March 2018
March 5, 2018
SOUTH DAKOTA V. WAYFAIR: NCAI AND SOUTH DAKOTA TRIBES FILE AMICUS BRIEF ON TRIBAL TAX AUTHORITY FOR ONLINE SALES
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and South Dakota Tribal Nations today filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., a case that could greatly affect tax policy in Indian Country in South Dakota and nationwide.
February 2018
February 28, 2018
Mark Trahant Named Editor to Lead Indian Country Today
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Independent journalist Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock Tribes) has accepted the role of Editor to lead Indian Country Today, under the ownership of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
February 27, 2018
NCAI Congratulates Gun Lake Tribe on Victory in the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. | On February 27, 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in favor of the Department of the Interior and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, settling the long running dispute with a final decision in Patchak v. Zinke. This was the second trip to the Supreme Court for this case, where Mr. Patchak repeatedly challenged the Department of the Interior’s authority to acquire land in trust for the Band, commonly referred to as the Gun Lake Tribe. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Tribal Supreme Court Project submitted an amicus brief in support of the Tribe, arguing that trust land acquisitions are critical to restoring tribal homelands, and that the Gun Lake Land Restoration Act is consistent with Congress’s authority to address the uncertainty injected into the trust land acquisition process by the Carcieri and Patchak I decisions.
February 14, 2018
Senator Elizabeth Warren Addresses Native Heritage and Commits to Indian Country at the National Congress of American Indians 2018 Winter Session
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA) took the stage today to share remarks at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2018 Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS) addressing her heritage, recognizing tribal sovereignty, and committing to uplifting the stories of tribal communities.
February 14, 2018
Statement on Tribal Nations Concern on the President’s FY2019 Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. | On Wednesday, February 14, 2018, more than 500 tribal representatives from across the United States raised a unified voice in opposition to the FY 2019 President’s Budget during the Third General Assembly at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2018 Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS) in Washington, DC.
February 9, 2018
Media Advisory: U.S. Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico to Deliver Congressional Response at the 2018 State of Indian Nations
WASHINGTON, D.C. | United States Senator Tom Udall (NM) is confirmed to deliver the Congressional Response at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 16th Annual State of Indian Nations (SOIN) address on Monday, February 12, 2018, at the Newseum’s Knight Studio in Washington, D.C.
February 9, 2018
NCAI Honors Distinguished Leaders at 20th Annual Leadership Awards Banquet
WASHINGTON, D.C. | On Tuesday, February 13, 2018, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) will award seven distinguished leaders in Indian Country at NCAI’s 20th Annual Leadership Awards Ceremony at their Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS). The awards are given annually to individuals or groups who are critical to tribal issues as well as those who serve as champions in their institutions.
January 2018
January 30, 2018
NCAI Congratulates Tribal Nations in Virginia on Federal Recognition
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) congratulates the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond tribal nations on the recent passage of H.R. 984, the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017. President Trump signed the bill into law on January 29, 2018, after being introduced by Rep. Wittman in February of 2017 and receiving strong support from Senators Kaine, Warner, and Virginia’s Congressional delegation.
January 29, 2018
NCAI Applauds Major League Baseball and the Cleveland Franchise for Retiring Offensive Chief Wahoo Logo
WASHINGTON, D.C. | NCAI applauds today’s announcement by Major League Baseball that the league’s Cleveland franchise will retire the Chief Wahoo mascot and logo in 2019. NCAI has advocated for the eradication of offensive Native American-themed imagery from sports since 1968, and today’s announcement represents an important milestone for Indian Country in this effort.
January 19, 2018
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Honors Tribal Sovereignty in Recent Federal Court Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) appreciates the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s action to voluntarily dismiss the Bureau’s civil litigation against consumer lending companies of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake Tribe that had been pending in federal court in Kansas in Case No. 2:17-cv-02521.
January 17, 2018
U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to Attend NCAI’s 2018 Executive Council Winter Session in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. | U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is confirmed to attend the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 2018 Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS) at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., which will be held from Monday, February 12 to Thursday, February 15, 2018.
January 9, 2018
NCAI Supports Bears Ears Coalition and Affected Tribes in House Natural Resources Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C | The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a Legislative Hearing today on H.R. 4532 – the Shash Jáa National Monument and Indian Creek National Monument Act. The bill would codify the recent executive action that reduced the Bears Ears National Monument.
