, during the NCAI 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace, NCAI will hold a press conference on changes to Section 106. Join us at the Palm Springs Convention Center in the General Assembly room (Oasis 2, 3A, 3B). 

Open to press and convention attendees. Press is encouraged to submit questions in advance to 

For six decades, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) has served as a critical procedural safeguard, ensuring that Tribal Nations maintain a voice in federal decision-making. Historically, this statutory framework has required federal agencies to address the effects of their actions on historic places, fostering collaborative solutions that enhance project outcomes.

However, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the U.S. Congress are considering advancing sweeping revisions to Section 106 regulations. These proposed changes weaken statutory protections, replace collaborative consultation with closed agency decision-making, and threaten ancestral homelands. While framed as an efficiency measure to accelerate FAST-41 infrastructure and critical minerals permitting, this overreach violates the NHPA’s statutory intent. By stripping away established procedural certainty, the proposed changes will inevitably trigger widespread litigation, delaying the very projects it seeks to expedite.

For more information and additional resources, visit the 

Section 106 Press Conference

 We, the undersigned Tribal Organizations, reaffirm our strong opposition to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA). The manager's amendment to BAAJA does not adequately address the serious concerns raised by Tribal Nations across the country. Despite claims that the revised legislation responds to Tribal concerns, the proposed changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act in Title III of BAAJA continue to fundamentally undermine Tribal sovereignty, weaken longstanding federal protections, fail to ensure meaningful government-to-government Tribal consultation, and threaten sacred sites and cultural resources.

Much of the proposed language would codify elements of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's (ACHP) proposed Part 800 regulations, which Tribal Nations have strongly opposed, and would further erode the Section 106 process.

Tinkering with these harmful BAAJA provisions does not resolve their fundamental flaws or the cumulative impact on Tribal cultural heritage from BAAJA and the ACHP rulemaking. Tribal sovereignty, meaningful consultation, and the protection of sacred places are not negotiable.

Congress must not advance legislation that diminishes these protections or disregards the sovereign rights of Tribal Nations. We ask Congress to hold this bill until the next Congress can engage in meaningful Tribal consultation on permitting reform. If Congress will not delay the entire bill, then, at a minimum, it must remove Title III in its entirety from the text—including all the Section 106 changes.

Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association

National Indian Child Welfare Association

National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund

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.

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians ATNI: Formed in 1953 by Northwest tribal leaders, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) was founded in 1953 and is dedicated to the protection and advancement of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. ATNI is a nonprofit organization that serves 57 Tribal Nations in the greater Northwest that includes Tribes in Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Alaska, California, Nevada and Montana. For nearly 75 years, the Member Tribes of ATNI have provided regional leadership and advocacy for Northwest Tribal interests.

All Pueblo Council of Governors: The All Pueblo Council of Governors represents twenty sovereign Pueblo Nations in New Mexico and Texas — Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambé, Ohkay Owingeh, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, Zuni, and Ysleta del Sur. The Council advocates for and protects the social, cultural, and traditional well-being of the Pueblo Nations.

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

The Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association, Inc. (GPTCA) is a Section 17 intertribal corporation established to promote and protect the sovereign authority, treaty rights, and tribal governmental interests of 16 sovereign Indian nations and tribes across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Inter Tribal Association of Arizona: ITAA is an inter-tribal consortium of 21 federally recognized Indian Tribes with lands in Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico. The Member Tribes of ITAA have advocated together since 1952 on issues of common interest and concern across

Indian Country. ITAA is governed by the highest elected Tribal officials from each Tribe,

including Tribal chairpersons, presidents, and governors. The Tribal presence in Arizona is

significant, with more than 28% of Arizona’s land base governed by Arizona’s 22 federally

National Indian Child Welfare Association: NICWA focuses on safeguarding Native children and families through advocacy, policy advancement, Tribal capacity building, and culturally grounded services. The full organization description and resources are available at www.nicwa.org.

Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is the oldest and largest non-profit law firm dedicated to defending and asserting the rights, resources, and lifeways of Native American tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide.

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 www.nathpo.org.

Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council (RMTLC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving tribal homelands, defending treaty rights with the United States, speaking in a unified voice, offering support to member tribes, and promoting the common welfare of all Indian peoples across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. RMTLC serves as a forum for tribal leaders to consult, collaborate, and advocate for health, sovereignty, social services, and community well-being

USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) Established in 2014, the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization advocating on behalf of 33 federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues.

