 voting rights organizations’ an emergency restraining order restricting the United States Postal Service (USPS) from implementing its 

. If the order is lifted, the rule will have immediate effects in Indian Country, including new USPS requirements for outbound federal ballot mail complicating nontraditional tribal addressing systems, and exacerbating technological challenges posed by limited and unreliable internet access on Tribal lands, amongst others. USPS declined to engage in Tribal consultation pursuant to 

. It also declined to conduct a Tribal impact assessment of the rule’s implementation, as previously 

requested by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)

League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump

 blocked USPS from implementing Section 3 of 

, which governs voting by mail. On August 24, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a separate order in 

 blocking implementation of the executive order, finding that the challenge was premature because USPS had not yet issued its final rule. On August 26, the 

 injunction was vacated, allowing plaintiffs to amend their complaint following the USPS issuance of the final rule. The plaintiffs sought emergency relief, which remains in effect pending briefing on the preliminary injunction. A hearing has been set for September 3, 2026.

“American Indian and Alaska Native voters face chronic barriers to access the ballot box without additional last-minute, hasty changes to the federal transmission process,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. “Voting by mail ensures access to the polls and is the only feasible option in many rural Tribal communities, despite longstanding problems with USPS infrastructure and unreliable services. NCAI demands that the administration cease any changes to the existing processes. Creating significant confusion and administrative challenges will disenfranchise millions of voters, especially Native voters, ahead of the November election.”

On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET, a three-part 

 will begin to bolster Native civic engagement, elevate voter rights information, and discuss timely issues affecting participation across Indian Country. The first webinar in the series, 

NCAI Native Civic Power Series: Sovereignty at the Ballot Box

will focus on recent issues that Native voters face to access the ballot box, how to mobilize the Native vote, and opportunities to participate in civic engagement prior to the November election. It will also provide practical information and resources for advocates to make their voices heard through civic engagement activities. 

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 

NCAI Continues to Monitor Federal Court Order Restricting USPS Mail Ballot Rule Implementation Before November Elections

National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund

 issue this joint statement to record our strong and unified position in support of the protection of the Section 106 process of the 

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

 and the fulfillment of the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. The Section 106 process provides Tribal Nations with an important seat at the federal decision-making table, helping the federal government avoid harming cultural heritage sites and uphold its legal obligations while streamlining permitting. Doing so would help to avoid costly delays that can arise when these considerations are not taken into account from the beginning.

On July 24, 2026, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted 15-5, with two abstentions, to advance proposed revisions to the regulations implementing the Section 106 process at 

. Our organizations strongly oppose this rulemaking and believe it should not move forward in its current form. The proposed revisions are now undergoing executive branch review before being published as a proposed rule. As proposed, the revisions violate the United States’ trust and treaty obligations, exceed the boundaries of administrative authority, and attempt to alter responsibilities established by federal statute.

The Section 106 process reflects Congress’s recognition that federal agencies should understand the consequences of their decisions before historic and culturally significant places are damaged or lost. For Tribal Nations, the Section 106 process is inseparable from their inherent sovereignty, the unique legal and political relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States, and the trust and treaty obligations owed to Tribal Nations. It is for this reason that Congress included Tribal Nation-specific provisions within the NHPA. Federal decisions affecting sacred places, ancestral lands, burial places, traditional cultural places, cultural heritage, and cultural landscapes implicate these unique trust and treaty obligations and political relationships, which extend far beyond ordinary stakeholder engagement. Government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations must be understood within that distinct legal and political relationship.

The draft revisions improperly advanced by the ACHP raise significant and, in our view, illegal and disqualifying concerns about the Tribal consultation framework that these obligations and relationships require. The proposed revisions would significantly expand federal agency discretion over whether and how consultation with Tribal Nations occurs, including, for example, by narrowing when the Section 106 process is triggered for a “federal undertaking” and what qualifies as a “historic property.” The proposed revisions would also decrease the instances in which impacts on Tribal Nations’ cultural heritage are considered “effected” sufficient to trigger consideration of mitigation measures, and they would limit Tribal Nations’ participation in deciding on and carrying out mitigation measures. Conversely, these revisions would allow project applicants and other non-federal parties to assume a greater role in activities that are inherently federal functions, which are non-delegable. They would further shorten critical stages of the Section 106 process and attempt to limit judicial review.

Taken together, the ACHP’s proposed changes extend well beyond matters of regulatory procedure and raise broader questions about the implementation of responsibilities Congress established under the NHPA, including those of the ACHP, the National Park Service and other federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Officers, Tribal Nations, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and other participants responsible for implementing the law. The proposed changes also raise questions about the extent to which administrative revisions may alter authorities established by statute or assigned elsewhere within the federal historic preservation framework.

Additionally, although project applicants and contractors may appropriately assist federal agencies with administrative aspects of inherently federal functions, private parties are not owed trust and treaty obligations and do not share the government-to-government relationship with the United States as sovereign Tribal Nations do. The distinction between providing assistance with and input on the Section 106 process and exercising federal governmental responsibility is therefore critical. Federal obligations to Tribal Nations remain regardless of who is seeking approval for an undertaking.

While efficient and predictable federal decision-making is an important policy objective, meaningful Tribal consultation and the historic preservation review it supports are not sources of delay when implemented correctly. When conducted early, consultation with Tribal experts can identify conflicts before substantial resources are committed, allow projects to avoid culturally sensitive places, inform alternatives, and reduce the potential for disputes, litigation, and subsequent project delays. A process that appears administratively shorter may ultimately create greater uncertainty when concerns are not identified until after significant decisions and investments have been made.

The consequences are particularly significant because damage to historic and cultural heritage is irreversible. Once a sacred place is destroyed, ancestral remains are disturbed, or a cultural landscape is fundamentally altered, consultation after the fact cannot restore what has been lost. The Section 106 process provides a mechanism for considering those consequences 

We raise these concerns while acknowledging that the Section 106 process, as it exists today, is far from a perfect safeguard. In practice, the process can be unevenly applied and vulnerable to political pressure that too often favors project proponents and federal agencies over the Tribal Nations whose irreplaceable sacred places and cultural heritage are at stake. The Section 106 process does not always protect what it should, and for this reason it must not be weakened in the manner that the proposed revisions would allow. The United States must instead remain steadfast in supporting a clear, affirmative policy of protecting Tribal Nations’ sacred places, ancestral lands, and cultural heritage — protection that a procedural review mechanism like the Section 106 process can help support.

As federal policymakers continue to consider matters involving federal permitting, infrastructure, energy development, federal lands, and historic preservation, the current proposed changes to the Section 106 regulations raise important questions about the relationship between legislative action, administrative reform, and congressional intent. Central among them is whether the proposed changes to 

 remain consistent with the United States’ trust and treaty obligations and the text, structure, and purposes of the NHPA, as well as preserve the respective responsibilities Congress established within the federal historic preservation system.

The process by which these substantial changes to the Section 106 regulations were developed is also significant. ACHP members were provided roughly one week to review a nearly complete draft before the July 24 vote — without consultation with Tribal Nations — despite a more deliberative process having been contemplated earlier. Changes affecting a longstanding federal statutory framework and the federal government’s relationship with sovereign Tribal Nations warrant careful consideration and meaningful participation by, and consultation with, Tribal Nations.

