 — 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

Lincoln, NE – Access to voting and voter registration for Native Americans is nearing a “civic emergency” and the nation’s leading tribal advocacy organization has called for immediate action. Addressing tribal, state, and federal government officials, Jefferson Keel the President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), outlined a set of solutions to increase access to the ballot box and voter registration for American Indian and Alaska Native voters. In addition to grassroots voter registration efforts, Keel called for the Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities to be added to the list of federal and state government service providers, which serve as voter registration sites.

“Over the last century since securing our rightful place at the ballot box, Native people have remained one of the most disenfranchised group of voters in the United States. Today as a result, two out of every five eligible American Indian and Alaska Native voters are not registered to vote, in 2008 over 1 million eligible Native voters were unregistered,” said Keel, President of NCAI, the nation’s oldest and most representative tribal advocacy organization. “This should be considered a civic emergency – we should all be concerned: American Indians and Alaska Natives, tribal governments, state and federal governments, ordinary citizens. Today I’m offering a set of concrete actions we can take now to change this situation.”

Early in 2012, during NCAI’s State of Indian Nations Address, Keel called for the largest Native turnout in history. In remarks delivered at NCAI’s Mid Year Conference, he focused on the role of everyday citizens to register voters and that call for Indian Country to participate in Native Vote, NCAI’s national non-partisan campaign. In his address he highlighted three opportunities for tribes and Native citizens to make Indian Country’s voice heard in 2012 and beyond.

Keel announced a new partnership with national non-profit Rock the Vote, a partnership that allows the Native Vote campaign to provide resources for online voter registration through NativeVote.org. Keel also announced, “Rock the Native Vote Youth Week” September 24-28, 2012, coinciding with National Voter Registration day on September 25. The week of events across the country will engage tribal schools and Native youth programs in a range of civics education, including a tribal specific supplement to Rock the Vote’s Democracy Day class. Participants, such as local chapters of Boys and Girls Clubs of America, will educate Native young people about the power of civic engagement and the importance of registering their parents, family members, and one day, themselves, to vote.

He also highlighted the “Tools for All” partnership initiated with State Voices – a national civic engagement network. The partnership offers the chance for tribes to access voter outreach tools that can identify tribal members who need to register and encourage all tribal citizens to make their voice heard.

“Finally and most importantly, our federal and state government partners should provide the same voter registration services offered in other government facilities. That’s why today I’m calling for state election officials to work with tribes and the federal government to ensure tribal citizens are offered the chance to vote when they visit an add Indian Health Service (IHS) facility,” stated Keel.

President Keel cited a new report released by D?mos, a multi-issue national organization, outlining Native voter disenfranchisement and proposing IHS facilities as logical sites for voter registration. The report, 

Ensuring Access to the Ballot for American Indians & Alaska Natives: New Solutions to Strengthen American Democracy

, states that “Appropriate IHS facilities should be designated as official voter registration agencies along the same lines as state based public assistance agencies are now designated under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).

Keel announced he is sending a letter in support of the idea directly to every individual IHS facility, along with a copy of the report.

In the letter, Keel writes, “The Indian Health Service is a key agency in delivering on the federal government’s trust responsibility to tribes. As outlined in the report, IHS facilities, conveniently and centrally located in many tribal communities, are ideal voter registration sites. Joining other federal and state agencies in offering this service to clients will make a large impact in tribal communities, in the national Native Vote and in furthering the fulfillment of the federal trust responsibility.

President Jefferson Keel final remarks as delivered.

Access to Elections and Voter Registration a “Civic Emergency” for Native Americans says NCAI President

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), made the following statement in honor of Memorial Day.

“This Memorial Day, we again pay our respect to those members of the United States military, both Native and non-Native, that have passed on and who served with great honor to protect our lands and our nations. Service is one of the most honorable callings and for over a century Native men and women have offered their lives to ensure brighter days for future generations,” said Keel, President of NCAI and a veteran with over 20 years of active duty service in the United States Army. “Today, Native Americans continue to serve in distant lands, however upon returning home they face even greater challenges. Too often services to which Native veterans are entitled fall short of meeting their needs and are less adequate than those provided to their non-Native counterparts. It is our duty to protect and serve those who have served us with such honor. On this Memorial Day, we call on the United States and tribal nations to honor those veterans who have passed on, by supporting those veterans who have returned.”

