WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is announcing the results of joint efforts with Google to ensure better visibility for Indian reservations in the United States on Google Maps. Over the past year, Google launched several improvements for the way reservations appear on Google Maps, including labeling reservations, highlighting reservation borders in search results, and ensuring that their reservation dataset is as comprehensive as possible. The most recent update was rolled out in November to coincide with Native American Heritage Month.

In 2012, NCAI and the Google American Indian Network co-hosted a summit at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. At the summit, tribal leaders underscored the role of tribal nations as first American governments, explained the significance of land to Native peoples, and urged Google to consider closer partnerships with Native peoples as the first American innovators.

As a result of those discussions, Google Maps now makes it easier than ever to search for federally recognized tribal reservations. The project was led by the Google American Indian Network (GAIN) and the Google Earth Outreach (GEO) team in close collaboration with NCAI and the Tribal Technology Taskforce. Including reservations on Google Maps is an important part of creating a comprehensive map of the United States and the world. Google and NCAI worked together to accurately represent reservation labels, borders, and additional details in a way that was respectful of Indigenous communities.

Welcoming the development, NCAI President Brian Cladoosby released the following statement:

“NCAI congratulates Google on this important innovation to acknowledge the place of tribal nations in the American family of governments. America’s 566 federally recognized tribes are acknowledged alongside foreign nations and state governments in the US Constitution and they have jurisdiction over a land base of over 100 million acres. This land base is larger than all but three American states.

Thanks to the partnership between NCAI and the GAIN and GEO teams, the lands of America’s first governments are now clearly highlighted on Google Maps. We look forward to our ongoing partnership to improve the representation of tribal lands on Google Maps.

This is a great step forward to acknowledge the place of tribes in the past, present, and future of the United States, but it is not the last. NCAI will continue to build partnerships with tech companies like Google to ensure the first American innovators remain on the front lines of 21st century innovation.“

NCAI Congratulates Google on Changes to Better Acknowledge Tribal Nations on Google Maps

Vice President Biden Addresses Tribal VAWA Provisions at the White House Tribal Nations Conference

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, President Obama hosted more than 300 tribal government and youth leaders at the Sixth Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. During sessions throughout the day, ten Cabinet Secretaries and the Administration highlighted their deepening partnership with tribal nations, particularly on the critical matters of Native youth, tribal economic development, and climate change. The President was introduced by Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, who declared that President Obama “promised to meet with us annually, and he has kept his promise. During this time, we have accomplished many things for our communities.”

President Obama focused his remarks on Native youth, building upon his summer 2014 visit to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, where the President and First Lady visited with a group of young people. He shared how they stayed longer than planned as the young people opened up about the extraordinary challenges they faced.

The President then made a series of concrete commitments designed to create new avenues of opportunity for Native youth:

The release of the White House Native Youth Report detailing the realities that Native young people face and offering recommendations to address those issues

The launch of the Cabinet Native Youth Listening Tour, through which each Cabinet Secretary will pay visits to Indian Country in 2015 to hear directly from Native Youth

The establishment of the Generation Indigenous (Gen I) national initiative, which will seek to identify and remove obstacles standing in the way of Native Youth success

The creation of the Native Youth Community Projects, which will facilitate collaboration between tribes and schools to support students in a range of areas

The convening of the First White House Tribal Youth Gathering in 2015

The President stated: “The United States shares a sacred bond with our Native nations. We have a sacred responsibility to all our young people, including Native youth..”

The President also pledged his continued commitment and that of his Administration to promote economic growth in tribal communities, address the accelerating impacts of climate change, and submit a budget to Congress that seeks smarter, stronger investments important for Indian Country. 

NCAI President Cladoosby said, “President Obama has demonstrated his commitment to ensuring a stronger relationship for the next generation. He has committed himself and his Administration to building a bright future for Native Youth and a stronger tomorrow for tribal nations.”

President Obama Commits to Native American Youth

WASHINGTON, DC – Vice President Joe Biden joined over 300 tribal leaders at the sixth annual White House Tribal Nations Conference today. At the opening of the conference, Vice President Biden delivered an impassioned speech about violence against women in Indian Country saying “The most horrific prison on earth is the four walls of an abused woman’s home. For far too many Native American women that is a daily reality.”