For Tribal Nations, participation in this revision process cannot be reduced to ordinary public participation or stakeholder engagement through the Federal Register. Public comment and government-to-government Tribal consultation serve different purposes and fulfill different legal obligations. Consultation recognizes the sovereign status of Tribal Nations, the unique legal and political relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States, and the trust and treaty obligations owed to them. Any federal consideration of changes affecting that relationship or those obligations should preserve that distinction. Our organizations’ position is that the integrity of the Section 106 process rests on meaningful government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations; federal accountability for carrying out consultation obligations; recognition and protection of sacred places, traditional cultural properties, and cultural landscapes; respect for the statutory responsibilities established under the NHPA; and consideration of harm to historic and cultural heritage before it becomes irreversible.

We call upon members of Congress, federal agencies, preservation organizations, state governments, Tribal Nation leaders, and the American public to recognize that what Tribal Nations work to protect ultimately benefits us all, and that future generations depend upon the choices made today. For generations, Tribal Nations have fulfilled our traditional responsibility to protect the places that define who we are as Peoples. The federal government carries its own responsibility to honor its commitments, uphold its trust and treaty obligations, and engage Tribal Nations as sovereign partners. The Section 106 revisions advanced by the ACHP fail to fulfill that responsibility.

The current debate therefore extends beyond the merits of a single proposed regulation. It concerns the continued implementation of a statutory framework established by Congress in furtherance of the United States’ trust and treaty obligations and the balance between administrative efficiency, federal accountability, sovereignty retained by Tribal Nations, and the protection of places that cannot be replaced once they are lost. Our organizations stand united in this position. We will continue to work together, and with Tribal Nations across the country, to ensure that the Section 106 process is strengthened rather than weakened, and to advance a clear federal policy that protects Tribal Nations’ sacred places, ancestral lands, and cultural heritage while preserving meaningful government-to-government Tribal consultation and federal accountability.

As this rulemaking proceeds through executive branch review and toward publication in the Federal Register, the Association on American Indian Affairs, the National Congress of American Indians, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and the United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund will continue to make our position known, will mobilize Tribal Nations and allies to participate fully once the formal public comment period opens, and will pursue every avenue available to protect and mitigate harm to our shared cultural heritage. The future of the Section 106 process must be grounded in mutual respect, enforceable accountability, and genuine partnership, not administrative expediency or diminished protections.

About the National Congress of American Indians:

About the Association on American Indian Affairs:

The Association on American Indian Affairs is the oldest national Native non-profit protecting sovereignty, preserving culture, educating youth and building capacity. The Association was formed in 1922 to change the destructive path of federal policy from assimilation, termination and allotment, to sovereignty, self-determination and self-sufficiency. Throughout its more than 100-year history, the Association has provided national advocacy on watershed issues that support sovereignty and culture, while working at a grassroots level with Native Nations to support the implementation of programs that support Native Peoples. 

About the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers: 

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

About United South and Eastern Tribes (USET):

Established in 1969, the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization serving 33 federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indian people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services.

Joint Statement on Protecting Section 106 Process of NHPA

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for today’s decisive action in signing 

 halting all new exploratory mining leases and operations within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. This historic directive safeguards one of the nation's most vital ecological, cultural, and economic landscapes from irreversible industrial damage.

NCAI recognizes the Bois Forte Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa — all signatories to the 1854 Treaty — for their unwavering leadership and commitment to protecting their ceded territory. For years, these Tribal Nations have stood alongside local communities, conservation advocates, and allied Tribal Nations to defend the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Rainy River Headwaters Watershed from the threat of toxic runoff, habitat fragmentation, and acid mine drainage associated with sulfide-ore copper mining. Earlier this year, the three 1854 Tribes, along with the Red Lake Nation, entered into a historic cross-border agreement with the Gakijiwanong Anishinaabe Nation (formerly Lac La Croix First Nation) in Ontario, Canada, to work collaboratively to protect treaty-guaranteed resources within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. Today’s executive order honors the critical importance of treaty rights and acknowledges that this pristine ecosystem is far more valuable left intact than mined for short-term gain.

“The protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Rainy River Headwaters Watershed is not just an environmental imperative; it is a fundamental defense of Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. While this executive order provides crucial immediate relief, it also underscores the urgency for permanent congressional action,” said Larry Wright, Jr., Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians. Exploratory mining leads to large-scale extraction, threatening ancestral lands and the fragile ecosystem with heavy machinery and toxic chemicals. Any pollution from drilling would irreversibly damage both Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Rainy River Headwaters Watershed. This executive order prevents devastation and safeguards our clean drinking water, protects sacred cultural sites and treaty resources in the ceded territory, and ensures the continued strength of the regional outdoor economy.

“We commend the 1854 Tribes for fiercely defending their ceded territory and the critical resources within it,” said Lenny Fineday, General Counsel of the National Congress of American Indians. “Governor Walz has demonstrated meaningful leadership by listening to Tribal Nations, respecting Tribal stewardship, and recognizing the lasting consequences these activities could have for treaty-protected lands and resources. We extend our deepest appreciation to Chairman Carlos Hernandez, Chairman Bobby Deschampe, Chairman Bruce Savage, and all the 1854 Tribal leaders for their steadfast leadership and advocacy in this fight. NCAI stands with all Tribes and First Nations within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed and supports their efforts to secure permanent protections for these waters for generations to come.”

While this executive order is a significant step forward, NCAI remains focused on the ultimate goal: permanent federal protections for these lands, waters, and treaty-protected resources. NCAI supports the 1854 Tribes in their push for federal legislation that would permanently withdraw the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Rainy River Headwaters Watershed from mineral leasing and development. Guided by 

, which calls for the protection of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed, and treaty-protected rights, NCAI will continue advocating for federal action that respects Tribal sovereignty, fulfills treaty obligations, and permanently safeguards these critical headwaters for generations to come.

NCAI Applauds Historic Executive Order Protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Rainy River Headwaters Watershed from Exploratory Mining 

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) joins the Nisqually Indian Tribe and Indian Country in mourning the passing of Chairman Ellery “Ken” Choke.

Chairman Choke was a respected leader who placed his people and community at the center of his service. His leadership reflected a deep commitment to the sovereignty, well-being, and future of the Nisqually Indian Tribe, as well as a commitment to strengthening relationships throughout the South Sound region and across Indian Country.

“On behalf of NCAI, I extend our deepest condolences to Chairman Choke’s wife, children, grandchildren, extended family, the Nisqually Tribal Council, and the entire Nisqually community,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr., “Chairman Choke understood that Tribal leadership is grounded in service to one’s people. He carried that responsibility with dedication and advocated tirelessly for the rights, resources, and future of the Nisqually Indian Tribe. Indian Country has lost a valued leader, and we stand with the Nisqually people as they honor his life and legacy.”