NCAI is currently working to secure resources to enable tribal communities to establish Veteran Treatment Courts, an important tool in supporting veterans; to increase the number of tribal Veteran Service Officers; to increase funding for VA tribal home-loan programs and the homeless veteran initiative; and to collaborate with the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs to ensure effective consultation with tribal nations.

Updated – Native Service by the Numbers


Hundreds of thousands of tribal members have served in the U.S. military in the last century, including the recent engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. As of March 2012 the Pentagon estimates that since 2001, 64 American Indians and Alaskan Natives have died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq (42 in Operation Iraqi Freedom; 22 in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)).

The Pentagon also reported in March 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 are 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).


President Keel, serving his second term as President of NCAI, is a retired U.S. Army officer with over 20 years active duty service. He also serves as the Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.

During his military service, he served two extended tours of combat duty as an Infantryman in Vietnam, and received numerous awards and decorations for heroism, including two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star with "V" for valor, and the Army Commendation Medal with valor. He is a former Airborne Ranger, infantry platoon sergeant and platoon leader, and served as an instructor in the elite U.S. Army Rangers. In June 2011, Jefferson Keel was one of three former service members inducted into the Military Memorial Museum Hall of Honor.

Native Military Service and Memorial Day; Statement by NCAI President Jefferson Keel

Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives voted and passed a version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization - HR 4970 - without any of the key tribal jurisdictional provisions intact. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has serious concerns about the alternative provisions contained in the House bill and is calling on the House and Senate to restore the bipartisan and constitutionally sound tribal provisions in the Senate version of the bill, S.1925, that create local solutions to the epidemic of domestic violence experienced by Native women.

“Native women aren’t safer as a result of the passage of HR 4970. In fact, the tribal provisions included in this bill create additional hurdles for Indian women seeking protection from violence on tribal lands, and that is unacceptable,” said Juana Majel-Dixon, 1st Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and co-chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women. “Indian Country supports the bipartisan Senate VAWA bill, which contains constitutionally sound tribal provisions that provide local solutions that will deliver long-overdue justice to Native women and safety to tribal communities.”

Passed by a vote of 222-205, the tribal provisions included in HR 4970 would be a step backward in contrast to the bipartisan Senate VAWA bill, supported by NCAI and tribes across the country. Over the past few days, H.R. 4970 has been amended to include provisions that have the potential to cause great confusion surrounding tribes' authority to issue civil protection orders and that could further endanger Native victims.

HR 4970 would “federalize” the issuance and enforcement of protection orders for Native victims, authorizing Indian victims of domestic violence or Indian tribes on behalf of Indian victims to seek protection orders from U.S. district courts against suspects of abuse. This approach fails to address the crux of the problem - a lack of local authority to handle misdemeanor level domestic and dating violence when the perpetrator is non-Indian. The legislation passed by the House is drafted in a way that undermines the safety and autonomy of victims.

On the other hand, S.1925 contains key tribal provisions that would empower the governmental authorities closest to the alleged criminal activity—tribal police and courts—to intervene early in acts of domestic violence committed by non-Indians within the tribe's territory, before the violence escalates to the point of serious assault or homicide. These provisions are limited in scope, do not infringe on existing federal or state court jurisdiction, and defendants who stand trial before a tribal court would have the full panoply of constitutional rights.

House Passes VAWA with Weakened Tribal Provisions; NCAI Voices Serious Concerns Regarding HR 4970

HEARTH Act Passes House of Representatives 400 to 0

Washington, DC - In good news for Indian tribes, last night the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 205, the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership (HEARTH) Act. The legislation will amend the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955 to authorize surface leasing of tribal lands under tribal leasing regulations, which would be approved by the Secretary. The legislation supports tribal self-determination and will enable tribes to move much more quickly on leasing and economic development, while maintaining the Secretary’s trust responsibility to oversee trust lands. It is an extension of the Navajo Leasing Act of 2000 to all Indian tribes.