Tribal Organizations Urge Congress to Halt BAAJA Over Threats to Tribal Sovereignty and Sacred Places

 — The National Congress of American Indians is urging all Senators to vote NO on cloture, withdraw Division B, Title III, and work directly with Tribal Nations as sovereigns on a more honorable alternative. Ahead of Monday’s scheduled Senate cloture vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA, S. 5653), the last minute 494-page Manager’s Amendment (Substitute Amendment to H.R. 2347) fails to resolve Indian Country’s core objections to the legislation.

Tribal Nations support responsible infrastructure development, permitting reform, and building and moving more energy. Under existing federal law, Tribal Nations have consistently partnered with federal agencies in the permitting process with mutually positive results. However, BAAJA forces a false choice between building infrastructure and protecting Tribal sacred places, waters, and ancestral lands. Crafted behind closed doors without a legislative hearing, committee markup, or timely and meaningful consultation with input from Tribal Nations. The 494-page Substitute Amendment falls short in ameliorating the wrongs of BAAJA, specifically the sections which amend the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Federal Power Act in ways that conflict with federal trust and treaty obligations.

While bill sponsors point to the superficial adjustments in the Manager’s Amendment, such as striking a proposed federal redefinition of Tribal sacred properties and removing a mandate for the Department of the Interior to commandeer Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), those edits leave BAAJA’s core structural harms intact and, in critical ways, make Title III worse.

For example, in a classic legislative bait-and-switch, while the committee summary touts removing the provision allowing the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to consult or sign agreements in lieu of "an Indian tribe," the actual bill text only strikes the words "Indian tribe", while retaining "Tribal Historic Preservation Officer." Federal agencies could still bypass a Tribal Nation’s THPO and execute agreements with the ACHP instead.

An analysis of the Manager’s Amendment confirms that six major threats to Indian Country remain intact:

 The Amendment retains both off-ramps enabling federal agency officials to end Section 106 review if they unilaterally decide – regardless of input or objections from Tribal Nations or THPOs – that harm will not disqualify a site from the National Register or, in their "sole discretion," that undefined "other considerations" outweigh historic preservation.

Box-Checking Consultation and THPO Bypass:

 The Amendment enforces 30- and 45-day consultation clocks, deems report consultation "fulfilled" once an agency replies in writing, and still allows the ACHP to consult and sign agreements in lieu of a THPO, undermining Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.

Excluded Sacred Landscapes from Protections:

 The Amendment’s narrowed definitions and exemptions exclude non-federal lands, indirect visual or audible effects, most federal grants and loans, and quarter-mile grid and pipeline corridors from Section 106 review.

THPO Penalties & Weakened Funding Remain:

 THPOs still face mandatory evaluations and grant suspensions, now with a corrective period. But Sec. 303103’s removal leaves Historic Preservation Fund deposits at the mercy of annual appropriations.

 The Amendment maintains BAAJA’s original limited judicial remedies to remand without vacatur or an injunction for Section 106 and NEPA violations, allowing unlawful construction to proceed, and non-signatories remain barred from challenging programmatic agreements.

 The amendment retains heightened burdens under Clean Water Act § 401, § 404 nationwide permit consultation waivers, NEPA cooperating agency limits, state ESA assumption, and Title IV provisions that lock in permits.

“The premise that Tribes, Tribal sovereignty, and Tribal decision-making are impediments to federal permitting is a fallacy. Tribal Nations, when at the table early in the planning and design process, are key to successful project outcomes,” said Mark Macarro, President of NCAI. “Any amendment to S. 5653 merely puts lipstick on a pig. This bill is rotten from the inside, and there is no fixing the rot. An overhaul of this magnitude demands regular order that allows for deliberation and meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations. Instead, the process behind S. 5653 in this lame-duck session is an insulting rush job that diminishes Tribal sovereignty and sells out Tribal Nations.”

“Look at the patronizing, diminishing manner of this substitute amendment, which attempts to rewrite a few phrases Tribal Nations have taken issue with without improving the overall framework,” Macarro continued. “Think about what the authors are asking: with 575 federally recognized sovereign Tribal Nations across the United States, we are now supposed to analyze the impact of a 494-page substitute amendment over a weekend and give it a thumbs-up before a Monday afternoon cloture vote—as if this were a routine bill making technical amendments. This is not serious legislating. This is not consultation. This is marginalizing Tribal Nations as sovereign governments, and it is an act of desperation by the bill’s authors.”