Chairman Choke’s advocacy reflected many of the principles at the heart of NCAI’s mission, including defending Tribal sovereignty, protecting treaty rights and natural resources, and holding the federal government accountable for fulfilling its trust and treaty responsibilities. Most recently, he brought the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s priorities directly to Congress, where he testified in support of federal legislation to restore Tribal ownership of the Clear Creek Hatchery. This effort was rooted in self-determination, stewardship, and the protection of the Tribe’s treaty-reserved fishing rights.

His community-first approach to leadership was especially evident in his commitment to the 2026 Paddle to Nisqually. His dedication to this gathering reflected his commitment to culture, connection, and future generations.

NCAI holds Chairman Choke’s family, loved ones, and the Nisqually Indian Tribe in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We honor his service, mourn his passing, and recognize the lasting impact of his leadership.

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of Tribal governments and communities, promoting strong Tribal-federal government-to-government policies and a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights.

NCAI Mourns the Passing of Nisqually Tribal Chairman Ellery "Ken" Choke

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) sent a letter to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael S. Selig formally requesting government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations before the Commission takes final action on its proposed amendments to Rule 40.11 concerning event contracts and prediction markets.

The proposed rule could have significant consequences for Tribal sovereignty, Tribal regulatory authority, Tribal-state gaming compacts, and the governmental revenues on which Tribal Nations rely on to provide essential services. NCAI has asked the Commission to suspend further action on the rule until meaningful consultation has occurred.

“Tribal Nations are sovereign governments, not private industry interested parties in a federal rulemaking process,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “A public comment period does not replace the federal government’s responsibility to engage Tribal Nations through meaningful, timely, and good-faith government-to-government consultation.”

In its letter, NCAI expressed concern that the CFTC has not conducted dedicated consultation with Tribal Nations regarding the proposed rule. NCAI emphasized that Executive Order 13175 requires federal agencies to obtain meaningful Tribal input when proposed actions may affect Tribal sovereignty, self-government, or economic interests.

The letter also underscores that Tribal gaming revenues fund health care, education, public safety, housing, infrastructure, elder services, emergency response, and cultural and language preservation. Any federal action that could affect these revenues is not simply a commercial matter—it directly affects the ability of Tribal governments to serve their citizens.

NCAI requested that the CFTC conduct formal consultation, evaluate the proposed rule’s Tribal implications, include consultation materials in the administrative record, and ensure that any final regulatory framework recognizes and preserves Tribal sovereignty and regulatory authority.

NCAI stands ready to work with Chairman Selig and Commission staff to establish an appropriate consultation process before any final rule is adopted.

NCAI encourages Tribal Nations to submit their own letters to the CFTC formally requesting government-to-government consultation in support of NCAI’s request and to strengthen the administrative record regarding this rulemaking. A template letter is available that Tribal Nations may use to submit the request to the CFTC. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact NCAI General Counsel Leonard Fineday at lfineday@ncai.org.

NCAI Sends Letter to CFTC Chairman Requesting Formal Tribal Consultation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As wildfires continue across the Pacific Northwest and Western U.S., the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) extends its deepest solidarity and support to the affected Tribal Nations and communities. Tribal Nations are facing evacuations, threats to and the destruction of homes and infrastructure, and hazardous air conditions. The fires have also caused significant risks to Tribal homelands, sacred sites, and natural landscapes that have shaped and sustained Native communities since time immemorial.

“Tribal Nations are once again on the front lines – protecting their citizens, homelands, sacred places, and surrounding communities under extraordinarily difficult conditions,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. “NCAI stands with every family who has been displaced, every community facing loss, and every responder working tirelessly to protect lives and lands. Federal and state agencies must act with urgency, coordinate directly with Tribal governments, and ensure that lifesaving resources and long-term recovery assistance reach affected communities without unnecessary barriers or delays.”

Tribal Nations and their citizens across the Pacific Northwest are among those facing the direct and immediate effects of these fires. Affected Tribal Nations include the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indians Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians. NCAI extends its deepest gratitude to Tribal fire crews, first responders, emergency personnel, volunteers, and Tribal leaders working to protect their communities and provide assistance under dangerous conditions.

Tribal Nations as sovereign governments are essential partners in emergency response and relief efforts. NCAI calls on federal and state agencies to coordinate directly with affected Tribal Nations and provide necessary emergency resources– including shelter, firefighting and prevention support, health services, infrastructure restoration, and long-term support and recovery assistance. Assistance should immediately be provided directly to Tribal Nations without unnecessary administrative burdens.

NCAI also recognizes the urgent needs of Tribal communities and encourages individuals, partner organizations, and allies to support Tribal-led relief efforts. Direct donations and other resources can help provide emergency supplies, shelter, food, and other resources needed to support communities affected by the fires.

The effects of these fires will continue for years after they are extinguished. NCAI remains committed to advocating for the Tribal and federal resources, partnerships, and assistance necessary to support Tribal communities in protecting their citizens, homelands, and cultural resources for generations to come.

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation: 

https://yakama.com/programs/signal-peak-and-ransier-fire-updates/

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/TUN5ZX9Q8BYF4

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon Wildfire Recovery Fund:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/the-confederated-tribes-of-the-warm-springs-reservation-of-oregon-ctws-wildfire-recovery-fund

American Red Cross – Washington Wildfires: 

https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/washington-wildfires-2026.html/?alloy_redirect=eyJ2IjoxLCJhZCI6IjY3NDQyNToxOjB8MiJ9

The Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest (NARA NW)

collecting emergency supplies to support relatives and families affected by the recent wildfires, including several of NARA NW staff who have lost their homes or been displaced.

Donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday from noon to 4:00 p.m. at either of the following locations:

Gresham Outpatient, 355 NW Division St., Gresham, Oregon

RiverHouse Administration,211 SE Caruthers St., Portland, Oregon

For questions or assistance, call the NARA NW Disaster Relief Line: 971-710-3116.

NCAI Stands in Solidarity with Tribal Nations Affected by Devastating Western Wildfires

The Stand Against Violence and Empower Native Women (SAVE Native Women) Act would empower tribes to prosecute violent crimes and better serve victims

Portland, Oregon – The nation’s leading American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), announced today its full support for the Stand Against Violence and Empower Native Women (SAVE Native Women) Act. The SAVE Native Women Act was introduced on Monday October 31, 2011 on the Senate floor by Senator Daniel Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

“We stand with Senator Akaka in full support of this legislation, there is no time to delay in taking immediate action to stem the tide of violence against our Native women,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel from NCAI’s 68th Annual Convention being held this week in Portland, Oregon. “The epidemic rates of violence and sexual assault against Native women are tied directly to the limitations that the United States has placed on tribal authority to prosecute non-Native offenders. When perpetrators go unprosecuted, they are free to reoffend with impunity. This legislation aims to address these problems and enhance the safety of our women.”

The bill would strengthen the tribal title of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in a number of ways. If enacted, the bill would restore tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit crimes of dating violence and domestic violence on tribal lands, as well as those who violate protection orders. It would clarify tribal civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce protection orders, strengthen tribal coalition programs, and improve the response to sex trafficking of Native women.