“NCAI is very appreciative of Representative Heinrich for taking the lead on the HEARTH Act and passing the bill in House with the incredible support of Representatives Hastings, Markey, Young, Boren, Cole and Kildee and all the co-sponsors,” said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). “In the Senate the lead sponsor is Senator Barrasso with Senator Akaka and more sponsors on both sides of the aisle. This legislation has strong bi-partisan support, and offers an opportunity to keep making progress on important legislation that will help create jobs and improve the economy. I urge the Senate to take up H.R. 205 and pass it this week.”

The House bill has been sent to the Senate, where it awaits consideration. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has reported out the companion legislation, S. 703.

NCAI Praises House Passage of HEARTH Act, Urges Swift Senate Action

By Jefferson Keel, NCAI President
as published on 

There is a group of criminals, on Native American lands, who assault, rape, and abuse Native women and they can’t be arrested. These criminals are non-Native men. They don’t have to face a judge, spend any time behind bars, or be hounded by a criminal record. Instead they remain free to go after the next victim or the same one, time after time. Congress, the one legal body able to fix this problem, could let these injustices continue if they don’t act.

The epidemic of violence against women on tribal lands is staggering; 34% of American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped in their lifetimes, 39% will experience domestic violence, and as a Department of Justice study found, non-Indians commit 88% of these heinous crimes. Tribal justice systems are the most appropriate entities to root out these criminals, yet they are the ones with tied hands—restricted by antiquated jurisdictional laws established the U.S. government limiting tribes from prosecuting non-Native criminals.

Over the last few weeks, we have seen members of Congress from both sides of the aisle work to pass a law that would give tribes the authority over these criminals; the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The proposed tribal provisions of the law, passed with bipartisan support in the Senate, are now being left out of the main House of Representatives version of VAWA. Some members of the House fear they don’t have the power to fix the problem or are afraid non-Natives will be subject to tribal law and not guaranteed their constitutional rights.

The reality is the tribal provisions of VAWA are fully constitutional and offer every safeguard provided by U.S. courts – more importantly they are vital to curtailing a very real problem.
In a recent letter to Congress, fifty leading U.S. law professors outlined their confidence in the constitutionality of the legislation. At the core of the letter, the lawyers highlighted the Supreme Court case law supporting Congressional authority and the requisite safe guards of the provisions offered to every defendant.

The Supreme Court in U.S. v. Lara, 541 U.S. 193 (2004), held that “Congress does possess the constitutional power to lift the restrictions on the tribes’ criminal jurisdiction.” Moreover, the VAWA provisions at issue are designed to catch a very narrow set of criminals, not just anyone. They are limited to only crimes of domestic violence or dating violence committed in Indian country, where the defendant is a spouse or established intimate partner of a tribal member.

Defendants prosecuted under these provisions would be entitled to the full array of constitutional protections; due-process rights, an indigent defendant’s right to appointed counsel (at the expense of the tribe) that meets federal constitutional standards, and as the proposed law states, “all other rights whose protection is necessary under the Constitution of the United States.” This includes the right to petition a federal court for habeas corpus to challenge any conviction and to stay detention prior to review, a right of which the prosecuting tribe must timely notify the defendant.

Finally, any non-Indian defendant prosecuted under these new provisions has the right to a trial by jury drawn from sources that do not systematically exclude any distinctive group in the community, including non-Indians.

These provisions offer tribal governments and the United States an opportunity to advance our cause together and root out this epidemic of violence. If Congress removes the restrictions placed on tribal governments, tribal law enforcement, and tribal courts, Native and non-Native communities alike will have the means to protect our women and remove criminals from our lands.

Tribal governments are members of the American family of governments, rooted in the constitution itself – we are America’s first nations. We are ready to work together to end this violence. Yet, it is Congress that must take the first step to remove the restrictions placed on tribal governments.