Under BAAJA’s narrowed definitions and fragmented review rules, sacred landscapes and cultural places across Indian Country, including Mount Taylor and the Greater Chaco landscape in New Mexico, Bears Ears in Utah, and Bahsahwahbee and Avi Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain) in Nevada, would remain vulnerable to piecemeal destruction whenever project segments cross non-federal lands or involve indirect impacts.

NCAI calls on the Senate to vote NO on cloture on S. 5653, remove Title III in its entirety, and commit to a transparent, good-faith legislative process in the next Congress that invests in THPO capacity, respects government-to-government consultation, and protects sacred places for future generations.

For more information on Indian Country’s opposition to BAAJA and the 

Sacred Then. Sacred Now. Sacred Tomorrow. 

NCAI Warns BAAJA (S. 5653) Manager’s Amendment Still Threatens Tribal Sovereignty and Sacred Places; Vote No on Cloture

 The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) stands with the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe in condemning Imperial County Supervisor John Hawk’s use of a harmful racial stereotype to describe a meeting where Tribal citizens raised concerns about critical bridge access. County Supervisors and other elected officials must respect Native people’s participation in public meetings by giving their concerns serious consideration and responding with respect.

The concerns raised by the Quechan community involve access to health care, emergency response, schools, and essential services. According to the Tribe, the Picacho Road Bridge has been closed since March 2025, directing traffic onto the Arnold Road Bridge, which the County has declared an emergency. Families deserve clear answers and a coordinated plan to ensure safe, reliable access.

“Tribal citizens who speak up about the safety of their families must be heard with respect,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. “The Quechan Nation has identified clear steps forward. Imperial County has a responsibility to listen to the nation’s leadership, address the harm these remarks have caused, and work together to restore the infrastructure this community depends on. Respect for Tribal sovereignty must be reflected in how governments engage with Tribal Nations and follow through on their commitments.”

While the Kw’tsàn Cultural Committee has acknowledged Supervisor Hawk’s apology, rebuilding trust requires sustained action. NCAI supports the Quechan Nation’s requests for an apology delivered in person to the Tribal Council and on the public record; a written timeline identifying bridge funding, construction, and reopening milestones; an emergency-access plan developed with Tribal public safety and health officials; regular public updates in Winterhaven; and a government-to-government meeting with Tribal leadership.

Protecting Tribal sovereignty and advancing the well-being of Native communities are central to NCAI’s mission. NCAI calls on Imperial County leaders to work directly with the Quechan Nation to address these urgent needs and build a relationship grounded in respect, accountability, and meaningful cooperation.

NCAI Stands with Quechan Nation, Calls for Accountability and Action on Critical Bridge Access

The adopted 2026 Annual Policy Resolutions are being finalized and signed, and will be available soon. You can view the final action taken on each resolution at the link below. For more information, please contact resolutions@ncai.org 

2026 Annual Final Policy Resolutions 

Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) issued new guidance on the use of predictive analytics in child welfare decision-making. The use of predictive analytics in these important decisions can have a significant impact on Tribal children and families. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) are sharing an important update about this new federal guidance and how Tribal Nations should engage with local, state, and federal governments to ensure that Tribal voices are part of the discussion about how predictive analytics are used when making decisions that could lead to the breakup of Tribal families.

ACF has clarified that agencies may include these tools in Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems (CCWIS) projects and seek federal financial participation for related costs: 

New CCWIS Guidance on Predictive Analytics

. There are important things that Tribal Nations should know about how to engage with their relevant jurisdictions if those jurisdictions are using predictive analytics in their child welfare protective services and/or permanency decision-making.

Although this HHS guidance does not require any agency to adopt predictive analytics, it clarifies how jurisdictions can fund and integrate such systems into their technology modernization plans. On August 13, 2026, ACF 

 that it was awarding $6 million in grants to 10 Tribal and state jurisdictions to support predictive analytics pilots for child welfare systems. That makes it even more critical for Tribal leaders to understand the potential risks for Tribal children, families, and Tribal sovereignty.

