December 2018
December 4, 2018
Joint Statement on the Fifth Circuit Granting the Motion to Stay the District Court’s Decision on the Indian Child Welfare Act—The Gold Standard Remains Applicable in All 50 States
Statement from the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA) about the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) judgment stay pending appeal
December 3, 2018
Joint Statement on the United States Department of Justice’s Decision to Defend the Indian Child Welfare Act
Joint statement on U.S. Department of Justice's decision to defend the Indian Child Welfare Act.
November 2018
November 29, 2018
OVW's Fiscal Year 2019 Grants to Tribal Governments to Exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction
Now Open! OVW's Fiscal Year 2019 Grants to Tribal Governments to Exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction solicitation.
November 28, 2018
Justice Department Announces Funding Opportunities to Support Public Safety in Indian Country
Application deadline is 9:00 p.m. EDT, Feb. 26, 2019 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice today announced the opening of the grant solicitation period for comprehensive funding to Indian Country to support crime prevention, victim services, and coordinated community responses to violence against native women.
November 19, 2018
National Native Organizations NCAI and AAIA File Brief Opposing President Trump’s Attempt to Decimate Bears Ears National Monument
NCAI and AAIA Highlight the Dangers that President Trump’s Action Poses to Landmarks, Structures, and Objects of Cultural, Historic, and Religious Significance to All of Indian Country
November 12, 2018
NCAI Honors Veterans on a Historic Veterans Day
A Veterans Day message from NCAI President Jefferson Keel
October 2018
October 30, 2018
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Joint Statement on the Federal District Court of Northern Texas denying to stay the court’s ruling on constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act
(Washington, D.C., October 30, 2018)—The National Indian Child Welfare Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American Rights Fund are disappointed that the Federal District Court of Northern Texas has denied a motion to stay their decision in Brackeen v. Zinke pending appeal by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. This will likely cause great uncertainty and disruption for hundreds of vulnerable Indian children and their families who are currently in state child welfare systems within the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Indiana, especially as we enter the holiday season and the Fifth Circuit moves forward with what may be months of proceedings. Indian children and families deserve better, and we hope that the Fifth Circuit will move quickly to consider a motion to stay this lower federal court decision.
October 16, 2018
National Congress of American Indians and Native American Rights Fund Oppose the Nomination of Eric Miller to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Executive Committee adopted an emergency resolution opposing the nomination of Eric Miller to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. NCAI and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) had previously sent a joint letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee expressing their grave concerns about Mr. Miller’s nomination.
October 8, 2018
Celebrating the Second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Though many continue to call it Columbus Day, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) again proudly joins the growing number of tribal nations, states, counties, cities, and school districts that are instead celebrating the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples Day. In so doing, we honor the enduring social, cultural, and political survivance of tribal nations that authored the original story of America.
October 8, 2018
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Joint Statement on Indian Child Welfare Case Brackeen v. Zinke Ruling
(Portland, OR, October 8, 2018)—In a decision published by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was declared unconstitutional, jeopardizing the landmark legislation protecting tribal children.
September 2018
September 12, 2018
Tribal Leaders and Congressional Members Convene For Tribal Unity Impact Days
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and co-sponsors kicked off a two-day event, Tribal Unity Impact Days, on Capitol Hill with tribal leaders and key members of Congress.
September 11, 2018
NCAI Objects to the Department of the Interior’s Decision on the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Questions What It Means to the Future of Indian Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians disagrees strongly with the Department of the Interior’s recently announced decision affecting the tribal homelands of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
August 2018
August 26, 2018
The Former Chairman of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Senator John McCain of Arizona Passes On
WASHINGTON, D.C. | U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona passed away, Saturday August 25, 2018, at the age of 81, with his family by his side at his ranch in Arizona. A Vietnam combat veteran and POW, McCain served in the U.S. Senate and was the GOP Presidential Candidate in 2008. McCain was a prominent member of the Senate serving on a number of committees including the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. He passed after his yearlong battle with brain cancer.