According to a study by the Department of Justice, two-in-five women in Native communities will suffer domestic violence, and one-in-three will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. To make matters worse, four out of five perpetrators of these crimes are non-Indian and, under current law, cannot be prosecuted by tribal governments. This has contributed to a growing sense of lawlessness on Indian reservations and a perpetuation of victimization of Native women.

“We cannot let the next generation of young Native women grow up as their mothers have—in unbearable situations that threaten their security, stability, and even their lives,” said Senator Akaka. “Violence against Native women affects each and every one of us. We need to work on finding ways to keep women safe, empower them, and help them heal.”

“This is an epidemic. It is unacceptable. And, we must stand against it,” said Senator Akaka. “I am committed to working with NCAI to protect at-risk Native women, to pass this much needed legislation.”

Many of the proposals in the SAVE Native Women Act were drafted in close collaboration with the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women. “These proposals didn’t just appear overnight—they are the product of more than two years of meetings, strategy sessions, and drafting calls with our task force members and national advocates,” stated Juana Majel-Dixon, Co-chair of the NCAI Task Force. “They have been carefully crafted and thoroughly vetted,” she added.

The NCAI Task Force will continue to work closely with Senate staff to ensure passage of this new bill. "Senator Akaka's SAVE Native Women Act has the potential to restore safety and justice for American Indian and Alaska Native women. It offers American Indian tribes the opportunity to increase life-saving protections for women living within tribal jurisdiction,” said Terri Henry, Majel-Dixon’s fellow Co-chair on the Task Force.

NCAI and Senator Akaka Team Up to Protect Native Women

Above: Senator Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, stands with tribal leaders as part of Tribal Unity Impact Week on Capitol Hill. Tribal leaders from leading tribal organizations and tribes across Indian Country, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian leaders, called on Congress to take immediate action on the most pressing issues facing Native nations.

Visit our photo gallery to download and view more images

Washington, DC- American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders stood in front of the U.S. Capitol this past Tuesday and called for immediate action on the most pressing issues facing Native nations and people. In launching Tribal Unity Impact Week, the leaders called on Congress to acknowledge and recommit themselves to protect tribal land, the safety of Native women, and the federal trust responsibility to invest in and support Indian Country.

In a media event held in front of the U.S. Capitol, NCAI President Jefferson Keel, was joined by Senator Daniel Akaka (HI), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as well as elected officials from tribal nations and leaders of Indian organizations.

"We are here on Capitol Hill with a loud and clear message for all members of Congress to hear. The federal trust responsibility must be respected and, as tribal leaders, we will continue to protect what is most important to us: our land, our families, and our economic vitality," said NCAI's President Keel in a statement following the event. "We have asked members of Congress to do more than listen; we call on them to stand with us on these issues. Together we will be stronger."

In a letter to Congress, participants of Tribal Unity Impact Week called on Congress to acknowledge and recommit themselves to the most pressing issues facing Indian Country.

"Tribes and tribal entities have patiently participated in the political process, but recognizing the urgency of these pressing issues, we are now increasing our call for congressional action," reads a letter signed by twelve leaders from the nation's leading tribal and Native organizations. "We call on U.S. Congress members to stand with us today, so we might stand together stronger, in the future." Read the letter signed by the participating organizations.

As the nation's oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization, NCAI brought together leading inter-tribal organizations to organize the event.

Leaders attending the week of meetings are representing the unified voice of hundreds of tribal nations and Indigenous communities from around the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. In addition to NCAI, the following inter-tribal organizations partnered to organize Tribal Unity Impact Week: Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, All Indian Pueblo Council, California Association of Tribal Governments, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Navajo Nation, United South and Eastern Tribes, and United Tribes of North Dakota.

Tribal Leaders Call for Increased Focus on Pressing Issues Facing Indian Country

Elected officials and advocates to call for members of Congress to stand with Indian Country during Tribal Unity Impact Week

Washington, DC- In a rare and impressive gathering of indigenous influence, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders will stand in front of the U.S. Capitol today and call for immediate action on the most pressing issues facing Native nations and people. In launching Tribal Unity Impact Week on Tuesday, the leaders will call on Congress to acknowledge and recommit themselves to the 

most pressing issues facing Indian Country

.

“Tribes and tribal entities have patiently participated in the political process, but recognizing the urgency of these pressing issues, we are now increasing our call for congressional action,” reads a letter signed by twelve leaders from the nation’s leading tribal and Native organizations. “We call on U.S. Congress members to stand with us today, so we might stand together stronger, in the future.” 

Read the letter signed by the participating organizations

.

Following a morning session with members of Congress on Tuesday, tribal leaders will gather for a media event in front of the U.S. Capitol titled “Standing Together for Tribal Nations.” The event will take place at 12pm on the Northeast quadrant, U.S. Capitol East (Senate “Swamp”).

Leaders attending the week of meetings are representing the unified voice of hundreds of tribal nations and indigenous communities from around the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. The following organizations have organized the week of events; National Congress of American Indians, United South and Eastern Tribes, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, California Association of Tribal Governments, Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association, United Tribes of North Dakota, All Indian Pueblo Council, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, National American Indian Housing Council, and the Navajo Nation.

Tribal Leaders Converge on Capitol to Call for Attention to Critical Issues

Jefferson Keel, Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and President of NCAI, served over twenty years in the United States Army.

Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) joins all Americans in honoring the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. For over twenty years I served alongside men and women from every walk of life and from every corner of this country, to protect our freedom. It is my privilege as the President of NCAI to recognize the sacrifice and selfless contributions of our nation’s service members, of both Native and non-Native heritage. Our unified purpose to defend our constitution, our people, and our sovereignty, is the greatest equalizer and American Indian and Alaska Native people are proud of our contribution to the United States.
American Indians and Alaska Natives serve at the highest rate per capita and we honor the place of warriors in our communities and in our culture on a daily basis. In Indian Country we always recognize our veterans first, they open our ceremonies, and they carry the flags of our nations. Our veterans are our most valiant warriors. And yet, we as a country and as tribal nations can always do more on a daily basis to honor and serve our veterans. In the days and months to come it will be imperative that we continue to improve our services for our returning veterans.

According to the federal government, there are over 137,000 American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans living in the United States and ten percent of these veterans are women. The Pentagon estimates that nearly 24,000 American Indian and Alaska Native active duty personnel currently serve across the Armed Forces. On a daily basis active duty members become veterans and too many times our veterans return home to find that their greatest challenges still lie ahead.

At the National Congress of American Indians, we remain committed to finding the path for our veterans to become tribal leaders, teachers, business owners, active citizens, and successful parents. NCAI continues to be fully dedicated to serving veterans when they return to civilian life. We’ll continue to work with the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the agency’s Office of Tribal Government Relations to remember our veterans with the greatest honor; reciprocating their service with an equal or greater dedication to serve them.

I extend NCAI’s deepest gratitude to our nation’s veterans today and to their families. Thank you for your service.


Jefferson Keel, Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and President of NCAI, served over twenty years in the United States Army. He served as a Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Leader, both in peacetime and in combat. President Keel also served two extended tours of duty in the 1st Cavalry Division and the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and received numerous awards and decorations for heroism, including two Purple Hearts.

