About the Event:

"Prosperity Through Sovereignty"

73rd Annual Convention & Marketplace
Phoenix Convention Center
100 N 3rd St, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
October 9-14, 2016
Phoenix, AZ

Online registration is still open! Please note the current registration prices:

Member: $600
Non-member: $675
Youth: $250 (up to age 24)

To register and pay by check for the 73rd Annual Convention & Marketplace, please fill out the Onsite Registration Form and bring with you along with your form of payment to the conference. Onsite registration opens Sunday, October 9 at 1:00pm. 

Youth Agenda is now available!

Review the consideration of Amendments to NCAI Constitution, Bylaws regarding Executive Committee Qualifications, Vacancies and Voting Process in Caucus.

Header design courtesy of C. Narcia, GWD, Gila River Indian Community Communications & Public Affairs Office

NCAI 2016 Presentations for Download:

Tribal Supreme Court Project Update (General Assembly)

Native Vote (General Assembly)

Putting First Kids 1st: Creating Wise Practices in Native Youth Policy (Strengthening Research that Benefits Native Youth)

Putting First Kids 1st: Creating Wise Practices in Native Youth Policy (First Things First)

Implementation of the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act

Federal Infrastructure Permitting and the FAST Act

Federal Infrastructure Permitting and the Trust Responsibility

National Tribal Water Summit (CSKT Presentation)

National Tribal Water Summit (Gila River Presentation)

National Tribal Water Summit (Hualapai Presentation)

National Tribal Water Summit (Judge Nelson Presentation)

National Tribal Water Summit (Sonosky Presentation)

National Tribal Water Summit (DOI-Climate Change and Tribal Water)

National Tribal Water Summit (DOI-Current Water Settlements)

Land and Natural Resources Committee (Tribal Climate Resilience Presentation)

Land and Natural Resources Committee (NTAA VW Presentation)

Land and Natural Resources Committee (NOAA Presentation)

Land and Natural Resources Committee (Inter Tribal Buffalo Council Presentation)

Land and Natural Resources Committee (Energy and Mineral Activities Presentation)

Land and Natural Resources Committee (ATNI Presentation)

Youth Agenda now available!

Sunday, October 9
Emergency Management Overview for Tribal Leaders
Task Force on Violence Against Women
National Tribal Water Summit

Tuesday, October 11
Protecting our Cultural History, Sacred Places and Items

Wednesday, October 12
NIGA and NCAI Tribal Leader Task Force on Tribal Gaming
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Initiative for Indian Country - Developing a Tribal Workforce for the Future

Committee Agendas
Economic, Finance, and Community Development Committee Agendas
Veterans Committee Agendas
Human Resources Committee Agendas

Subcommittee Agendas
Tribal Gaming Subcommitee Agendas
Housing Subcommitee Agendas
Indian Child and Welfare Subcommittee Agendas
Taxation Subcommittee Agendas
Transportation Subcommittee Agendas
Veterans Subcommittee Agendas
Health Subcommittee Agendas

NCAI is co-sponsoring a full-day National Tribal Water Summit on October 9 from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. to begin the 2016 NCAI Annual Convention and Marketplace in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Summit will feature panels on: New Frontiers in Indian Water Rights Litigation and Protection; Water Rights Implementation and Economic Development; Protecting Tribal Water Quality; Climate and Drought Impacts On Indian Country's Water Resources; and Developing an Action Plan for Furthering Tribal Water Rights. There will also be a Keynote Lunch Address on Indian water rights settlement policy and Indian water settlement agreements.

For more information, please contact:

Colby Duren, NCAI Staff Attorney & Legislative Counsel, cduren@ncai.org

Invest in the success of our conferences! Review and fill out the Sponsorship Form. For more information on sponsorship contact Bernida Humetewa.

The Marketplace is a wonderful opportunity to shop with top Indian Arts & Crafts vendors, get more information on Federal programs, Tribal Enterprises, and career, education, and health information with the wide variety of vendors. 

