National Congress of American Indians is calling for the candidates to return civility to the public discourse and to immediately stop the politicization of Native identity. On Tuesday, 

video footage was released showing Senator Brown’s staff

 leading crowds in ‘war whooping’ and ‘tomahawk chopping’ during a clash with Warren supporters. Additionally, last Thursday Senator Brown made inflammatory remarks about Warren’s skin color as an indicator that she is not of Native descent.

The video footage of Senator Brown’s staff engaged in ‘war whooping’ and ‘tomahawk chopping’ is not only offensive and demeaning to Native Americans it is also demoralizing to citizens across the country. It’s concerning that experienced staff members of a United States Senator would act this way; Senator Brown should take corrective action immediately. These actions belittle the democratic process and are emblematic of an irresponsible public discourse on race and Native identity by misinformed individuals and the media.

Elizabeth Warren also bears responsibility for allowing the public discourse about Native identity to become misrepresented. She has every right to be proud of her family, however her campaign failed to educate a non-Native media and the public unfamiliar with federal tribal enrollment rules or about historic federal policies that make proving Native ancestry very difficult for some people. Finally, Warren’s campaign did not respond to requests for interviews from Native media organizations. All of these actions could have gone a long way to reducing tension and increasing awareness.

The video released of Brown’s staffers comes just days after Senator Brown 

responded to a question during the opening

 of a September 20, 2012 televised debate between the two candidates in which he referred to Warren’s white skin color as proof that she is not of Native American descent in response to an opening question about character, “I think character is important…what you are referring to is the fact that Professor Warren claimed she is a Native American, a person of color, and as you can see, she is not.”

Skin color or physical appearance has no bearing on one’s Native American heritage or status as an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe. As a result, numerous national television programs and websites have irresponsibly echoed Senator Brown’s statements by referring to someone’s skin color as an indicator for Native American identity. These claims are false and Senator Brown should correct the record and retract his statement immediately.

NCAI is concerned by the negative and racially charged statements and actions that are the result of the politicization of the issue of Native ancestry. This issue has no bearing on the qualifications to be the Senator of Massachusetts.

Native American peoples have long endured discrimination and we will not tolerate, nor should the American people tolerate, a return to hostile environments or ignorant discourse about America’s first peoples. Nor should we tolerate a hostile environment about a common characteristic many people share, a connection to Native American ancestry.

Today, Native people are proud of our ancestors, our place in the American family of governments, and we will not stand for irresponsible behavior or public discourse.”

 - 5.2 million or 1.7 percent of the U.S. population are American Indian or Alaska Native, including those of more than one race. Of this total, 2.9 million were American Indian and Alaska Native only, and 2.3 million were American Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races. Source: 2010 Census Brief: Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin 

http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf

“Tribal enrollment criteria are set forth in tribal constitutions, articles of incorporation or ordinances. The criterion varies from tribe to tribe, so uniform membership requirements do not exist.

Two common requirements for membership are lineal decendency from someone named on the tribe's base roll or relationship to a tribal member who descended from someone named on the base roll. (A "base roll" is the original list of members as designated in a tribal constitution or other document specifying enrollment criteria.) Other conditions such as tribal blood quantum, tribal residency, or continued contact with the tribe are common.”


About the Senator of Massachusetts Responsibilities.

 In addition to representing the State of Massachusetts, a Senator from the Bay State is one of 100 members of the Senate who engage in nation-to-nation relations between the 566 federally recognized tribal nations in the United States and the federal government. A Massachusetts Senator is also one of two members of the U.S. Senate who represent a state with two federally recognized tribes, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah).

NCAI Characterizes Massachusetts Senate Campaign as “Extremely Disturbing”

Unanimous Passage for both Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Confirmation and FEMA Reauthorization in House

NCAI Calls for Congress to Sustain Momentum in November - VAWA, Carcieri, and Indian Budget Priorities Remain

NCAI Releases Tribal Budget and Fiscal Cliff Analysis

Embassy of Tribal Nations - Washington, DC

 – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is applauding the immediate successes resulting from last week’s second annual Tribal Unity Impact Week on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The week of advocacy efforts was co-hosted by NCAI, in partnership with the California Association of Tribal Governments, the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, the United South and Eastern Tribes, and the Navajo Nation.