Predictive analytics in child welfare settings are promoted as tools to modernize decision-making and use data more effectively. At the same time, federal research has warned that predictive risk models can encode racial and ethnic bias and worsen existing disparities, including for American Indian and Alaska Native children, if they are not designed and governed with strong safeguards.

Avoiding Racial Bias in Child Welfare Agencies’ Use of Predictive Risk Models (HHS/ASPE)

Predictive Analytics in Child Welfare: An Introduction for Administrators and Policy Makers (ASPE)

Although predictive analytics may offer administrative benefits in some contexts, these same federal researchers have cautioned that, without careful safeguards, such systems may amplify existing disparities rather than reduce them. These risks are active and documented. For example, 

 completely halted its screening algorithm after reviews showed it disproportionately flagged Black families. The pioneering Allegheny Family Screening Tool in 

 has faced U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division scrutiny over concerns that it automates past inequalities. Meanwhile, states like 

 have dropped predictive tools outright after finding them unreliable and ineffective.

Tribal data sovereignty and historical context

For generations, government systems and “expert” judgment were used to justify removing Indian children from their families and communities. Federal Indian boarding schools and other forced assimilation policies were advanced under the phrase “Kill the Indian in him, and save the man,” attributed to Richard Henry Pratt in 1892, which captured the goal of erasing Native identity in order to remake the child. That history and its continuing impacts are documented in efforts such as:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report (May 2022)

U.S. Department of the Interior, Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report, Vol. II (July 2024)

Practice Brief on Tribal Children and Forced Assimilation

Following federal boarding school policies, state child welfare agencies took a larger role in intervening in Tribal child and family affairs. Prior to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978 [25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.] an estimated 25-35% of Tribal children were removed from their homes by state and private agencies. Hearings before the House and Senate prior to ICWA’s passage also revealed that 85% of out-of- home placements of Tribal children were with non-Native families. NCAI has also affirmed the importance of protecting Indian children, families, and Tribal Nations by preserving the ICWA in Resolution 

, which recognizes ICWA as the minimum standard to prevent the unnecessary removal of Tribal children from their homes and communities.

Today, data about Tribal children and families are increasingly collected, stored, and analyzed in digital systems. Tribal data sovereignty means that Tribal Nations have the right to govern the collection, use, sharing, and interpretation of data about their citizens and communities, including in child welfare contexts. Any move to integrate predictive analytics with child welfare systems raises fundamental questions about who controls those data, how they are used, and how Tribal governments can protect their citizens.

Predictive analytics systems are typically trained on historical administrative data. Those data reflect patterns of oversurveillance, overinvestigation, and overremoval that Tribal families have experienced for decades. When risk scores are generated from historically biased data, these tools can reinforce patterns of disproportionate surveillance and family separation that Tribal communities have experienced for generations. While the technologies are different from boarding schools, they risk perpetuating inequities rooted in the same history of government intervention in Tribal families. Even after ICWA’s passage, Tribal children continue to be overrepresented in state foster care systems, and Tribal families receive more intrusive interventions compared to other similarly situated families.

 documented that, even decades after ICWA’s passage, federal data show persistently disproportionate foster care placements for Tribal children enrolled or eligible for enrollment and widespread state noncompliance with ICWA. Those same patterns of bias and noncompliance are likely to be reflected in the data used to train predictive analytics tools, unless strong Tribal‑centered safeguards are in place.

Systems may flag Tribal families as “high risk” more often if historical data show higher rates of prior involvement, without accounting for the structural causes of that involvement.

Systems that do not adequately address federal and state legal requirements or cultural values and norms that define the best interests of Tribal children and families may instead rely on one-size-fits-all definitions of those best interests.

Proprietary or opaque models for which commercial vendors claim confidentiality can make it difficult for Tribal Nations to understand how decisions are being influenced or to challenge unfair outcomes.

The threat of cross-system interoperability as local and state agencies increasingly combine child welfare data with homelessness, criminal justice, and public assistance databases. For Tribal families, this creates a massive, compounded web of surveillance that feeds directly into these algorithms, especially if Tribal consent is not central to design and oversight.

Raise the need to recognize Tribal data sovereignty throughout participation in child welfare decision-making, and ICWA compliance, and discussions about predictive analytics in local, state, or federal child welfare systems.