The Vice-President, who was the original author of the Violence Against Women Act and has been its most steadfast supporter over the past 20 years, was introduced by Councilwoman Deborah Parker from the Tulalip Tribes , “Vice President Biden has led the movement to protect women against rape and domestic violence. Last year he helped pass the much needed protection to help Native women from violence. Mr. Vice President, you are correct when you say no means no -- no more abuse.” 

Referring to the provisions added to VAWA in 2013 that allow tribal governments to prosecute non-Indian domestic violence offenders in certain cases, the Vice-President apologized that it took so long to give tribal governments the tools to hold offenders accountable in their communities, saying “as long as there is a single place where the abuse of power is excused as a question of jurisdiction or tolerated as a family affair, no one is truly safe, and we cannot define ourselves as a society that is civilized.” 

The Vice President delivered a call to action saying, “Tribal governments have an inherent right, as a matter of fact they have an obligation, to protect their people. All people deserve to live free of fear.” He urged all tribal governments to be prepared on March 7 when the law goes into effect to use their authority to aggressively prosecute domestic violence offenders. He stressed the need to change the culture that too often leaves victims asking what they did wrong and instead to focus on sending a strong message that violence against women is always unacceptable.

Vice President Biden also acknowledged that we have much more to do to protect Native women from violence including giving Alaska tribes the same authority and expanding the provision to cover sexual assault and other crimes. Biden called on Congress to appropriate the $25 million in grants authorized in VAWA 2013 to implement the new law. 

Attorney General Eric Holder followed Vice President Biden, and strongly stated the Department of Justice’s commitment to improving law enforcement in Indian country, and to institutionalizing that commitment so that it will continue. He announced that he has implemented a Statement of Principles to guide the Department’s work with tribal nations into the future.

Attorney General Holder also announced a new initiative to promote compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act in partnership with the Departments of Interior and Health and Human Services. Holder stated that the initiative is “working to actively identify state-court cases where the United States can file briefs opposing the unnecessary and illegal removal of Indian children from their families and their tribal communities.” Holder went on to explain that DOJ will work with its partners and tribes to “to promote tribes’ authority to make placement decisions affecting tribal children; to gather information about where the Indian Child Welfare Act is being systematically violated; and to take appropriate, targeted action to ensure that the next generation of great tribal leaders can grow up in homes that are not only safe and loving, but also suffused with the proud traditions of Indian cultures.”

Tribal Leaders Meet with Vice President Biden who Addresses Efforts to End Violence Against Women Attorney General Holder Announces Initiative on Indian Child Welfare Act

AG Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence recommends expansion of jurisdiction over non-Indians to include child abuse.

Native American kids need more protection, advisory panel tells Holder in new report


Washington Post
By Sari Horwitz November 17

"A panel of Indian-country experts will recommend to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday that tribes be allowed to criminally prosecute non-Indians who sexually or physically abuse Native American children on tribal land, saying that juveniles on reservations are living with “dire” levels of violence and poverty.

The recommendation addresses a loophole 

 last year. The measure allowed the nation’s 566 federally recognized tribes for the first time to prosecute non-Indians who commit certain crimes of domestic violence against Native Americans in Indian country. But the law, opposed by most Republican lawmakers, does not allow non-Indians to be prosecuted by tribes for abusing Indian children on a reservation.

Closing that loophole is one of 31 wide-ranging recommendations made by the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence in 

 obtained by The Washington Post. The committee, which conducted four public hearings this year — in North Dakota, Arizona, Florida and Alaska — is releasing the report Tuesday morning."

Eastern Band of Cherokee sentences DV offender to 2 years under the Tribal Law & Order Act

Jerry Lee Lossiah Jr., 35, was convicted on Oct. 29 in the Cherokee Court for two counts of Violating a Domestic Violence Protective Order and for a Probation Violation from a Domestic Violence Assault conviction and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The sentence, issued by the Honorable Danny E. Davis, Cherokee Court Judge, was yet another multi-year sentence issued by the Cherokee Court following the implementation of the Tribal Law and Order Act which authorized criminal sentences of greater than one year in tribal courts.

Tribal Prosecutor Jason Smith stated, “I want to thank Assistant Tribal Prosecutor Justin Eason, Cherokee Probation Officer John Nations, Cherokee Police Detective Jason Cable, Cherokee Police Officers Bryan Scott Chekelelee and John Taylor, and Domestic Violence Advocate Iva Key for their hard work and dedication to this case and to fighting domestic violence which made this outcome a possibility.