By the end of the week, the House of Representatives had passed the FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2012, which includes tribal amendments to the Stafford Act, and the Senate had confirmed the nomination of Kevin Washburn, Dean of the University of New Mexico’s School of Law, as the new Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.

“The unified efforts of tribal leaders and advocates last week brought an immediate impact and offers encouraging signs for our remaining priorities,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI. “Two goals of Indian Country were achieved last week with the passage of the FEMA reauthorization in the House and the confirmation of the new Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs by the Senate. In this political environment it says a lot about the non-partisan nature of the U.S. government’s trust responsibility to tribal nations and the importance of tribal unity efforts in Washington, D.C. – we’re very pleased and grateful for all our partners’ efforts.

"At the same time, land restoration legislation to provide a clean fix for the 

 Supreme Court and legislation which supports local protection for our Native women remain unresolved," said Keel. "It’s vital that members of Congress are prepared to act in November, and all Tribal Unity Impact Week partners will be working to engage Congress during the lame duck session.”

During the two days of in-person meetings with members of Congress, government agencies, and Administration officials, tribal leaders and Indian Country advocates outlined five immediate priorities that had been identified for collaborative action by a number of regional inter-tribal organizations and the Navajo Nation, and NCAI.

The top five priorities of Tribal Unity Impact Week included strengthening tribal land restoration and addressing the 

 decision; protecting Native women through the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); securing the Indian budget; strengthening tribal emergency and disaster response capabilities for tribes by amending the Stafford Act; and confirming the nomination of Kevin Washburn as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.



FEMA Reauthorization & Amendments to the Stafford Act

On Wednesday, in the hours following the kickoff of Tribal Unity Impact Week and tribal leader meetings with members of Congress, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2903, the FEMA Reauthorization Act of 2012. The bill, which includes tribe-specific amendments to the Stafford Act, passed unanimously. The amendment to the Stafford Act, offered into the bill by Congressman Rahall (D-WV3), offers the option for federally recognized Indian tribes to make direct requests for emergency or disaster declarations by the President of the United States.

Addressing Tribal Unity Impact Week, FEMA’s Chief Counsel Brad Kieserman said "tribes are coequal sovereigns" and the Stafford Act should recognize that reality. The amendments passed in the House bill achieve this objective.

In November, the Senate is set to review H.R. 2903, as well as Senate bill 2283, introduced by Senator Tester (D-MT), which also includes a tribal amendment to the Stafford Act.

The key difference between the two bills is the House bill includes the tribal amendment within a larger FEMA Reauthorization. This gives the Senate Committee more language to consider before passing the bill than the Senate bill, which only contains language for a tribal amendment to the Stafford Act.



Washburn Confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs

On late Friday, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimously passed the nomination of Kevin Washburn, nominee for the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. Washburn’s nomination moved out of Committee and made it to the Senate floor on Friday evening where he was duly confirmed as the new Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs.

The nomination came following 

sustained and overwhelming support from Indian Country, including efforts led by NCAI

, for the past several weeks following the nomination in early August. In the week leading up to Tribal Unity Impact Week the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held Washburn’s confirmation hearing. Leaders and advocates called for a swift and immediate confirmation during Tribal Unity Impact Week.

NCAI congratulates Assistant Secretary Washburn on his confirmation.



Securing the Tribal Budget and the Fiscal Cliff

With an impending sequestration on the horizon, NCAI focused on what’s being labeled as the “fiscal cliff” and the budget concerns for Indian Country during Tribal Unity Impact Week. NCAI released a tribal budget analysis titled 

‘Honoring the Federal Trust Responsibility in the Federal Budget’

 during the week and delivered copies to tribal leaders and Hill staff. In addition, tribal leaders met with the Office of Management and Budget and various members of Congress urging them to recognize that the federal trust obligation to Indian tribes must be honored and tribal programs must be protected in any deal to reduce the national debt. Tribal leaders discussed the potential effects of sequestration on Indian tribal governments and highlighted the serious community impacts of 8.2 percent across-the-board cuts.