Statement by NCAI President Jefferson Keel on Veterans Day

Statement following President Obama's Jobs Speech

Washington, DC - The nation's oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), released a statement today supporting President Obama's Jobs Act proposal.

"NCAI applauds the President for taking action and supports the very real impact of the American Jobs Act for tribal nations and Native people. Over 20,000 Native American-owned small businesses would benefit from tax cuts and 1.5 million Native American workers will benefit from the extension of the payroll tax cut," said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI.
“We applaud the Act’s specific investment in tribal infrastructure – schools, roads, homes –and our citizens – construction workers, teachers, and veterans -- to name just a few. Given the staggering unemployment crisis in Indian Country, for tribal economies the time to act is now and Congress cannot wait another minute,” concluded Keel.

The American Jobs Act as proposed by President Obama has the potential to fully utilize the economic potential of tribal nations. Tribal governments create jobs for tribal citizens and their non-Native neighbors from Phoenix to rural Alaska and from Mississippi to Minneapolis. As tribal governments make tough choices to spur economic growth and close budget gaps, NCAI urges our colleagues in the Congress to reach across the aisle, get this bill passed, and put America back to work.

NCAI Urges Passage of the American Jobs Act

Note from NCAI President Keel on participating in the White House Rural Economic Forum in Iowa

Like so many of our rural neighbors, American Indian and Alaska Native communities have felt the burden of our nation’s economic challenges. In fact tribal nations have known hardship like this for too long. That is why

 the efforts of the White House to find economic development solutions

 for Indian Country have been so important to tribal leaders and entrepreneurs. It’s also the reason I accepted the invitation to join other rural leaders in Iowa to have an important conversation with President Obama and Secretaries Vilsack, Salazar, Donovan, and LaHood about the economic viability of our country, including our tribal nations. The discussions with the President and Secretaries were constructive and encouraging.

, established this past June, is a flagship effort that shows President Obama is serious about building a strong economic future for all Americans. The fact that tribes have a seat at the table as rural policy is considered is a reflection of a commitment to the nation-to-nation relationship that began even before the President took office. It is a commitment that acknowledges the need to address the challenges tribes face and sees the innovation tribal nations offer to build a stronger America.

Native people are America’s most rural population and tribal lands consist of over five percent of the nation’s land base (an area that would make Indian Country the nation’s fourth largest state). While many of our communities are among the poorest in the country and unemployment rates in Indian Country often stand above 50 percent, tribes are leading the way in developing and implementing innovative policy.

During my conversations in Iowa with the President and cabinet members, I emphasized that many of the key drivers of the 21st century American economy are areas where rural communities – and tribes specifically – offer strong opportunities for investment and innovation. The vision of a globally competitive America with a diverse middle class requires substantial investments in renewable energy, broadband, education systems, and economic development in rural areas. Modernizing rural infrastructure, sustainably managing natural resources, ensuring the quality of food systems, and many other rural focused policy strategies, are critical to the economic strength of our nation.

Tribes offer dependable, domestic energy and stand ready to contribute to America’s clean energy economy. Indian lands comprise 10 percent of the nation’s natural resources and significant energy potential – enough to meet 32 percent of the nation’s energy needs with wind power and 2 times our energy needs with solar power. Investments in access to the power grid for tribal and other rural communities can secure our sustainable energy future.

Tribes are also home to innovative rural economic development. Innovative tribal business owners have been on the forefront of the “onshoring” movement to utilize the lower cost of labor and land in rural communities to keep direct mail and similar businesses based in the United States. Reservation-based businesses have garnered interest from major companies looking for alternatives to outsourcing. The success of these enterprises depends on the availability of broadband infrastructure. Broadband is the back-bone of the new emerging economy. And it is available to almost every American (95 percent) but in tribal communities, it only reaches 10 percent of possible users. Broadband is the pipeline to progress, and we need investment, but first we need an end to barriers that stand in the way of that investment.
Yes, there is much to do to revitalize our economies, our communities, and rural America, but we must do it together. Tribal nations, as outlined by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court, are vital members of the American family of governments. Last week in Iowa, as I sat across from President Obama, Secretary Vilsack, and Americans from diverse rural communities, I felt confident that not only will tribal leaders play an important role in building better policies, tribal nations will play a vital role in solving the great challenges our nation faces. We will do this together, as a family of governments and a family of American citizens.

For more on these issues see NCAI’s paper “

Innovative Tribal Nations in Rural America

The American Family of Governments, Working Together to Strengthen America’s Economy

NCAI opposes Keystone XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline; calls for energy demand to be met by responsible energy development

WASHINGTON, DC – In anticipation of a forthcoming Environmental Impact Statement by U.S. State Department on the proposed Keystone XL Oil Pipeline, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) issued a statement today saying the proposed pipeline expansion could severely impact Native American communities and “poses grave dangers if it is constructed.” The statement released by NCAI, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, reaffirms the position of its members and expresses solidarity with Canadian First Nations concerned about the project.

“The Keystone XL pipeline . . . would threaten, among other things, water aquifers, water ways, cultural sites, agricultural lands, animal life, public drinking water sources and other resources vital to the peoples of the region in which the pipeline is proposed to be constructed,” reads an NCAI resolution (

) passed at the organization’s most recent gathering of members this past June.

The organization is calling for domestic energy demands to be met by developing energy resources responsibly in order to protect vital natural resources, such as vast water reserves.

“Homeland and economic security starts with energy security, but Indian Country wants it to be done right; not at the expense of the health of our communities and resources, both tribal and non-tribal, ” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI, citing the importance of looking to clean domestic energy as a more reliable solution. “During challenging economic times in our country and in our tribal nations, domestic energy when developed responsibly can create jobs while ensuring that our people and natural resources remain safe and plentiful.”

The proposed expansion of the pipeline would cross through northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Oklahoma with potential devastating impacts on communities in surrounding areas and states. A recent study by a University of Nebraska hydrologist outlines a worst case spill scenario, estimating that Keystone XL could spill as much as 7.9 million gallons in Nebraska's Sandhills, polluting 5 billion gallons of groundwater with benzene, contaminating water used for agriculture and drinking drawn from the Ogallala Aquifer, and more than 6.9 million gallons of tar sands crude at the Yellowstone River crossing. That estimate far exceeds the Exxon Mobil’s July 1, 2011 spill of 42,000 gallons near the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation territory in south-central Montana, contaminating 240 miles of the Yellowstone River.

Responsible alternatives to importing energy resources from outside the United States are abundant, and specifically on tribal lands. In addition to plentiful traditional energy options on tribal lands, the National Renewable Energy Lab’s (NREL) estimates that the wind potential in Indian Country could provide 32 percent of U.S. annual electric generation, where as solar energy potential in Indian Country equals twice the total amount of electricity the U.S. generates per year.

The U.S. State Department is expected to issue the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the pipeline in mid-August. Following the issuance of the FEIS, the State Department will undergo a 90-day process to determine whether the pipeline serves the national interest. The National Interest Determination is made by the U.S. State Department and is the final step in the permitting process.