It is critical in this system that Domestic Violence Protective Orders be followed and enforced. This case proves that the Cherokee Court takes violations of these orders very seriously and will punish such violations accordingly.”

Smith added, “To further strengthen the system in cases of Domestic Violence, Cherokee is working hard to implement the provisions of the reauthorized Federal Violence Against Women Act of 2013 (“VAWA 13”) which authorizes the prosecution of cases involving non-native perpetrators of domestic violence. Once Cherokee laws are amended to comply with VAWA 13 requirements, these non-native perpetrators will also be subject to punishment in the Cherokee Court for the commission of domestic violence crimes against enrolled members on EBCI lands.

The sole remaining issue to be resolved is the jury selection process, and the Committee that is working on the necessary changes to the system expects to have that issue resolved and have draft legislation submitted to Tribal Council for consideration this winter.”

Tribal VAWA in the News - November

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Congress of American Indians called for a national mobilization of government and civil society resources to address high rates of violence experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native children. The organization’s swift response comes on the heels of the release of the report - 

– authored by the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence. Former NCAI President Jefferson Keel, Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, served as a member of the committee, along with a diverse group of nine tribal leaders and scholars, and chair of the Committee, former Senator Byron Dorgan (ND).

NCAI’s current President Brian Cladoosby released the following statement: 

“The report provides a very strong set of recommendations for action by the Obama Administration and by Congress. This grabs the heart. We call on the federal government, and tribal governments, as well as civil society to ensure that we are putting our children’s needs first. 

“NCAI calls on Congress to hold hearings in early 2015 to address the Report’s recommendations. Additionally, the challenges and opportunities facing our Native youth should be a central focus during the President’s upcoming Tribal Nations Conference this December. 

“Without action, our Native youth will remain vulnerable and they will continue to be exposed to harm. We must address this severe problem as an American family of governments – federal governments, state and local governments, and tribal governments. Even more importantly, we must address this as communities, families, parents and grandparents, and as adults, who know all too well the challenges of growing up in difficult environments.“

Over the past two years, the Attorney General and the Advisory Committee on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence examined the current epidemic of violence facing Indian Country and in their report advanced recommendations to heal and protect American Indian and Alaska Native children—to create environments where they can thrive and reach their full potential. At the core of the matter is the need to reduce the barriers that restrict tribal sovereignty in the protection of Native children.

The Advisory Committee has identified the following areas of need:

The Committee recommends that no later than May 2015 that a permanent fully staffed Native American Affairs Office within the White House Domestic Policy Council, including a staff person focused on Native youth. 

Supporting Tribal Self-Determination in Combating Violence

Tribal self-government must form the foundation for protecting Native children. The Advisory Committee recommends that Congress should restore the inherent authority of tribal governments to assert full criminal jurisdiction over all persons who commit crimes against children in Indian Country. It is important to build on the success of the Violence Against Women Act, and extend the law to protect Native children.

Intergovernmental Cooperation in Child Welfare Provision

Encourage tribal-state ICWA collaborations- ICWA provisions seek to keep Native children safely in their homes and provide AI/AN children with civil protections as members of their respective tribes.

Building Legal Infrastructure in Indian Country

Tribal courts must be enhanced and sustained; where absent, they must be developed.

There is an identified need to fund tribal criminal and civil justice systems. This is a crucial investment for our children.

NCAI Responds to AG Report on Native Youth and Violence; Cladoosby Calls for National Action to Protect Native Children

Atlanta, Georgia - Statement of the Executive Board of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

As tribal nations gather this week in Atlanta, Georgia for NCAI's 71st Annual Convention, the NCAI Executive Board released the following joint statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred at Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Friday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, the students of Marysville School District, and the Tulalip tribes. It is at times like these that Native communities from all across Indian County come together in support of each other. As Native peoples, we recognize that every youth is sacred. Each of the young people involved in this tragedy represent a loss to the Tulalip tribes and Indian Country – they were sons, daughters, friends, and future leaders of their communities. Unfortunately, acts of violence in schools are occurring more frequently across the country and Native communities are not immune to inexplicable acts that leave their communities forever changed. NCAI stands with all those who are grieving at this time - Native and non-Native. We are all mourning loss and by coming together we will be strengthened by our resolve, our hope, and our prayers. We will work closely with the Tulalip tribe and the surrounding community in any way we can to understand and address this horrible tragedy.” 