Proactively engage local and state child welfare agencies. 

Decisions made by local and state agencies to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies, such as predictive analytics or risk modeling, directly impact Tribal children and families. This is true everywhere, including in urban areas and other regions without Tribal reservations or Tribal Nations within state boundaries. AI tools can be used for tasks ranging from helping case managers organize their case notes to influencing key decisions in child welfare.

 Ensure Tribal leaders and Tribal experts are consulted early and often before any tool is adopted.

Transparency about how tools work, what data they use, and how they affect decisions across the child welfare process empowers Tribal Nations and supports sovereignty. This includes child protection investigations, the removal of children from their homes, placement decisions if a child is removed, access to family reunification and preservation services, and permanent placement outcomes such as reunification with birth parents, placement with relatives, or other permanent options.

 Demand third-party fairness audits to assess whether the algorithm discriminates against Tribal families. Additionally, require federal, state, and local agencies to disaggregate their performance data by Tribal affiliation, ensuring that disparities are not obscured by overall averages.

 Demand that any predictive tools or algorithms used by federal, state, or local agencies be designed, monitored, and audited to ensure full compliance with ICWA requirements.

 Assert the right to decline participation in tools that increase surveillance or removal risks, and to negotiate data-sharing agreements that protect Tribal interests and values.

For members seeking additional background, the following resources offer more detail on the promises and risks of predictive analytics in child welfare:

Predictive Analytics in Child Welfare: An Assessment of Current Efforts, Challenges, and Opportunities (ASPE)

Coding Over the Cracks: Predictive Analytics and Child Protection (Fordham Urban Law Journal)

ACTION ALERT: Predictive Analytics in Child Welfare Decision-Making and the Impact on Tribal Children 

NCAI joined Tribal organizations across Indian Country in calling on Congress to withdraw Title III of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), which would significantly weaken protections under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Section 106 is a critical tool for ensuring Tribal Nations have a meaningful voice in federal decisions that may affect sacred sites, historic properties, cultural resources, and places of profound cultural and spiritual significance.

The proposed changes would narrow when Section 106 review is required, reduce Tribal participation in key federal decisions, impose inappropriate federal oversight on Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and limit Tribal Nations’ ability to seek judicial review.

Tribal Nations should not have to choose between infrastructure development and the protection of their cultural heritage. Early, robust, and meaningful Tribal consultation can lead to stronger projects, faster decision-making, and more durable outcomes.

NCAI and our partners urge Congress to withdraw this language and work directly with Tribal Nations to develop permitting reforms that respect Tribal sovereignty, fulfill federal trust and treaty obligations, and protect sacred places for future generations.

NCAI Joined Tribal Organizations Across Indian Country in Calling on Congress to Withdraw Title III of the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA)

— The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), in partnership with the Chickasaw Nation, hosted the 2026 NCAI Honor Awards on Tuesday, October 20. The evening celebrated three distinguished leaders whose decades of service, advocacy, and dedication have strengthened Tribal Nations and advanced Tribal sovereignty across Indian Country.

Held during NCAI's 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace, the ceremony recognized Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation with the 2026 John Echohawk Lifetime Achievement Award and honored Arlinda Locklear of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and Councilman Gilbert Suazo, Sr. of Taos Pueblo with the 2026 Native American Leadership Awards.

"Tonight, we honor three remarkable individuals whose leadership has shaped Indian Country and created opportunities for generations to come," said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. "Governor Anoatubby, Arlinda Locklear, and Councilman Suazo have each demonstrated that leadership is not simply about the positions we hold, but about the lasting impact we make for our people. Through their dedication to Tribal sovereignty, justice, and self-determination, they have strengthened our Nations and helped build a future rooted in opportunity, resilience, and cultural identity. Their legacies remind us that the work we do today will shape the lives of generations yet to come."

John Echohawk Lifetime Achievement Award: Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby

Governor Emeritus Bill Anoatubby was recognized for more than five decades of dedicated service to the Chickasaw Nation and nearly four decades as Governor. Throughout his illustrious career, Anoatubby led the transformation of the Chickasaw Nation through visionary leadership, economic development, expanded governmental services, and investments in education, health care, and opportunities for Chickasaw citizens.

His commitment to self-governance and long-term Nation building has made a lasting impact beyond the Chickasaw Nation, providing an enduring example of the strength and possibilities of Tribal sovereignty.