When Congress does act, it is my hope that it will be to allow our governments and justice systems to stand together to keep every American, and Native American, safe, and demonstrate our commitment to our greatest shared value: justice for all.

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.

Keel Op-Ed: VAWA tribal provisions are constitutionally sound

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), H.R. 4970. Tribal advocates—as well as women’s advocates across the nation—worked very hard over the past few weeks to defeat this partisan bill that excludes key protections for Native women and rolls back protections for other vulnerable populations. But, in a near party-line 17-15 vote (Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) crossed the aisle and voted against the bill’s passage), H.R. 4970 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee. The bill is expected to come to the House floor for consideration by the full House of Representatives as early as next week.

In yesterday’s committee markup, a substitute amendment offered by Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) that closely mirrors the bipartisan Senate-passed bill was not even allowed to be considered or debated. Numerous amendments were offered by committee members that aimed to improve the Adams bill, but these amendments were consistently defeated by the House committee majority. Representative Issa (R-CA) made a powerful statement in support of tribal sovereignty and offered an amendment that would have restored the critical tribal criminal jurisdictional provisions in Section 904 of the bipartisan Senate bill, but he was forced to withdraw his amendment when members of his own party threatened to rule it out of order because it was not “germane.”

Despite the disappointing results of yesterday’s committee markup, we still have a real chance at getting the key Title IX tribal amendments included in H.R. 4970 through a floor amendment. 

Please contact your U.S. Representatives right away and urge them to support a floor amendment to H.R. 4970 that would restore the critical protections for Native women contained in the bipartisan Senate bill.

Click here for a sample letter to send to your Representative.

Click here for talking points on the tribal provisions that need to be included in H.R. 4970.

And don’t forget to call Representative Issa (R-CA) at 202-225-3906 and thank him for standing up for the protection of Native women and tribal sovereignty in yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee markup hearing.

VAWA Update: House Judiciary Committee Passes VAWA Bill Without Key Tribal Provisions

by Jefferson Keel, NCAI President as published on 

Over the last week President Obama, in public events at high schools and speeches throughout the country, has led the charge to ensure that higher education for all students from all backgrounds is affordable. The president has done this because on July 1, 2012, if Congress doesn’t act, interest rates on federally subsidized student loans will double from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. He has also made a direct tie between access to education and the rebuilding of the economy. What has received very little attention, however, is the impact that such an increase would have on access to education, educational achievement, and ultimately the already fragile economy of Indian country.

Native college enrollment has more than doubled between 1976 and 2006. Education after high school, whether it be at a tribal college, a vocational training program, community college, or a four-year institution, has become a real option for the next generation of tribal citizens to advance their knowledge and skills. The number of our young people seeking those opportunities will only increase in the years to come, as 32 percent of the American Indian and Alaska Native population are 18 years old or younger.

Financial aid is critical in helping our young people pursue higher education and earn their degrees. Today approximately 63,000 Native students and their families rely on federal loans—a large percentage of which are subsidized Stafford loans—to help pay for college. With already increasing costs, the steep rise in interest rates would come at a time when Native people need access to higher education more than ever.

College has become more expensive for Native students: between 1995 and 2008, the cost of a full-year education at an undergraduate institution increased from $11,500 to nearly $20,000. Couple those increasing costs with a higher interest rate, and the rate increase will burden students, including Native students, with an average additional $1,000 per school year in student loan debt.

As Indian country knows all too well, this dramatic cost increase will make higher education even more expensive for those who already struggle to afford it. Twenty-eight percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives lived below the federal poverty line in 2010, compared to 15 percent of the general population. Poverty rates are even more pronounced on Indian lands at 38 percent. To afford the rising expenses of college, Native students rely on financial aid of all forms to reach graduation.

College is America’s “economic imperative,” as President Obama has stated, and the stakes are even higher in Indian country. The profound value of higher education for tribal nations extends beyond just economics: it is essential to ensuring our cultural economy, our political survival, and the vitality of our sovereignty.

Today’s generation of Native youth presents a tremendous opportunity to transform Native nations through higher education. Tribal nations need Native college graduates to bring their skills back home, boost available human capital and thereby attract new businesses, reduce unemployment, stimulate reservation economies through direct spending, and launch their own entrepreneurial ventures.

