About Membership

Defending Sovereignty

Nearly 80 years ago, when NCAI was founded, the new organization brought together tribal leaders and tribal citizens, to speak with one voice to protect tribal sovereignty.

Today we honor that legacy by doing what no other organization, group, or lobbying effort is able to do: unify the interests of American Indian and Alaska Native nations and our people. We ask you to join us and raise your voice for all of Indian Country. It is our legacy as Native people.

Membership Driven

NCAI is a membership-driven organization. Our membership is a strong representation of the many nations, villages, communities, and individuals that constitute the whole of Indian Country.

The organization engages in both legislative and administrative advocacy on behalf of its membership. Moreover, the NCAI strives to ensure that all member tribes and individuals are informed and educated about all such issues affecting the well-being of Indian nations.

NCAI membership is made up of tribes and individuals who have met the eligibility criteria and paid dues as outlined in the Article III of the NCAI By-Laws.

Members are determined to be in good standing upon full payment of dues and having fulfilled the requirements of the Credentials Committee.

More information on how to join or renew here.

Membership Categories & Benefits

NCAI’s membership consists of six categories:

Details About Membership Dues

Pursuant to the National Congress of American Indians By-Laws, Article III – Members, Section C - Dues: “Annual membership dues shall be due and payable at the Annual Convention of each year for the following year until the next Annual Convention …”

2023-2024 Membership Dues Cycle

NCAI Membership dues cycle is from each Annual Convention to the next. The 2023-2024 Membership dues expires September 30, 2024.

*Please note if you purchased an Individual Indian or Individual Associate membership online since April 15, 2023, your membership is active through September 30, 2024.

For further membership information email membership@ncai.org

About Tribal Membership

NCAI Membership is made up of Tribes and Individuals who have met the eligibility criteria and the payment of dues as outlined in Article III of the NCAI By-Laws. Annual membership dues shall be due and payable at the Annual Convention of each year.

For further membership information, please email membership@ncai.org

All members are determined to be in good standing upon full payment of tribal dues. To become a Member Tribe in good standing, please follow these steps.

• To join or renew online and pay by credit card, please use our Tribal Membership Portal.
• To join or renew via mail or email, please complete the Tribal Nation Membership Form and email it to membership@ncai.org or mail it along with a check made payable to the National Congress of American Indians to 1516 P St. NW, Washington DC, 20005. To pay via ACH/wire transfer, please follow the NCAI Wire Transfer Instructions.

NCAI Tribal Membership dues are determined by a tribe's income and may change from year to year. More details can be found here. If you have questions about membership dues, or are unable to pay the recommended membership fee, please contact membership@ncai.org.

In order to vote, please email to membership@ncai.org an updated Tribal Delegate Resolution on your Tribal letterhead to designate who will vote for your Tribal Nation at NCAI conferences.

An explanation of the details of Tribal Nation Membership and an example Tribal Delegate Resolution can be found here.

Details about Tribal Nation Membership

Articles from the National Congress of American Indians Constitution and By-Laws applicable to the Membership Process:

Section B: Tribal Nation Membership

Any Tribe, band or identifiable group of American Indians or Alaska Natives shall be eligible for tribal membership provided it shall fulfill all the following requirements:

1. A substantial number of its members reside upon the same reservation or, in the absence of a reservation in the same general locality;
2. It maintains a tribal organization, with regular officers and the means of transacting business and arriving at a reasonably accurate count of its membership;
3. It is not a mere offshoot or fraction of an organized Tribe, itself eligible for membership;
4. It is recognized as a Tribe or other identifiable group of American Indians or Alaska Natives by the Department of the Interior, Court of Claims, the Interior, Court of Claims, the Indian Claims Commission, or a State.

Article III: MEMBERS

Section C: Dues - In accordance with the following table:

If revenue exceeds $60 million please consider increasing your dues as a contribution to NCAI.

Section B 1d: Votes

Each individual member is entitled to one vote. Each member tribe is entitled to 100-180 votes, depending upon the enrollment of the Tribe. Each member Tribe shall vote in accordance with the following table:

To join or renew online and pay by credit card, please use our Tribal Membership Portal.

To join or renew via mail or email, please complete the Tribal Nation Membership Form and email it to membership@ncai.org or mail it along with a check made payable to the National Congress of American Indians to 1516 P St. NW, Washington DC, 20005. To pay via ACH/wire transfer, please follow the NCAI Wire Transfer Instructions.

NCAI Tribal Membership dues are determined by a tribe's income and may change from year to year. If you have questions about membership dues, or are unable to pay the recommended membership fee, please contact membership@ncai.org.

About Individual & Organization Membership

To join or renew online and pay by credit card, please use our Individual & Organization Membership Portal.

To join or renew via mail or email, please complete the Individual & Organization Membership Form and email it to membership@ncai.org or mail it along with a check made payable to the National Congress of American Indians to 1516 P St. NW, Washington DC, 20005. To pay via ACH/wire transfer, please follow the NCAI Wire Transfer Instructions.