Native American Leadership Award: Arlinda Locklear

Arlinda Locklear, a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, was honored for her groundbreaking career in federal Indian law and her lifelong commitment to advancing and protecting Tribal rights inside and outside of the courtroom.

As one of the first Native American women to argue before the United States Supreme Court, Locklear shaped significant legal victories involving Tribal lands, jurisdiction, and sovereignty. Her decades of advocacy, including her leadership with the Native American Rights Fund, have strengthened the legal foundations of Tribal self-determination and inspired generations of Native attorneys and advocates.

Native American Leadership Award: Councilman Gilbert Suazo, Sr.

Councilman Gilbert Suazo, Sr. of Taos Pueblo was recognized for his decades of leadership and steadfast commitment to protecting Tribal sovereignty, cultural heritage, and the lands and natural resources of his people.

As a former Governor and longtime Tribal Councilman of Taos Pueblo, Suazo has dedicated his life to serving his community and advocating for the protection of Tribal lands, water rights, and cultural resources. For decades he fought for the return of Blue Lake to the Taos Pueblo, epitomizing the land back movement. His leadership reflects the importance of honoring ancestral responsibilities while ensuring future generations inherit strong, thriving Tribal Nations.

The 2026 Honor Awards brought together Tribal leaders, advocates, and guests from across Indian Country to celebrate the honorees' extraordinary contributions and the lasting impact of their service.

NCAI extends its appreciation to the Chickasaw Nation for its partnership in hosting this year's Honor Awards and for its continued commitment to recognizing excellence in Native leadership.

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 Honors Three Distinguished Leaders for Lifetime Contributions to Indian Country at 2026 Honor Awards

On Indigenous Peoples Day, the National Congress of American Indians honors the strength, resilience, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples across generations.

We honor the histories, cultures, languages, traditions, and sacrifices that have shaped Indian Country and sustained Tribal communities since time immemorial. We recognize that Tribal Nations are not relics of the past, but sovereign governments exercising their inherent rights, strengthening their communities, protecting their lands and cultures, and shaping the future of this country.

“Indigenous Peoples Day reminds us that recognizing Native peoples must extend beyond acknowledgment – it must be reflected in the policies, decisions, and institutions that shape our communities,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. “At NCAI, our work is rooted in advancing policies that respect Tribal sovereignty and treaty and trust obligations while ensuring that Native voices are heard where decisions are being made. When Tribal Nations have a meaningful voice in shaping policy, we strengthen not only Indian Country, but the future we are building together.”

Indigenous Peoples Day is also a time to look forward. Across Indian Country, Native leaders, youth, families, artists, educators, advocates, and innovators are carrying forward the knowledge of their ancestors while building stronger futures for generations yet to come. This day also reminds us that what is good for Indian Country is good for everyone. When Tribal Nations thrive, their contributions strengthen economies, protect shared natural resources, and help build a better future for all.

Today and every day, NCAI remains committed to advancing Tribal sovereignty, protecting treaty and trust obligations, advocating for policies that uphold the rights and priorities of Tribal Nations, and amplifying Native voices at every level of government.

Honor the history. Recognize the sovereignty. Celebrate the future.

NCAI Honors Indigenous Peoples Day: Honor the History. Recognize the Sovereignty. Celebrate the Future.

NCAI resolutions are one of the policy mechanisms used to express the organizational positions on Tribal, federal, state, and/or local legislation, litigation, and policy matters that affect Tribal governments or communities. 

All of NCAI’s advocacy work is guided by the 

. Only Individual Indian members in good standing with NCAI may submit a resolution for consideration.

Policy resolutions are now being accepted for the 2026 Annual Convention. To prepare your submission, please download the Resolutions template 

. You may submit resolutions through our online portal 

The deadline to submit resolutions is Monday, September 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Please read the instructions in the form before beginning your submission. For more information, please visit the NCAI Resolutions webpage 

Please note that this portal is not for Tribal Delegate Resolutions, which should be emailed to 

Policy Resolutions: Now Accepting Submissions for NCAI’s 2026 Annual Convention & Marketplace

 — Today the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona represented by the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) 

, a case currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the federal government’s planned construction of a border wall through the Tohono O’odham Nation’s reservation in Arizona.