Yet, the United States Congress could stand in the way of the next generation of entrepreneurs and lawyers, natural resource managers and engineers, agribusiness managers and artists, who all are looking to bolster tribal economies, strengthen our communities, and lead our governments.

Congressional inaction threatens to saddle Native students with even more student loan debt. The rate hike will not only push higher education beyond the reach of many American Indians and Alaska Natives, but will also make it more difficult for Native students to return home after graduation. With higher student loan debt, our young people will be forced to take higher-paying jobs in areas away from Native communities. We can’t afford this loss—culturally or economically.

That’s why, for the sake of economic recovery and our collective future, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is calling on Indian Country to pick up your phones, write letters, and urge Congress to maintain these crucial investments in higher education and keep college within the reach of all Americans by taking immediate action. Tell members of Congress to stand up against doubling the interest rates for subsidized Stafford loans.

The need is clear: if Native nations are to participate in the global information economy as equal partners and make a robust contribution to America’s economic recovery, more of our citizens must obtain postsecondary degrees. For Native nations to seize this opportunity and significantly increase college completion rates, however, one considerable barrier to higher education must be torn down: cost.

The consequences are not something Indian country—nor the entire nation— can afford. Congress must act now to ensure that all Americans, including American Indians and Alaska Natives, have a fair shot at higher education.

Jefferson 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 serves as the Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, located in Oklahoma. President Keel earned his Bachelor’s degree from East Central University and Master’s degree from Troy State University. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army

Keel Op-Ed: Student Loan Interest Rates

NCAI President Jefferson Keel (second from left) sits next to Rex Lee Jim, Navajo Nation vice president (first from left), during the conference with James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur (third from right), held April 26-27 2012 at University of Arizona.

NCAI President Jefferson Keel delivered remarks

 at a two-day conference and consultation with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya. Titled “

The Significance of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

”, the conference was held April 26-27 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, just days after the 

Special Rapporteur's meeting with tribal Leaders

 at the Embassy of Tribal Nations in Washington, DC. 

The conference and consultation took place in the context of the Special Rapporteur’s official visit to the United States to examine the situation of indigenous peoples in the country, in light of the standards expressed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In his remarks President Keel stressed the value of Indigenous cultural ideals to the improvement of the world economy.

“For tens of thousands of years, our people have been stewards of the environment. And now, non-Indigenous leaders are realizing that we are also successful stewards of our economies and societies. Indigenous peoples have been doing more with less for generations. It is clear that tribal businesses bring value to the table.”

Other presenters at the University of Arizona conference included Carrie Dann, executive director, Western Shoshone Defense Project; Dr. Suzan Shown Harjo, president The Morning Star Institute; and Rex Lee Jim, Navajo Nation vice president.

In the United States: A Pressing Need to Develop Tribal Economies -Regaining Sovereignty Over Our Land

President Keel Meets with UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya

In March, the U.S. Senate passed S.1813, 

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century(MAP-21)

, a two-year $109 billion bill that would maintain funding for highways, transit and safety programs at current levels, with most funding adjusted for inflation. In addition, MAP-21 would consolidate highway programs including the Indian Reservation Roads Program to Tribal Transportation Program. Two weeks ago, the House passed H.R. 4348, a highway extension that would extend SAFETEA-LU to September 30, 2012, and includes language that mandates construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

It has been announced the Senate-House conferees are scheduled to meet:

To prepare for the upcoming conference meeting, NCAI has developed a sample tribal letter and encourages tribes to send to Senate and House conferees, and to your Congressional members to support the tribal consensus provisions to include the final version of the surface transportation reauthorization. These provisions are non-funding formula related issues but are beneficial to tribal transportation, and it is very important for tribes to continue to build upon the successes of their transportation infrastructure as it is vital to the development of tribal communities and economies.