Tribal Unity Impact Week also highlighted two major legislative priorities for Indian Country that have yet to be resolved by Congress; the tribal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and a clean fix to the Supreme Court’s decision in 

. Given encouraging progress on both pieces of legislation, tribal advocates encouraged final passage without further delay.



 The tribal provisions of VAWA give Indian tribes local criminal jurisdiction over all crimes of domestic violence where the offender has significant ties to the reservation. Indian Country has reached out to Congress and asked that it pass legislation to protect Native women at the local level from instances of domestic violence. The Senate responded with Title 9 of S. 1925, which would allow Indian tribes to prosecute all persons with sufficient ties to the tribe who batter their Indian spouses or partners.



 Since last year’s Tribal Unity Impact Week, the Supreme Court handed down another decision, further eroding tribal land into trust policy. The recent decision in 

Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potowatomi v. Patchak

, disregards decades of interpretation of the Quiet Title Act to permit retroactive challenges to the status of federal Indian trust land many years after it has been placed in trust.

Last week, tribal leaders highlighted the recent 

 decision as evidence of the problems the 

 decision created when it effectively divided tribes into two categories: tribes federally recognized prior to 1934, for which the Secretary of the Interior has the authority to take land into trust on behalf of; and tribes recognized after 1934, which the Secretary of the Interior lacks the authority to take land into trust for.

During Impact Week, tribal leaders reminded members of Congress that the right to acquire land for government purposes is one of the core bundles of rights reserved for tribal nations, and must be protected as a core principle within the federal trust responsibility towards Indian tribes.

Tribal Unity Impact Week Delivers “Immediate Impact” for Indian Country

Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, D.C. important part of Crooks legacy

Washington, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released a statement today reflecting on the life and contributions of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Stanley R. Crooks, a lifetime member of NCAI and prominent leader in Indian Country, who passed away this past Saturday August 25, 2012 from natural causes.

“Chairman Crooks was a dedicated Lifetime Member of NCAI and his passion for making Indian Country stronger was only surpassed by his love for his family and community. He was bold, and he carried with him the pride and courage of the Dakota people. We are sure there will be generations of great leaders who will walk in his footsteps and continue the vision of the nation he led and the efforts he supported,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI, and Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.

“Chairman Crooks will long be remembered at NCAI for his many contributions to Indian Country and his steadfast support for a unified voice for Indian Country. One of his greatest gifts to NCAI – and Indian Country – was his leadership, and that of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in helping to establish the Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, D.C. The legacy of Stanley Crooks’ leadership is honored every time a tribal leader or citizen walks in the doors of our great Embassy; when a foreign dignitary or senior U.S. government official visits to build stronger ties between nations; when NCAI staff members arrive every day to work for the betterment of Indian Country. In the Embassy of Tribal Nations, his legacy will live on to the seventh generation, and beyond, and for that Indian Country should be forever grateful to Chairman Crooks and the nation he led for so many years.”

In February of 2006, the Shakopee Nation, led by Chairman Crooks, became the first Eagle level donor, establishing a challenge grant in the sum of $1 million, calling on other tribes to engage in the Embassy of Tribal Nations Capital Campaign project. In 2009, the Embassy of Tribal Nations was opened in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s “Embassy Row.”
In April of 2006 Chairman Crooks wrote an op-ed in which he outlined the vision for the Embassy and why it was important for Indian Country to realize the longtime vision for a home in the nation’s Capital:

“The Embassy of Tribal Nations will benefit all Indian nations and all Native people for generations to come. It will give Indian nations a permanent home in our nation’s capital. With this embassy, we can work towards increasing the status of our tribes and take our rightful place among other sovereign nations of the world - giving credence and attention to issues of importance in Indian Country.

By working under the same roof with other national Indian organizations and tribes, our goal of working with one voice can be attained. With a permanent home, Indian nations will have a base from which to carry out our intergovernmental relations to protect tribal sovereignty and treaty obligations.

The Embassy of Tribal Nations is an investment in the future of Indian Country. When this building is completed, all of Indian Country will have a presence in the Nation’s Capital and the halls of Congress like never before. “ – Chairman Stanley Crooks, April 2006

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