NCAI President Cladoosby, a well-known leader in the Pacific Northwest, expressed his solidarity with the Tulalip tribes. "As a father and grandfather, my thoughts and prayers are with my Tulalip relatives. All of Indian Country is holding the Tulalip people in our thoughts and prayers."

NCAI Statement on Tragedy in Tulalip Community

NEW YORK, NY – Thousands of Indigenous leaders from around the world gathered today at the United Nations in New York, City as the UN General Assembly convened a high-level plenary meeting known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (WCIP). During the opening session of the WCIP, the General Assembly adopted an Outcome Document that provides for concrete and action-oriented measures to implement and achieve the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The UNDRIP was approved by the General Assembly in 2007.

A strong delegation of US tribal leaders are attending the World Conference and voiced support for their priorities addressed in the adopted Outcome Document. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has joined with a large group of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and inter-tribal associations to support four priorities that promote implementation of the Declaration, establish status for Indigenous governments at the UN, prevent violence against Indigenous women and children, and protect sacred places and objects.

“Taking the steps called for in the Conference Outcome Document will mean that Indigenous voices will always be here in the UN to call for respect for our rights. Tribes, as Indigenous governments, must be here, working within the UN system to represent our peoples and achieve the promise of the UN Declaration,” said Jefferson Keel, former NCAI President and Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, who attended the events in New York as a representative for NCAI, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization.

Current NCAI President Brian Cladoosby released a statement, applauding the adoption of the Outcome Document:

“The General Assembly has established pathways for implementation of the UNDRIP, a vital agreement to protect the rights of our peoples. Our tribal governments, together with our brothers and sisters around the world, will need to continue a sustained effort to work with the various UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council and the Secretary General, to ensure that the commitments made today by the UN member countries are fulfilled.”

President Cladoosby also commended the strong delegation of American Indian and Alaska Native women who traveled to the UN this week to advocate for strong and decisive action to combat violence against Native women and girls, “We stand with our sisters in the effort to ensure that all Indigenous women are able to live lives free from violence.”

Over a thousand delegates representing Indigenous Peoples from around the world are attending the WCIP.

US Tribal Leaders Promote Action on Rights of Indigenous Peoples at UN World Conference

NCAI President Proposes Action Plan and Calls for Secretary Meeting with Tribal Leader Trust Modernization Task Force

 Yesterday, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell issued a 

 that reaffirmed the federal trust responsibility for tribal lands. NCAI President Brian Cladoosby provided the following statement: “We are very glad to see the Department of the Interior taking action to improve the trust system. This Secretarial Order demonstrates Secretary Jewell’s commitment to improving the trust system. This can start discussion for taking concrete steps in the future. Tribes want to define the relationship in a different way that respects tribal sovereignty and tribal economic initiatives. We also look forward to getting to work on specific problems in the trust system.“In fact, at this year’s NCAI Executive Council Winter Session, the NCAI Board adopted a resolution establishing a Trust Modernization Task Force. Participation in the task force is open to all tribal leaders. Fawn Sharp and John Berrey serve as co-chairs. Fawn Sharp is President of the Quinault Indian Nation and was the Chair of the Secretary of the Interior’s Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform. John Berrey is the Chairman of the Quapaw Tribe and served on the Trust Reform Task Force during the Bush Administration.“The purpose of this new Task Force is to facilitate and encourage tribal leader action for modernizing the trust land and resource management system, and to work on the broader trust relationship with the entire federal government. Most of this system was designed a century ago or more, and needs to be updated to take advantage of the economic potential of tribal trust resources, expand tribal control, restore tribal lands, and fully protect the federal trust responsibility. We want to see more focus on economic development. I urge Secretary Jewell to meet with the Trust Modernization Task Force in the near future. The NCAI Annual Convention in October presents a particularly promising opportunity for such a meeting.

“Tribes have been making progress on trust reform over the last four years and want to keep that momentum going. We have seen significant settlements of trust litigation, the development of a buy back program for fractionated lands, passage of the HEARTH Act to promote tribal control over surface leasing of tribal lands, and new leasing regulations that assist greatly on taxation of permanent improvements among other matters. But there is much more work to be done. 