Download talking points for the Tribal Consensus recommendations documents

Sample Tribal Letter to Transportation Conferees

Tribal Consensus Recommendation to be attached to the tribal sample letter

View the full action alert and the list of Members who are conferees to the transportation bill as announced by Senate and House Leadership.

Please CC Gwen Salt, NCAI Legislative Associate - gsalt[at]ncai.org - on any letters.

Action Alert: H.R. 4348 and S. 1813 Transportation Bills

 to talk about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the importance of the tribal provisions for Native women.

With the House considering VAWA in the next week, 

NCAI has called on Indian Country to raise its voice

 and ensure that the tribal provisions are included in House versions of VAWA.

NCAI Discusses VAWA Tribal Provisions on National TV

Legislation Protects All Domestic and Dating Violence Victims on Reservations; Attention Turns to House Judiciary Committee

Today, in a significant step forward for protection of Native women, the U.S. Senate passed S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization of 2012. Title IX will address the epidemic of violence perpetrated against American Indian and Alaska Native women by restoring concurrent tribal criminal jurisdiction over all persons who commit misdemeanor domestic and dating violence in Indian country and clarifying tribal court authority to issue and enforce civil protection orders. Additionally, it strengthens federal authority to address violent felonies on Indian reservations.

Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians, applauded the Senate. “It was encouraging to see our leaders in the Senate put aside partisan politics and pass a bill that protects and serves all victims of domestic and sexual violence across the country—including our Native sisters, mothers, and daughters. Today’s vote on the VAWA reauthorization represents a historic vote for Native people and tribal sovereignty. Now, we must turn our full attention to the House and count on the same good will and bipartisanship to turn this bill into law and make these protections a reality.”

Several Senators took the floor yesterday and today to champion the tribal provisions in S.1925, including Senators Boxer, Klobuchar, Murray, Cantwell, and Murkowski. Senator Akaka, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and sponsor of the Stand Against Violence and Empower Native Women Act, had this to say about the bill’s key tribal provisions: “This bill’s tribal provisions address the epidemic rates of violence against Native women -- by enabling VAWA programs to more directly and promptly respond to their concerns and needs. These tribal provisions are critical to the lives of Native women and doubly important to me as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs -- and a Native Hawaiian.”

After sharing a powerful story from a Native victim of domestic violence, Senator Udall commented: “This is just one of the daily, even hourly, stories of abuse. Stories that should outrage us all. And that could end through local intervention. Local authority that will only be made possible through an act of Congress. We have the opportunity to support such an act in the tribal provisions of VAWA. I encourage my colleagues to fully support the tribal provisions in this important bill.”

Senator Murkowski spoke strongly in favor of the legislation and addressed concerns regarding violence against Native women in Alaska . She described included amendments that “ensure that Alaska Tribes lose none of the jurisdiction and authority that they have to issue and enforce their domestic violence protection orders.”

S.1925 passed the Senate on a 68 to 31 vote. Senator Hutchison offered a substitute version of the bill that would have removed the provisions affirming tribal court authority among other changes, but it was not accepted by a vote of 36 to 63. As a next step for the legislation, the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a mark up for May 8th, and House Members will be home in their districts next week. NCAI encourages tribal leaders and all others to urge their House Members to support full inclusion of Title IX of S. 1925 in any House bill.

Talking points on the key tribal provisions that deal with criminal jurisdiction

Senate Passes VAWA, Including Protections for Native Women

Following a meeting with tribal leaders at NCAI's Embassy of Tribal Nations, James Anaya, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, recorded this message about his official visit.

On April 23, 2012 the Embassy of Tribal Nations was the venue for one of the first discussions between tribal leaders and James Anaya, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The four-hour meeting was part of a kick-off to the Special Rapporteur’s 

 (April 23 – May 4 2012) examining the human rights situation of America’s indigenous peoples.

The Special Rapporteur is charged with the responsibility of gathering, requesting, receiving and exchanging information and communications from all relevant sources, including Governments, indigenous people and their communities and organizations, on alleged violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to formulate recommendations and proposals on appropriate measures and activities to prevent and remedy violations.