January 8, 2018
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Applauds Hostiles for Investing in the Authentic Representation of Native Peoples
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is celebrating Entertainment Studios’ film Hostiles for its culturally accurate portrayal of Native peoples with a screening on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 in Washington, D.C. NCAI partnered with The Native Networkers (TNN) and the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) to host the screening of the feature film starring Christian Bale and Wes Studi.
December 2017
December 4, 2017
NCAI Opposes Executive Action on the Reduction of National Monuments
WASHINGTON, D.C. | NCAI opposes President Trump’s efforts to reduce two monuments that hold tribal sacred places. Today, President Trump issued Presidential Proclamations reducing the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase national monuments in Utah. These monuments were initially designated as monuments to ensure that tribal and American citizens would have use of these significant landscapes for generations to come. The National Congress of American Indians stands by the efforts of all effected Tribal Governments and local communities who are determined to protect these sacred places in their entirety.
November 2017
November 27, 2017
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Jefferson Keel Issues Statement on the White House Ceremony Honoring Native American Code Talkers
WASHINGTON, D.C. | On November 27, 2017, the National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel issued the following statement:
November 21, 2017
Top Civil Rights Organizations Urge Media Not to Use Washington NFL Team’s R-word Name on Thanksgiving
Oneida Nation Homelands – Nov. 21, 2017 – A coalition of the country’s most prominent advocacy and civil rights organizations today called on media organizations to refrain from using the offensive R-word name of the Washington NFL team during their Thanksgiving Day coverage. The Washington franchise will take on the New York Giants in a high-profile, nationally broadcast game on Thursday.
November 16, 2017
The National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Finance Officers Association Oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the House and the Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act—both the House bill and the Senate Finance Committee bill.
November 3, 2017
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) and National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Announce #ChangeTheMascot Social Media Campaign during NFL’s Washington vs. Seattle Game
SEATTLE, WA | Today, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), in coordination with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), are launching a joint #ChangeTheMascot social media campaign targeting Seattle, Washington and leading up to the NFL’s Washington Football Team vs. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 4:05 p.m. Eastern time.
October 2017
October 19, 2017
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Elects 2017-2019 Executive Council at 74th Annual Convention & Marketplace
MILWAUKEE, WI | On Thursday, October 19, 2017, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) elected the new 2017-2019 NCAI Executive Council at the “We Are Strong Nations” 74th Annual Convention & Marketplace in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Executive Council is composed of four Administrative Board Officers and Regional Vice-Presidents and Alternates from each of the 12 regions.
October 18, 2017
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Joins Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Calling for the Development of a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Indigenous Chapter
MILWAUKEE, WI | On Tuesday, October 18, 2017, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) membership overwhelmingly moved to support Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde’s request that NCAI join AFN in working to establish an Indigenous Chapter in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
October 17, 2017
U.S. Department of the Interior Announces White House Nomination of Tara Katuk Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (AS-IA)
WASHINGTON, DC | On Tuesday, October 17, 2017, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the White House nomination of Tara Katuk Sweeney as the new Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (AS-IA).
October 4, 2017
Oneida Nation to Donate Indian Country Today Media Network Assets to NCAI
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) today announced that it is assuming control of the assets of Indian Country Today Media Network (ICTMN), the result of a donation to the organization by the Oneida Indian Nation.
September 2017
September 14, 2017
The National Congress of American Indians welcomes Secretary Zinke’s Appointment of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) congratulates John Tahsuda III, enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, on his recent appointment as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.
July 2017
July 13, 2017
The McCollum-Cole Amendment on Tribal Public Safety & Victim Service Passes in the House Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. | Today, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment offered by Representatives Betty McCollum (D—MN) and Tom Cole (R—OK) that would support tribal public safety and victim services programs. The amendment was adopted by voice vote with overwhelming bi-partisan support.
June 2017
June 19, 2017
National Congress of American Indians and Change the Mascot Respond to Disappointing Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Derogatory Trademark
Oneida Nation Homelands (June 19, 2017) The National Congress of American Indians and the Change the Mascot campaign today responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this morning that federal trademarks can be registered, even if offensive or derogatory.