Major Survey on Indians with Disabilities Released (Washington, DC.) The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) in collaboration with the National Center for American Indians with Disabilities (NCAID) are conducting a comprehensive resource and needs assessment pilot project called "Native Communities Living United for Disability Equality" (NCLUDE). This first of its kind survey will examine the level of inclusion of urban AI/ANs living with disabilities in California, Oregon, and Washington. This assessment is meant to identify barriers to care and services, as well as opportunities to expand services, while increasing the knowledge base on this vulnerable population.

Urban AI/ANs living with disabilities face tremendous challenges to participate in their communities. Approximately 27% of nearly 5.4 million American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people living in the U.S. lives with a disability--a rate higher than any other demographic group (2015 American Community Survey). That translates to roughly 1 million urban AI/ANs nationally that live with disabilities, given that 71% of the AI/AN population lives in urban areas.

In spite of this number, very little is actually known about the lives of this vulnerable part of the community. There is little to no data and minimal knowledge is available in order to offer effective services for AI/ANs living with a disability. Largely unheard and marginalized, they have the lowest opportunity for access to culturally sensitive programs and services of all races. Therefore, it is imperative to demonstrate through hard data what challenges and barriers that AI/ANs with disabilities struggle with on a daily basis and why providing culturally competent services is so vital for independent living.

NCUIH and NCAID, committed to cultural competency, is consulting with an experienced Native researcher and a Native with a disability in order to ensure relevancy. Native disability professional Cinda Hughes is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe with nearly 20 years of advocacy and policy experience is the current NCAID Executive Director. “AI/ANs with disabilities are the least known and most vulnerable members of our people. Our voices and opinions are seldom solicited. This survey is absolutely vital to proving to decision-makers what our needs are in urban areas. I believe that the final report will be truly groundbreaking”.

Dr. Eric S. Trevan, PhD is a member of the faculty at The Evergreen State College and Chairman of Gun Lake Investments. He received his PhD in Community Resources and Development, Arizona State University. He is from Michigan and a member of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians. “I am dedicated to improving the economic status of all tribal members, including AI/ANs with disabilities. This trailblazing survey will shine a light on a significant yet unheard from part of our community”.

The survey is being sent to Native regional and national organizations, to disability organizations and social service facilities. We strongly urge all adult Natives with a disability living off the reservation in California, Oregon, and Washington to please participate and answer the survey. NCUIH will mail out a gift card to those who complete the survey. The online version of the NCLUDE Survey is located at this web address: 



Please share this article and survey web address with those living off the reservation in California, Oregon, and Washington. For more information on NCUIH, please visit: 

Major Survey on Indians with Disabilities Released

2017 National UNITY Conference

The National Prevention Week NPW brings individuals, organizations, coalitions, states, and communities together through local events to educate the public about the prevention of substance abuse among young people. Your support would play an important role in helping SAMHSA raise awareness about prevention efforts in communities throughout the U.S. In past years, NPW has addressed pressing topics such as tobacco use, opioid and prescription drug abuse, illicit drug use, mental health and wellness, among others to encourage individuals and communities to advocate for healthy and productive lives.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Telephone: 877-726-4727 Please visit http://www.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA National Prevention Week

Given since 1981 to the best works of fiction published by an American citizen in a calendar year, the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction is the United States’ largest peer-juried prize in the field. JUDGES Chris Abani, Chantel Acevedo, Sigrid Nunez WINNER Imbolo Mbue FINALISTS Viet Dinh, Louise Erdrich, Garth Greenwell, Sunil Yapa MC - Ron Charles, Washington Post book critic The Ceremony includes readings by all authors and citations by the judges. Following the Ceremony, there will be a full buffet dinner with open bar, including beer provided by Bluejacket Brewery. Go

The 37th Annual PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

10:00AM - 5:30PM - Native American High School Football Players are invited to attend. Top Tier Coaches will be on hand to evaluate the State's Top Native American Football Players. This intense combine is an exciting time for athletes and a key step in achieving their dreams of playing at the next level, while improving their football skills. For more information contact: James Pryor text or call (928)919-1908 or jamesdpryor@yahoo.com

Native American Scouting Combine

SAMHSA’s Prevention Day

For more information contact James Pryor at 

Quapaw & Jack Barrett Native American Scouting Combine

Wednesday, January 16 at 1pm-2pm ET | 12pm-1pm CT | 11am-12pm MT | 10am-11am PT

NCAI is pleased to co-sponsor this briefing by the Funders Census Initiative

, part of a series on census messaging results in partnership with the Democracy Funders Collaborative Census Subgroup. Last year, national field partners conducted get-out-the-count messaging research to identify messages that resonate with hard-to-count communities. You can find recordings + slides from past discussions 

. During this webinar, attendees will learn about: 

•The methodology used by each organization

Moderated by: Karen Narasaki, Consultant to the Bauman FoundationThese briefings are open to funders and field partners. Please feel free to share with colleagues who you think may be interested in this briefing series. 

Contact: Amber Ebarb, Program Manager, NCAI Policy Research Center

FCI Briefing Series: Census 2020 Messaging Testing Results

American Indian College Fund Annual Flame of Hope Fundraising Gala to Raise Funds for Native Student Scholarships

The 18th annual American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) Flame of Hope Gala will be held Thursday, October 10 at The Depot Renaissance Hotel, 225 South 3rd Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Proceeds will benefit Native student scholarships. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dinner program with Native entertainment, including classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala and the dance and music group Brulé.

Native artist Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw) will create a painting live at the event for auction. In addition, a silent auction including art by the nation’s top Native artists will be featured, including Timothy H. Terry (

The American Indian College Fund will honor the Northwest Area Foundation of Minneapolis for funding programs that fight poverty in Indian Country. This year the foundation awarded the American Indian College Fund a $1 million, one-year Tribal College Leaders in Community Innovation Award to help the College Fund shine a light on the innovative approaches five tribal colleges located in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington are using to build thriving Native communities.

The main sponsor of the event is USA Funds. Additional sponsors include AT&T, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Coca-Cola Corporation, CBS Corporation, Comcast NBC Universal, Ford Motor Company Fund & Community Services, Grotto Foundation, Jenzabar Inc., Lannan Foundation, Mattel, McDonalds Corporation, Nissan North America, Inc., Peskoff Foundation, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Target Corporation,The Tierney Family Foundation, United Health Foundation, UPS Foundation, Walmart Foundation, and The Sheryl & Harvey White Foundation.

Sponsorships and tickets are available. For information, please contact Patrita Salazar at 303-426-8900 or psalazar@collegefund.org. For more information about the event, please visit 

With its credo “Educating the Mind and Spirit,” The American Indian College Fund is the premier scholarship organization for Native students. Created in 1989 to provide scholarships and support for the nation’s 34 tribal colleges, the Fund receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators, including the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, and received its third consecutive four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Last year it provided more than 3,800 Native students with scholarships annually.

American Indian College Fund Annual Flame of Hope Fundraising Gala

"Uniting Our Diversity, We Stand As One" is the theme selected for the 2012 National UNITY Conference to be held in Phoenix, AZ July 6 - 10th.

The annual National UNITY Conference is one of the largest gatherings of American Indian and Alaska Native youth in the country and will be held at The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

The 5-day conference will feature various keynote speakers, a health and education fair, workshops, culture sharing and a talent show, among other activities. Early bird registration is now open for the conference.

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