During his visit, the Special Rapporteur will hold meetings and consultations with federal and state government officials, as well as with indigenous nations and their representatives, in various locations. The results of this assessment will be reflected in a preliminary report that will be submitted to the United States for its comments and consideration.

Learn more about the Special Rapporteur’s visit.

Special Rapporteur Anaya Kicks-off Official Visit at Embassy of Tribal Nations

The past month has been a big month for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (S. 1925) as Tribal Nations and allies continue to advocate to preserve the tribal provisions within the bill. While the legislation has gained many strong and invaluable supporters, misinterpretations of the bill’s key tribal provisions have drawn opponents.

The facts clearly illustrate the urgent and serious need for this legislation: 34% of American Indian and Alaska Native women will be raped in their lifetimes; 39% will be subjected to domestic violence in their lifetimes; and on some reservations, Native women are murdered at more than ten times the national average.

The U.S. Constitution and hundreds of treaties, federal laws, and court cases acknowledge that Indian tribes are sovereign governments. Despite this fact, Indian tribes are the only government in America without jurisdiction to combat certain types of domestic violence in their communities. S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, addresses this jurisdictional gap with local solutions that will deliver long-overdue justice to Native women and safety to tribal communities.

Myths and Facts of VAWA’s tribal provisions

It is crucial that all advocates understand and fully support the important provisions in VAWA. Some media outletsand opponents have purported misperceptions regarding the provisions. These myths are clearly dispelled and explained 

. Pass this information on and help educate about the myths and facts of VAWA’s provisions.

You can Take Action to Protect the Tribal Provisions and Protect Native Women

As of April 23, S. 1925 has been filed as a "motion to proceed" in the Senate and is likely to be debated on the Senate floor this week. There will likely be an alternative bill offered as a substitute, and perhaps other harmful amendments, so we want to make sure that S. 1925-the bill with key provisions that will enhance tribal sovereignty and protect Native victims-if the bill that passes.

Find out how YOU can support this important legislation today

, and advocate for the safety of all Native women.

Take Action: Protect Native Women - Support The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

NCAI Contact: Tiffany Smalley,
Communications Fellow 202.466.7767 x 238

Former U.S. Public Health Service Officer and Dentistry Student Lisa Begay (Navajo) Receives Award

Washington, D.C.—The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has announced Lisa Begay of Mesa, Arizona as its inaugural Native Graduate Health Fellowship recipient. Ms. Begay, a former commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, is a Navajo dental student at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, where she is enhancing her knowledge of dental health to complement her substantial field experience. The Fellowship will include both a financial award of $5,000 and professional development in tribal health policy.

These initiatives include helping to implement the “Cavity Free Club” at the Albuquerque IHS Dental Clinic and coordinating a mass mailing of first-birthday cards to Native children to encourage parents to make their child’s first dental appointment. Devoted to fostering the next generation of leaders in Native health, Ms. Begay has also served as an instructor for a national IHS course for dental assistants and encourages other Native students to consider dentistry fields.

In its first year, NCAI’s Native Graduate Health Fellowship is a part of NCAI’s commitment to equipping the next generation of Native leaders. NCAI received nearly 40 applications from students representing 26 tribes. A review committee comprised of NCAI staff and key leaders in Native health selected the inaugural Health Fellow, as well as two finalists, on the basis of demonstrated commitment to American Indian and Alaska Native health, academic achievement, and community engagement. The program aims to build a pipeline of Native health professionals who can support tribal sovereignty and who are prepared to lead in promoting health policies and practices that address the unique needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

NCAI deeply appreciates the generous support of Robert Burnette and the Seventh Day Adventist Church in helping launch the fellowship. The Klamath Tribes, the Kiowa Tribe, the Ketchikan Indian Community, and the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe also pledged a combined $4,000 to help sustain the Fellowship’s endowment. NCAI is planning to expand this Fellowship into other high-need areas in Indian Country, such as education and economic development. For more information about supporting the fellowship, contact Peter Morris at (202) 466-7767 or 

NCAI Names Inaugural Graduate Health Fellowship Recipient


Immediate passage of S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, is critical to the safety of Native women. S.1925 contains key provisions that give tribes more local control to combat misdemeanor crimes of violence against women in their communities and federal prosecutors more tools to appropriately deal with the more serious felonies.