Click here to download and read NCAI’s Resolution:


Keystone XL Tar Sands Oil Pipeline “Poses Grave Dangers” to Tribal Nations

NCAI calls for the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction to Consider the Federal Obligations to Indian Tribes

Washington, DC - The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in a statement released today acknowledged the hard work of the President and Congress in averting a debt default by the United States. Immediately following the signature of the bill into law by President Obama, NCAI called on leaders of Congress and the President, to ensure members appointed to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction have significant experience with the constitutional federal trust responsibility to tribal nations.

"President Obama and members of Congress worked hard to protect the economic security of our country. Now, there is much more work to be done. As members of the American family of governments, tribal nations will continue the effort to strengthen our economies," said NCAI President Jefferson Keel shortly after President Obama signed legislation to avoid financial crisis. "In order to do so, we call on Congress to appoint members of the new Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction who are well versed in the federal trust responsibility to Indian tribes."

Tribal governments are essential components of the American governmental framework, as assigned in the constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court. It's essential that the commitments to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are honored when appropriating dollars and evaluating spending for education, law enforcement, emergency and disaster funding, infrastructure, health care, and social services.

"Tribal economies have felt some of the most significant pain in this recession. However, we've stayed optimistic about the opportunities available to create greater economic prosperity and we can't let our momentum slow," continued President Keel, the Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. "We are dedicated to engaging in the new energy economy, developing infrastructure, strengthening our schools, and contributing to the economy of the United States. Good fiscal policy for America considers and invests in the unique opportunities presented by the innovation of tribal governments."

Keel concluded by stating, "Tribes understand the need to make government more efficient, however if tribal nations aren't adequately represented on the Joint Committee, the United States will be weaker as a result."

Indian Country Looks Forward Following Debt-Limit Deal

Pioneer of Federal Indian Law, David Getches, Passes Away; Remembered for Forging "A Revolution in Federal Indian law"

David Getches, 68, a leading American Indian rights lawyer, legal scholar, and founding Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), passed away at his home on Tuesday July 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has posthumously awarded the NCAI Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Getches; one of the highest honors given by the nation's oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization.

"David Getches forged a revolution in federal Indian law that led to a new respect for the rights of Indian tribes in courthouses throughout the nation," said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI. "He was an exceptional man. Across Indian Country, Mr. Getches will be remembered as a great friend and brother to Native people. NCAI extends our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues for this profound loss."

The NCAI Board learned of David Getches' declining health last week and they reached an immediate, unanimous decision to recognize his lifelong contribution to American Indian law and tribal sovereignty. NCAI's Lifetime Achievement Award is given to those outstanding individuals who honor the place of American Indian nations, cultures and governments through a lifetime of work and personal dedication that produce results of historic proportions.

As the founding Executive Director of NARF, he was responsible for developing the staff, funding, and program of the organization, the leading and most influential nonprofit Indian-interest law firm. Getches litigated major cases involving Native rights, including the Northwest Indian fishing rights case (United States v. Washington, also known as "the Boldt decision"), which stands today as the leading case on the enforcement of tribal treaty rights. Getches also litigated a case on behalf of the Inupiaq to establish the North Slope Borough, the largest municipality in the world, which includes the Prudhoe Bay oil fields. Other cases he has been involved with have dealt with water rights, land claims, federal trust responsibilities, environmental issues, education, and civil rights on behalf of Native American clients throughout the country.

Getches most recently served as the Dean of the University of Colorado Law School since 2003 and has taught at the school since 1979. He took two leaves from the University of Colorado, first to serve as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources from 1983 to 1987, and then to serve as a special consultant to the Secretary of the Interior in 1996.

A national authority on natural resources and Indian law issues, Getches taught and wrote widely on water law, public land law, environmental law, and Indian law. Getches has published several books, written many articles and book chapters that appear in diverse scholarly and popular sources, including recent articles calling for legal reform regarding the Colorado River and criticizing the Supreme Court's departure from traditional principles in Indian law.



The NCAI Lifetime Achievement Award reads:



"National Congress of American Indians
Lifetime Achievement Award

David Getches, Founder of the Native American Rights Fund

Defender and Advocate for Tribal Sovereignty,
Treaty Rights and the Federal Trust Responsibility

Your piercing intelligence, diligent work and compassion for the Native cause fostered a legal revolution and brought hope and justice to Indian communities nationwide. We thank you and lift you up in our hearts."

White House kitchen garden event focuses on traditional food and celebrates launch of Let’s Move! in Indian Country

Washington, DC - President Jefferson Keel of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the country’s oldest and largest American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, joined with Michelle Obama today to celebrate the importance of healthy eating and active lifestyles for Native American youth. Mrs. Obama, President Keel, and American Indian and Alaska Native children planted the “three sisters”– corns, beans and squash – in the White House kitchen garden. The event comes one week after the launch of Let’s Move! in Indian Country; a new initiative by the First Lady to reach Native young people.

“Supporting and reinvigorating our traditional ways of healthy living and eating is one of the most important things we can do to strengthen our Native American communities,” said NCAI President Keel after the event. “What the First Lady is doing is incredible. Let’s Move! in Indian Country is reaching a generation of tribal youth and connecting them with a healthy, traditional path in life. As tribal leaders we are very supportive and grateful for her efforts.”

According to the Indian Health Service the obesity rate among American Indian and Alaska Native youth is approaching 50%, twice as high as their white counterparts; and 20% of American Indians ages 15 years or older had pre-diabetes in 2001–2004. American Indian/Alaska Native adults are nearly two times as likely to be obese as their white counterparts. American Indian/Alaska Native adults are more than twice as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.

“Last week we launched a new component of the program called Let's Move! (in) Indian Country. And we’re working specifically with young kids in the Native American community all across the country,” said the First Lady, Michelle Obama, addressing the American Indian and Alaska Native children. “This planting is a special way to highlight that new initiative. And this is the first time ever that we’re going to do a three sisters planting here in the White House kitchen garden. And you all are going to be a part of making that happen.”

After speaking to the youth gathered at the White House kitchen garden, President Keel spoke to the importance of healthy lifestyles for Native youth and performed a blessing for the event. Mrs. Obama, President Keel, and the children then planted the “three sisters” and harvested crops in the garden, including lettuces, rhubarb, chard, kohlrabi, sugar snap peas, turnips, broccoli and herbs – some of which will be used in Tuesday’s State Dinner in honor of Chancellor Angela Merkel. These crops were originally planted in March by Mrs. Obama and children from Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools.

The American Indian and Alaska Native children who joined Mrs. Obama and President Keel today come from a variety of tribal nations including Jemez Pueblo, Skokomish, Cherokee, Sault Ste. Marie, Navajo, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, St. Regis Mohawk, Tlingit, Oglala Sioux, Standing Rock Sioux, and the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. Mrs. Obama was also joined by leaders in the Native American community, including Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk, Indian Health Service Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Director Dennis Concannon, Bureau of Indian Education Director Keith Moore, National Museum of the American Indian Director Kevin Gover, NFL quarterback Sam Bradford and basketball player Tahnee Robinson.