Show Hours: Open to the Public!
Show Hours: Monday, October 10th Noon - 5:00pm
Tuesday, October 11th through Thursday, October 13th from 9:00am-5:00pm each day
Indian Arts & Crafts Only: Friday, October 14th from 8:30am to Noon

If you would like to become a vendor at our Marketplace please click here.

Vendor Set Up Information:
Move-In for Vendors Only: Monday, October 10th from 7:00AM-Noon
Move Out: Thursday, October 13th from 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Want to get involved with NCAI's 73rd Annual Convention & Marketplace? Become a volunteer today!

Click the flyer below for more information:

Welcome Reception 
Hosted by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Salt River Fields At Talking Stick
7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Sunday, October 9, 2016
6:00pm to 8:00pm

For directions click here
Click the flyer below for more information. Welcome Reception bus schedule also available below:

Cultural Night 
Hosted by the Gila River Indian Community

Rawhide Western Town and Event Center
5700 West North Loop Road, Chandler, AZ 85226
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
6:00pm to 11:00pm
For directions click here
Click the flyer below for more information:

* NCAI assists in meeting space for Consultations and Listening Sessions during the Annual Convention as a benefit to all tribes. These sessions do not require NCAI registration. 

Sunday, October 9

Interagency Native American Languages Dialogue workshop at ATALM & NCAI Native Languages Task Force*
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Phoenix Convention Center Room 101 C
Attend a dialogue with the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education (WHIAIANE) to discuss progress made to date in better coordination across federal programs and removing barriers to accessing federal resources, as specified under the Native American Languages Memorandum of Agreement, signed in November of 2012. The three agencies will also highlight a recently issued Native American Languages Progress Report (expected publication September 2016). This report will include guidance for how federal agencies can further improve and support goals of the Native American Language Act. After the Interagency Native American Languages Dialogue Pre-session workshop, the NCAI Native Languages Task Force will meet to discuss Native American Language Prevention from tribal leader’s perspective.

National Institutes of Health Annual Tribal Consultation*
Phoenix Convention Center Room 102C
1:00pm – 3:30pm
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a tribal consultation session to hear feedback from tribal leaders on tribal priorities related to environmental health and mental health.  The NIH mission, primarily achieved through research, research training and the dissemination of research findings, is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.  The NIH will provide brief presentations on select programs and policies during the consultation and then will solicit input on each topic. There will also be time for an open discussion in which all relevant topics can be considered.  For more information, please contact Robin Kawazoe at NIHTribalCommittee@od.nih.gov.

Indian Health Service Consultations*
Room 102 A
1:00-2:00 Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund Consultation                           
2:15-3:30 Community Health Aide Program Consultation                           
3:45-5:00 Tribal Premium Sponsorship   

DOI Water Consultation*

Room 104AB
4:00pm-6:00pm
The Department of Interior will host consultation sessions to obtain the tribes’ perspectives on the current process of negotiation and reviewing Indian water rights settlements and potential improvements to the process. For more information contact Martin Von Gnechten at Martin_vonGnechten@ios.doi.gov. 

Monday, October 10

Listening Session: BIE Teacher Equity Plan*
Phoenix Convention Center Room 105A
12:00pm - 1:00pm
BIE seeks input on how to implement strategies and activities in response to the Department of Education’s requirement to assure that all students have access to qualified and effective educators. 

Tuesday, October 11

Listening Session on Tribal Input*
Phoenix Convention Center Room 301 C/D
6:00pm – 8:00pm
DOI, DOJ, and Army are hosting a listening session on how the Federal Government can better account for and integrate tribal views on future infrastructure decisions throughout the country. 

Wednesday, October 12

Consultation on Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) State Plan*
Phoenix Convention Center Room 101 A/B
6:00pm -8:00pm
The BIE invites tribal leaders and educators to participate in a consultation on development of its State plan as required by the Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) Act. In its State plan, BIE will describe how it will implement ESSA, get a comprehensive picture of school success, provide support for struggling schools, offer better data for parents and communities, develop a streamlined school improvement plan, and promulgate regulations for implementation of a new accountability system. The BIE is seeking input on all components of the new State plan other than the new BIE accountability system, which will be developed via negotiated rulemaking.

Thursday, October 13

Friday, October 14