August 25, 2018
NCAI President Jefferson Keel Honors Senator John McCain
“The National Congress of American Indians gives honor to the life of Senator John McCain and celebrates the time we had with him as a tireless champion for Indian Country and tribal sovereignty. The Senator dedicated many years to Indian Country," said Keel. "Serving as longtime member and former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, he met frequently with tribal leaders on the Hill, in their community, and at our gatherings. In his last speech at NCAI Senator McCain said, 'We must listen more to you, and get out of the way of tribal authority.' As we close out the day, we extend our sincere condolences with the family of Senator John McCain.”
August 24, 2018
Leading National Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Announce Joint Opposition to Washington NFL Team Locating New Stadium in District of Columbia
WASHINGTON, DC | Today, nine leading national civil rights and racial justice organizations formally announced their joint opposition to the Washington National Football League (NFL) team locating its new stadium in the District of Columbia unless the team agrees to drop the “R-word” racial slur as its mascot.
July 2018
July 10, 2018
NCAI Urges Senate to Consider Judge Kavanaugh’s Views on Federal Indian Law and the Governmental Status of Tribal Nations During Upcoming Confirmation Process
The United States Senate faces a momentous decision in the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians, urges the Senate to consider Judge Kavanaugh’s views on the law as it pertains to tribal nations.
June 2018
June 28, 2018
U.S. Senate Confirms Tara Mac Lean Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
Today, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) announced the unanimous confirmation of Tara Mac Lean Sweeney as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.
June 28, 2018
U.S. Senate Confirms Tara Mac Lean Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
Today, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) announced the unanimous confirmation of Tara Mac Lean Sweeney as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.
June 19, 2018
Official Statement of NCAI President Jefferson Keel on the Forced Separation of Immigrant Families
“The forced separation of immigrant children from their families is simply immoral and harkens back to a dark period for many Native American families. For decades, the U.S. government stole Native children from their parents and forced them into boarding schools hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles away. Our communities know too well the intergenerational psychological trauma that will flow from the actions that the United States is taking today. Congress and the President should take heed of such abhorrent mistakes from the past and actually live the moral values this country proclaims to embody by immediately ending this policy and reuniting the affected children with their parents. Families belong together.”
May 2018
May 18, 2018
The McCollum-Cole Amendment on Tribal Victim Service Passes in the House Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment offered by Representatives Betty McCollum (D—MN) and Tom Cole (R—OK) that would support tribal victim services programs. The amendment was adopted by voice vote with overwhelming bi-partisan support.
May 7, 2018
NCAI Commends Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for its Leadership on Derogatory Mascots
April 2018
April 17, 2018
NCAI President Jefferson Keel Responds to Senate Vote on Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Yesterday, the Senate failed to come up with the necessary votes to proceed with a full vote on the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, an amendment to the National Labor Relations Act that would include tribes in the same exempt category as all other government employers in the United States. The Senate voted 55-41 in favor of moving forward with the legislation, but this tally fell short of the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster.
April 16, 2018
Editorial: Support Tribal Sovereignty and Pass the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act
In life, timing is everything as they say. And the time is now for the United States Senate to take up and pass the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act, a bi-partisan bill that has been pending for years that would uphold the inherent rights of Indian tribes to self-governance. TLSA would provide parity for tribal governments by ensuring they have the same ability as all other governments to regulate labor relations for our government employees.
April 5, 2018
The National Congress of American Indians Calls on the Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to Publish Tribal Gaming Compact Amendments
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) sent a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke urging him to publish notice in the Federal Register of gaming compact amendments for the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot Tribes of Connecticut.
March 2018
March 20, 2018
NCAI Releases Five-Year Report on Tribal Governments Exercising VAWA 2013 Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction Over Non-Indians
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has released a new report summarizing results of the first five years of tribal government-expanded criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians under the tribal provisions of the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA 2013).