“We know that we need a comprehensive approach that will include legislation from Congress. However, the timing of legislation can be unpredictable. We also have an Administration that has been very willing to work with tribes on a number of important matters. Therefore, on the way to developing a broad recommendation for trust modernization, the Task Force should also pursue obvious regulatory improvements to the trust management system.

“In part, trust land development involves a process that needs to work better. Indian lands and resources are subject to leases and contracts which produce trust funds to be returned to the tribal and individual Indian owners. We also have a more fundamental job to protect and restore tribal lands, to work on the trust relationship in the federal budget, to ensure that tribal nations get the full economic and tax value of our lands, and to protect our lands as our homelands. We want to make progress on all of these goals, and the following is an outline of a specific action plan:

 – nearly every trust transaction requires an appraisal from the Office of Special Trustee, and this is the most significant bottleneck in the trust system. We need to eliminate unnecessary appraisals, and permit tribes to rely on independent certified appraisals.

 – Indian tribes have very significant problems with lessees who violate lease terms, and with outright trespass on Indian lands. We need to improve enforcement mechanisms.

 – the Department of Interior, and the Solicitor’s office, oversee a vast range of federal land issues that can come into conflict with their trust responsibility to protect Indian land. We need to create clearer divisions of responsibility.

 – Currently, there are bills pending in Congress that would modernize the trust process for tribal lands. H.R. 409 and its Senate companion, S.165, have a demonstration project that would allow comprehensive land use planning and allocation of trust funding in accordance with tribal priorities. H.R. 1548 and S.2132 would authorize several innovative programs and processes for tribes interested in developing conventional and renewable energy resources.

 – Probate of individual Indian lands continues to be a bottleneck for many trust transactions. 

Self-Determination and Tribal Use of Lands

 – The HEARTH Act was a good step forward to empower tribes to manage their own lands, we need to continue this progress on subsurface lands, and to provide technical assistance to tribes.

 – Tribal planning processes tend to silo into grant-driven plans for housing, transportation, water, power and sewage. Tribes need resources to integrate planning for economic development and jobs, education, agriculture and natural resources, and the development of healthy communities. There is a growing emphasis on planning for rural development and business agglomeration. Tribal industries tend to cluster in certain areas such as: Hotel/Recreation/Entertainment; Agriculture; Oil & Gas; Timber; Commercial Real Estate; Government Contracting; and Retail.

Federal Responsibilities for Title, Technical Assistance, and Prevention of Land Loss

 – At its most basic level, the federal government has a responsibility to maintain title to federal Indian lands, to report title quickly and accurately, to include tribal governments in the title management system, and to use that system to prevent land loss.

 Most reservations have suffered significant land loss and are in a checkerboard pattern that is difficult to manage. Some tribes have lost all of their land. The federal government has a trust responsibility to restore tribal lands for all tribes.

 Individual Indian lands are often highly fractionated, and these lands are also very difficult to put to productive use. The Cobell settlement has established a Buy Back Program, where tribes have significant questions and concerns about the centralized federal program. We need to gather more information about the track record so far, and push to make the system effective and allow greater tribal involvement.

Natural Resources and the Environment –

 Tribal lands are subject to environmental concerns that affect life in Indian country. At the same time, federal environmental regulations are often unnecessarily burdensome and overly focused on process rather than substance.

Taxation and Services on Tribal Lands –

 Indian tribes need to be able to collect taxes and control the revenue in Indian country in order to provide services to their people.

Access to capital and Financing Development on Indian Lands –

 Accessing capital to finance development on tribal and individual Indian lands remains a significant challenge. We should learn more about the barriers to investment and attempt to find alternative mechanisms to secure debt and equity investments in Indian Country.

Updating Regulations, Policies and Procedures -

 There are likely many other areas of the trust system that could be updated to be more effective.

NCAI Releases Plan for Trust Reform and Economic Development; Commends US Interior Reaffirmation of Federal Trust Responsibility

“Teeth and heavyset kids: Intervention similarities between childhood obesity and oral health interventions within Native American societies”

 (Volume 3, Issue 1) recently published an article by a group of researchers from the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and SUNY-Buffalo that conducts a meta-analysis of 120 articles on obesity and oral health interventions among Native populations from 1985-2010 to tie common threads across. These commonalities included culturally tailored activities, family components, healthy diets, and the (temporal) length of the interventions. 