Photos of the event are available for free use here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ncai/sets/72157626878947612/

First Lady and NCAI’s President Jefferson Keel Celebrate Healthy Living for Native Americans

Washington, DC - After lengthy debate, members of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed a resolution at the conclusion of the organization’s Mid Year Conference reaffirming its position on reasonable lawyer fees associated with the 

Days before a federal judge will begin hearing arguments on the fairness of the settlement, NCAI released the following statement:

“It’s time to move on and clear this final hurdle so that decades of litigation can finally turn into the corrective action that so many American Indians are waiting for. This resolution simply reaffirms the original position of NCAI’s membership and the view that the lawyer’s fees need to be reasonable. It was clear in our meetings this week that tribal leaders believe the court will make the right decision, and do so expeditiously. The resolution supports only ‘the view’ of current proposed legislation that the attorney’s fees should be capped at $50 million.”

The latest resolution passed at the 2011 NCAI Mid Year Conference referred to the previous resolution from a year ago: “At its 2010 Mid-Year Conference, the NCAI enacted Resolution #RAP-10-037, which desired to see a number of changes incorporated in the 

 settlement agreement, including, “fairness in attorney fees and incentive payments to ensure that they do not unduly diminish the restitution to inpidual account holders.”

For more information download the resolutions here:

 TITLE: Supporting the Native American Rights Fund’s Request for Attorney’s Fees and H.R. 887

 - TITLE: Supporting the Cobell v. Salazar Settlement and Requesting Additional Considerations

NCAI Statement on Reasonable Lawyer’s Fees in Cobell v. Salazar Settlement Agreement

Speech Addressing the Native Resources: Tribal Cultures and the Economy

Good morning! We have received many great welcomes today from the wonderful people of the Midwest region. I trust that our dedication to our work will honor the spirit of their hospitality.

As the President of the National Congress of American Indians I’m honored to welcome you to NCAI’s Mid Year Conference here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We come together with a great purpose; to work together and move forward shared priorities of our nations and communities.

And, we come together as a result of the amazing work of the local planning committee led by co-chairs Scott Vele and NCAI’s own Recording Secretary, Matthew Wesaw. I’d also especially like to thank Lewis Taylor of the Great Lakes Inter Tribal Council.
I’d like to start my report with some thoughts about NCAI itself and the membership of the organization.

So, I’ve got some thoughts about you, the members of NCAI, and the thoughts are good ones and I hope they inspire you in the days to come.

Your dedication to this organization, its vision and purpose, is the reason we are here. For close to 70 years now, Native people, leaders and advocates, have traveled to NCAI meetings from tribal nations and communities, villages and cities, in large groups or as a sole representative for thousands. We have slept in our cars, held bake sales, since 1944 we have made the sacrifices we need to make to gather with a single purpose – to strengthen the unified voice of Native people and ensure we protect and enhance sovereignty for the next generation.

Look around you, that tradition continues by you being here. We gather at these meetings not simply to exchange business cards or make deals. We are here to reconnect with family and friends, brothers and sisters, and even those we might disagree with, to ensure that as a whole, we have an ability to express the culture and traditions that make all of our nations so rich.

Look around you, these are our Native Resources. We are our Native Resources. We are our culture, we will help ensure the health of our people, we are the new ideas of living and teaching. We are the farmers that know our ways of agriculture and the business leaders who are engineering innovation in trade and commerce. We hold in our hearts the reverence for the land, and our relationship with it. Lastly, our most vital resource, is our relationship with each other. We are NCAI – leaders and advocates for a stronger Indian Country. Our greatest Native Resource is our unified voice and I encourage you this week to strengthen it by working together here, so that we speak to the world around us from the position of a shared alliance.

This theme, Native Resources: Tribal Cultures and the Economy, sets a course for us to imagine our future, with the circumstances of today as inspiration; our Native Resources will help us chart the course forward, to build stronger tribal economies based on the resources within our own nations, our own people, and ourselves. There is one way to honor vast resources of our nations, by doing the work to protect all that makes our people great. I ask you to remember with me here today, that the tradition of NCAI is not one that should be taken lightly, and your presence here is an affirmation of that tradition.

Last year, as a unified Indian Country we all experienced the fruits of our efforts, as we won an incredible set of legislative victories. Our follow up on these wins will shape Indian Country for years to come.

As we’ve reached our midway point of 2011, we stand on the brink of another historic year for Indian Country, not because of the legislation that is passed into law, but what we choose to do in the face of a difficult political environment in Washington, DC. As we all know it’s about the follow through. And 2011 can be a great sequel to our victories last year.

NCAI kicked off this year at the State of Indian Nations, where I called for tribal leaders to lead our nations and define a new era in federal-tribal relations. This era, as I explained, would be defined by what we as Native peoples choose to do for ourselves. And now we are seeing movement on issues and we must not lose our momentum.

I highlighted the importance of removing barriers to energy development on Indian land; now tribal energy legislation is being drafted in the Senate by Senator Borrasso as part of the work of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

We called for our children to continue to be a priority; just weeks ago, I stood with the First Lady, Michelle Obama, on the lawn of the White House, with dozens of Native Youth and other tribal leaders looking on, as we celebrated the launch of Let’s Move! in Indian Country. And in Congress, Federal legislation to establish a National Tribal Youth Corps is being considered, offering thousands of jobs in natural resources to our young people.

We called for more action to protect Native women from the terrible epidemic of violence. As our own First Vice President has highlighted in Indian Country Today, the Department of Justice, is making incredible progress, like we rarely see in Washington, DC, in offering solutions to the alarming rates of violence against Native women.

At the beginning of the year, we called for tribes to express their economic independence, to determine our own approaches to commerce and resource management. That’s why this past spring along with USET, we held a Tax Summit at Miccosukee. Our work here this week on Tax Policy and Tribal Economies will build on that momentum to remove barriers to economic development.

In the State of Indian Nations I asked us to consider this new era in front of us as the era of Promises Kept. NCAI and forty partners have formed an alliance that will keep a promise to the next generation. The alliance called Our Natural Resources, is developing a National Natural Resource Strategy that will shape a course for determining tribal natural resource management policy for decades to come.

We have set it as a goal this year to increase the visibility of investments in Indian Country to the highest levels of the federal government. That’s why when Robert Gordon, Executive Associate Director of the Office of Management and Budget, attended our recent Tribal Interior Budget Committee meeting it represented a significant moment to elevate our tribal governments’ place in the federal budget process. The tribal leaders who attend these meetings – and the HHS budget meetings – have been instrumental in advancing Indian budget priorities in this Administration.

There is no doubt that we have battles still to fight and Indian Country as whole must stay unified to overcome them. A Carcieri fix is a top priority and we will continue to push forward this agenda. The nomination of Arvo Mikkanen, has stalled in the Senate, and we still await a Native person to take their rightful place serving on the Federal bench.

In the media and in public perception, while our own media efforts have improved, there have been detractors, distracters, and setbacks. We must always meet these moments with a unified message, about our place in the American family of governments; one that has an equal place, guaranteed to us by our treaties, the U.S. constitution, and our inseparable bond to this place.