The brief represents Tribal voices in Arizona and across Indian Country that are alarmed by the federal government’s trespass on the Tohono O’odham Nation’s reservation and are opposed to this unlawful infringement on Tribal sovereignty.

“Tribal Nations were sovereign long before the formation of the United States, and today we continue to exercise sovereignty over our lands,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “The administration’s actions reflect a blatant disregard for the sovereignty of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Indian Country stands with the Nation as it seeks to hold the federal government accountable.”

“Tribal Nations have a unique relationship with the federal government. Part of this relationship imposes a duty on the United States to steward and protect Tribal Nations’ land bases. The federal government’s actions on the Tohono O’odham Nation’s reservation are a dereliction of the duties the United States owes to Tribal Nations,” said NARF Staff Attorney Mitchell Forbes.

The amicus brief details the many instances where Tribal Nations have successfully sued trespassers in order to protect their lands from illegal encroachment and the unique role of the United States in protecting Tribal homelands — which makes the federal government’s trespass on Tohono O’odham land especially alarming.

“Historically, the courts have recognized that trespass claims are essential in protecting Tribal lands and interests and maintaining Tribal sovereignty,” said NARF Attorney Joel West Williams. “This filing shows that Tribal Nations are again unified in defending their lands from invasion and protecting their sacred places from haphazard destruction.”

About the National Congress of American Indians:


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

About the Native American Rights Fund (NARF):


NARF is a non-profit 501c(3) organization dedicated to defending and asserting the legal rights of Native Americans. Since 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has provided specialized legal assistance to Tribal Nations, organizations, and individuals nationwide on the most important issues to Native Americans. In hundreds of major court cases, legislation and inter-governmental agreements, NARF has achieved significant results in critical areas such as Tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education. Like us 

 to learn about the latest fights to promote justice for Native Americans.

Tribal Nations Oppose Federal Government’s Trespass in Border Wall Case

 The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) welcomed the opportunity for Tribal leaders to engage directly with senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) during a Tribal Leader Roundtable focused on public safety, justice, and the resilience of Tribal communities.

Convened by DOJ, Tribal leaders assembled for a direct, candid discussion about the public safety challenges facing Tribal Nations and the federal government’s responsibility to support strong Tribal justice systems. NCAI’s long-standing relationship with DOJ helped facilitate this dialogue and reflects the importance of sustained government-to-government engagement between Tribal Nations and the federal government.

“Public safety is foundational to sovereignty. Tribal Nations must have the authority, resources, and partnerships necessary to protect our people and keep our communities safe,” said NCAI President Mark Macarro. “We appreciate the Department of Justice for bringing Tribal leaders to the table for a direct conversation about what is working, where there are gaps, and what needs to change. Tribal leaders must always be part of developing solutions that affect the safety, sovereignty, and well-being of our communities.”

For Tribal Nations, public safety and justice encompass far more than just law enforcement. Effective community safety relies on strong Tribal governments, fully resourced justice systems, the ability to exercise inherent Tribal jurisdiction, and meaningful partnerships with federal, state, and local governments.

The roundtable highlighted several issues that remain critical to improving the quality and resilience of public safety and justice systems in Indian Country, including:

 Ensuring Tribal Nations have the authority and capacity to exercise jurisdiction and protect their citizens and communities.

Tribal law enforcement and justice infrastructure:

 Providing adequate resources for Tribal police departments, courts, detention and corrections systems, prosecutors, victim services, and other components of Tribal justice systems.

 Improving coordination among Tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement while ensuring federal agencies meet their public safety responsibilities to Indian Country.

 Strengthening responses to domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, violence against children, and other crimes that disproportionately affect Native communities.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP):

 Improving investigative coordination, information sharing, case resolution, and support for families and communities affected by the MMIP crisis.

Access to critical information and technology:

 Expanding Tribal access to criminal justice information systems and tools that enable Tribal governments to better protect their communities.

 Supporting Tribally led approaches that strengthen families and communities and address the conditions that contribute to violence and victimization.

“Tribal Nations have always understood that community safety is rooted in strong families, strong communities, and strong governments,” said Macarro. “Our justice systems must have the resources and authority to effectively serve our communities, and our federal partners must recognize that Tribal leaders are essential to developing solutions that work in Indian Country.”