NCAI encourages our members and the general public to contact your Senators now about this bill. Urge them to contact their to support the immediate passage of S.1925 with the Tribal Provisions intact!

Download information on the key tribal provisions of the bill.

Safety for Indian Women –The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act

Learn more about the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) in relation to the Supreme Court's review of the Affordable Care Act.

The Supreme Court has completed hearing three days of oral arguments in review of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). When the ACA was passed two years ago, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) was permanently reauthorized - an achievement for Indian Country that was more than 30 years in the making.

On the third day of the oral arguments, the Supreme Court addressed the "severability" of the law - which reviewed the question; if the individual mandate of the ACA is struck down, will the other pieces of the law remain? The IHCIA will be part of this consideration.

To learn more about the place of the IHCIA in the review of the ACA, download NCAI's briefing document: 

Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments - The Affordable Care Act & Indian Country

Health Reform & Indian Country

National Indian Organizations Release First Year Review of Health Care Legislation

 Marking the one year anniversary of the enactment of health care reform, leading national American Indian and Alaska Native organizations released a report today, highlighting improved health coordination between tribes and federal partners.

The report, 

Moving Indian Country Forward: Health Care Reform One Year Later

, highlights improved coordination of health care services such as cancer screenings and dialysis treatment, increased resources for tribal, urban, and Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, authorized development of long term care programs, and expanded workforce initiatives in tribal communities.

"Healthy tribal communities are vital to healthy tribal economies, and health care reform advances our efforts in that area," said Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). "The permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) in concert with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been critical to the federal government upholding its trust responsibility to provide health care to the citizens of tribal nations."

The report, co-authored by NCAI, the National Indian Health Board, and the National Council of Urban Indian Health, reviews implementation of both pieces of legislation, ongoing tribal consultation, outreach and education efforts, and FY 2012 budget requests related to health care.

"The journey to bring improved health care to tribal nations has only just begun, and now tribes are able to reach our people that need it most: young adults previously without health insurance, children with pre-existing conditions, and elders seeking more efficient prescription solutions," said Cathy Abramson, Chairwoman of the National Indian Health Board.

"Vital provisions in these bills reach tribal communities where it counts, no matter where tribal citizens live, whether in villages, tribal lands, or in off-reservation communities," said Dr. Patrick Rock, President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health.

Health Care Reform Moves Indian Country Forward

Leadership Awards presented to Congressman Don Young, Larry Echo Hawk - Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs, American University WINS Program, and Dr. Eddie Brown. Team from Wingate High School in New Mexico honored for winning Stock Market Game/Tribal Exchange.

Washington, D.C. – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has announced the recipients of the organization’s prestigious Indian Country Leadership Awards. Congressman Don Young (R – AK) Chair of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, Larry Echo Hawk - Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, the American University’s Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) program, and the accomplished Dr. Eddie F. Brown, Professor, Arizona State University will be honored at the organization’s Indian Country Leadership Award Banquet held during 2012 NCAI Executive Council Winter Session. The organization will also recognize the winners of the 2011-2012 Tribal Exchange Game from Wingate High School in New Mexico. 

The organization’s Indian Country Leadership Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations to Indian Country in four categories: Congressional Leadership Award, Native American Leadership Award, Governmental Leadership Award, and Public Sector Leadership Award.

NCAI, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization, will present the awards during a Tuesday evening award reception held in conjunction with its Executive Council Winter Session in Washington, D.C.

Congressional Leadership Award – Congressman Don Young

Representative Young has been a champion for Indian Country for 20 terms in the United States House of Representatives. Representative Young knows tribes are fully capable of self-determination and he supports sovereignty in his legislative efforts on tribal priorities from energy to healthcare. In the 112th Congress, Representative Young became the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs and his leadership has been critical to enabling tribes to fully pursue economic development.

Native American Leadership Award – Dr. Eddie F. Brown, Professor, Arizona State University

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