This past Memorial day, I laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I did this for a number of reasons. First, as we all know to well, our Indian warriors serve at a disproportionate rate, more than any other minority group, in the Armed Services. We currently have over 22,000 active duty members serving in the Armed Forces today. Many, too many, have died in the line of service.

We should all take a moment to honor our Native warriors. We have sent a letter to the Department of Defense to ensure that they reform their policies to ensure they honor our Native warriors.

Right now, the global market and the national economy continue to experience setbacks and Indian Country is not safe from these hardships. As governments at the federal, state, and local level, search for new revenue streams, Indian Country stands at the brink of a new economic revolution leading to sustainable prosperity for tribal nations, and as a result prosperity for the United States. We will do this, led by our cultures and people dedicated to the stewardship and management of our resources, ensuring that what has been provided to us by the creator.

Exactly how we envision Indian Country’s collective relationship to our “Native Resources” will change the future of Indian Country and our nation. We will do it by offering fresh and bold solutions to our nations’ most pressing problems.

Let’s remember NCAI is not just another meeting, let’s renew our partnership. Let us reaffirm this in our resolutions, our promises, and the actions we take when we return home to our people.

We are grateful to be here on the shores of Lake Michigan. As we watch the sun rise over the lake in the mornings, I invite you to cast your mind to the new horizon for Indian Country. On the horizon I see our futures rising and I ask every NCAI member to gather here with optimism in your heart and a common concern on your mind.

This week we speak of “Our Native Resources,” it is our sacred duty – only ours – to ensure they remain this way.

NCAI President Keel's Prepared Remarks at 2011 NCAI Mid Year Conference

NCAI President Jefferson Keel and American Indian Veterans to Honor Warriors at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following President Obama’s Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, President Jefferson Keel of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) will place an American Indian wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. President of the nation’s oldest and largest American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization, Jefferson Keel will accompany Don Loudner, National Commander of the National American Indian Veterans, to lay a multi-colored tribal wreath at the tomb.

“Over a hundred thousand Native men and women have served to protect this land and this country. Some who will never be named or honored. The commitment of American Indians and Alaska Natives to protecting our homeland is unquestionable,” said Keel, President of NCAI and a veteran with over 20 years of active duty service in the United States Army. “On Memorial Day we honor those who gave their lives for our safety and those veterans alive today, all of whom deserve to be cared for as heroes.”

The Pentagon estimates that since 2001, 61 American Indians and Alaskan Natives have died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq; close to 450 have been wounded. It is also estimated that nearly 24,000 American Indian and Alaska Native active duty personnel serve across the Armed Forces. Hundreds of thousands of tribal members have served in the U.S. military in the last century, making vital contributions to the defense of the nation.

The most recent AI/AN service member to be killed in the line of duty was U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joe Michael Jackson from the Gila River Indian Community and the Yakama Reservation. He died April 24, 2011; killed by an improvised explosive device while helping to clear a trail of mines on a steep slope in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province’s Sangin District.

The following data was released and updated by the Pentagon in May 2011:

American Indian/Alaska Native military deaths in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, or OIF) from March 2003 through May 2, 2011: 42

American Indian/Alaska Native military wounded in action in Iraq (OIF) from March 2003 through May 2, 2011: 336

American Indian/Alaska Native military deaths in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, or OEF) from October 2001 through May 2, 2011: 19

American Indian/Alaska Native military wounded in action in Afghanistan (OEF) from October 2001 through May 2, 2011: 109

President Keel is a retired U.S. Army officer with over 20 years active duty 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 will be one of this year’s three former service members inducted into the Military Memorial Museum Hall of Honor.

American Indian & Alaska Native Veterans to be Honored at Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Initiative will “Energize a Generation” of Native young people to healthier ways of life

WASHINGTON, D.C. – First Lady Michelle Obama’s office launched today the American Indian and Alaska Native initiative of the First Lady’s prominent Let’s Move Initiative; Let’s Move! in Indian Country (LMIC). Representatives of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) attended the launch event on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Wisconsin and released a statement applauding the focus of Let’s Move! in Indian Country on the health and well being of tribal young people.

“We commend the First Lady for being a positive influence in the life of Native young people. Let’s Move! in Indian Country will energize a generation of tribal youth to connect to their traditional ways of healthy living,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI. “When it comes to staying healthy, Native youth face more challenges and obstacles than most. Let’s Move is an important effort in reaching out to provide solutions for our young people.”

The health profile of Native youth underscores the importance of this initiative. According to the Indian Health Service the obesity rate among American Indian and Alaska Native youth is approaching 50%, twice as high as their white counterparts; and 20% of American Indians ages 15 years or older had pre-diabetes in 2001–2004. American Indian/Alaska Native adults are nearly two times as likely to be obese as their white counterparts. American Indian/Alaska Native adults are more than twice likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.

Matthew Wesaw, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians in Michigan and NCAI’s Recording Secretary, joined Assistant Secretary of the Interior– Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk and Office of the First Lady, Executive Director of Let’s Move! Initiative Robin Schepper, USDA Deputy Administrator for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Lisa Pino, IHS Director for Improving Patient Care Program Lyle A. Ignace, M.D., M.P.H., and Menominee Tribal Chairman Randal Chevalier to launch Let’s Move! in Indian Country.

The launch of the Let’s Move! in Indian Country is an effort of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Office, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Education, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin.

According to First Lady’s Let’s Move Office, the agencies, tribes, urban Indian centers, community organizations, and other stakeholders have set four main goals for LMIC: (1) create a healthy start on life for children; (2) create healthier learning communities; (3) ensure families access to healthy, affordable, traditional food; (4) and, increase opportunities for physical activity. In addition to being a federal interagency initiative, LMIC outlines ways for tribal governments, schools, the private sector, and non-profits to engage in this effort. LMIC sets the framework for each of these sectors to come together and contribute to the common goal of ending obesity within a generation. More information can be found at: 

http://www.doi.gov/letsmove/indiancountry/index.cfm

NCAI Applauds First Lady’s Launch of Let’s Move! in Indian Country

 American Indians and Alaskan Natives killed and 

 wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001

Based on updated and revised information from the Department of Defense we are updating the reported number of American Indian/Alaska Native military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan. See the information at the end of the statement.

Washington, DC - In a statement released today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) responded to the death of Osama bin Laden and reports that the American Indian name “Geronimo” was used as the code name for the operation to kill the al-Qaeda leader.

“We join President Obama in reflecting on the sacrifices made by the members of our military to defend our great nation. When terrorists attacked on 9/11, it was an attack on our homeland that deeply affected tribal nations, along with our fellow citizens. Osama bin Laden was a shared enemy. Since 2001, 

 American Indians and Alaskan Natives have died defending our country in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

 have been wounded,” said Jefferson Keel, President of NCAI, the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country.

“Let’s be very clear about what is important here; the successful removal of Osama bin Laden as a threat to the United States honors the sacrifice these Native warriors made for the United States and their people,” added Keel, an Army Veteran and the Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma.

In November 2010, the Pentagon estimated that nearly 24,000 American Indian and Alaska Native active duty personnel serve across the Armed Forces. Hundreds of thousands of tribal members have served in the U.S. military in the last century making vital contributions, such as the Native American code talkers.

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