NCAI appreciates the Department of Justice’s willingness to engage directly with Tribal leaders and remains committed to strengthening the government-to-government partnerships necessary to advance public safety and justice throughout Indian Country.

NCAI Statement on DOJ Tribal Leader Roundtable on Public Safety and Justice in Indian Country

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 15, 2026 — 

During Monday’s Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) private, invitation-only roundtable, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Indian Gaming Association (IGA), and other regional Tribal organizations reiterated that sports-event contracts offered by prediction market platforms are illegal gaming and cannot evade federal, state, and Tribal gaming laws simply by being mislabeled financial products. These organizations furthermore emphasized three principles that must guide the CFTC’s work going forward.

First, sports-event contracts are illegal gaming. 

A sports wager does not become a lawful financial instrument simply because it is called an “event contract.” The CFTC’s own regulations prohibit event contracts involving gaming and activities that are unlawful under state or federal law. IGA has also previously stated that sports-event contracts violate the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and the federal Wire Act and are being offered in disregard of state gaming laws and Tribal sovereignty. Calling sports betting a “prediction market” does not change what it is: gaming.

Second, federal decisions affecting Tribal gaming and sovereignty require meaningful government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations. 

These issues directly implicate IGRA, Tribal-state compacts, Tribal regulatory authority, and the sovereign interests of Tribal governments. Indian Country must be consulted before federal policy is developed or implemented, not simply asked to respond after decisions have been made. Meeting with Tribal organizations, though appreciated, does not constitute consultation with Tribal Nations.

Third, Monday’s roundtable must mark the beginning of deeper engagement with Indian Country. 

A single roundtable cannot resolve the substantial legal, sovereignty, regulatory, and economic questions raised by prediction markets. NCAI and IGA expect continued dialogue and formal consultation as CFTC considers any rulemaking, guidance, enforcement policy, or other action involving sports-event contracts and gaming.

“While we acknowledge the effort that Chairman Selig took to convene Monday’s discussion, to be candid: a roundtable is not consultation. What Tribal Nations require — and what federal law mandates — is government-to-government consultation, not a listening session. The roundtable fell well short of that standard. Tribal Nations deserve a seat at the table when policies directly impact their sovereignty, jurisdiction, economies, and abilities to provide critical services to Tribal citizens.”

Indian Gaming Association Chairman David Z. Bean said, 

“The CFTC roundtable will go down as a missed opportunity for constructive dialogue with Tribal Nations. The CFTC would not explain how sports betting became legal across the country, simply because a prediction market calls it an event contract. These products are gaming, and where they are being offered outside federal, state, and Tribal gaming law, they are illegal gaming. The CFTC must enforce the law as written and work directly with Tribal Nations before moving forward with policies that could undermine IGRA and Tribal-state compacts.”

Although not a participant in Monday’s roundtable

, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued a statement in support of Tribal leaders' position, saying, 

"Prediction markets offer sports gambling without following our laws, expressly flouting the authority of States and Tribes alike. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Tribes and a bipartisan coalition of States in opposing the lawless conduct of prediction markets and protecting our residents from the threat their business model poses."

NCAI and IGA said they will continue engaging with the CFTC and other federal officials to ensure that existing gaming laws are enforced, Tribal sovereignty is respected, and Tribal Nations are fully consulted on federal actions affecting Indian gaming.

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 of American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights. For more information, visit 

The Indian Gaming Association is a 501(C)(6) non-profit association representing Tribal Nations across the country. The mission of IGA is to protect Tribal sovereignty and foster Tribal economic development and self-sufficiency.

NCAI and IGA: Sports Event Contracts Are Illegal Gaming, CFTC Must Continue Consultation with Tribal Nations

Native youth — your voice matters! Are you ready to lead, represent, and uplift Native youth across Indian Country?

We are now accepting applications for all NCAI Youth Commission (NCAI-YC) officer positions. Elections will take place during the 

 in Palm Springs, California, October 18–22, 2026.

Be a citizen of a Tribal Nation that holds NCAI Tribal Nation Membership

Step forward, make your voice heard, and help shape the future of Native youth leadership!

Please share this opportunity with eligible Tribal youth and your networks.

For application information or questions, contact Alison Black, NCAI Youth Leadership & Training Coordinator, at 

has been extended to September 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Call for NCAI Youth Commission Candidates 

 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 

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