35 New Articles on American Indian & Alaska Native Health in a Special Issue of the

 released a special issue that has been in the works for over two years. Reflecting the work of Native and non-Native scholars, articles emphasize public health surveillance, exploring patterns and trends in mortality data and describing efforts to link IHS mortality data with other datasets. 

 There have been a number of reports released recently with data and policy information relevant to tribal nations. These include: 

Mobilizing Philanthropic Support for Boys and Young Men of Color

Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Housing Conditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives

ACF Native American Grantee Meeting Materials

A Survey and Analysis of Select Title IV-E Tribal-State Agreement including Template of Promising Practices

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

A Decade of Tribal Environmental Health Research

: Results and Impacts From EPA’s Extramural Grants and Fellowship Programs

Native American Studies Graduate Research Journal

 Submit your articles, book reviews, and creative works for review to the NASGRJ, an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed publication that supports graduate student research related to Native American Studies. The deadline is September 15, 2014. 

. Within a cultural framework, the AISES National Conference will showcase opportunities and best practices in STEM, academic and professional achievement, and research by AI/ANs. If you are interested in presenting, submit your proposal, A/V needs, bio, and CV by August 4, 2014. 

2014 Indigenous Health Summit: Food, Medicine and Other Traditional Sources of Healing

 The Research for Indigenous Community Health Center (RICH) at the University of Minnesota Duluth is hosting their 3rd Annual summit at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel from September 28th-30th. Abstracts must be received by August 15, 2014. 

Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference 2015

 The 7th Annual meeting of NAISA is taking place June 4-6, 2015, in Washington, DC. and the call for individual papers is now open. The deadline is November 3, 2014. Please visit the site for submission instructions. 

Survey on the Trafficking of Native Peoples

 At our recent Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum in Anchorage, a poster presentation was featured on the contemporary sex trafficking of Native peoples. As little is known about the scope and scale of this issue, a survey is being distributed to gather data and build a dissertation research study. 

 The Native Nations Institute at the University of Arizona is currently collecting information to help tribes understand the extent to which American Indian young adults ages 18-29 living away from tribal lands feel connected to their Native communities. 

 The 2014 National Center for Education Statistics STATS-DC Data Conference will take place July 28-August 1 in Washington, DC. 

: Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment across Fields of Practice

 The University of Illinois-Urbana College of Education is hosting a conference on culturally responsive research methodologies, as well as evaluation in indigenous communities, September 17-20 in Chicago, IL.

. The SACNAS National Conference is taking place October 16-18 in in Los Angeles, CA.

Social and Economic Change on American Indian Reservations

: A Databook of the US Censuses and the American Community Survey, 1990-2010

 This new resource provides data and information on reservation economies, tribal citizen demographics for those living on reservations, and trends in per capita incomes over time. 

: Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) Explorer

. The QWI Explorer is a new, web-based analysis tool that allows user to engage in-depth with the Census Bureau’s QWI dataset. With bar charts and interactive tables (line charts and thematic maps are in development), users can visually compare, rank, and aggregate QWIs across time, geography, and/or firm and worker characteristics. 

NCAI POLICY RESEARCH CENTER PROJECTS & RESOURCES 

Ensure that data is collected from Native people in a way that protects and benefits tribal sovereignty.

Partner with academic institutions, nonprofits and government agencies to improve data quality.

Share successes among tribes to build capacity and advance policy research.· Disseminate new data, best practices, and technical assistance across Indian Country.

Foster regional support for tribal research. 

Latest Policy Brief: Investing in Healthy Tribal Communities: Strengthening Solid Waste Management through Tribal Public Health Law. 

As sovereign nations, tribes have a vestedinterest in environmentally safe waste disposal, keeping the land, water, and air clean for futuregenerations. Where solid waste (e.g. tires, batteries, pesticides) is mismanaged, we find 

environmental harm, threats to human health,

. This brief highlights tribal initiatives to cleanup open dumps, promote recycling, and expand infrastructure. 

Creating Conversation: Ethics, Policy & Practice in Genetics Research.

 On June 23rd, at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, the NCAI Policy Research Center and the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute hosted a symposium titled, “A Spectrum of Perspectives: Native Peoples & Genetics Research.” Click 

 to be directed to the live recording of the event. 

Moving Policy Innovation through Research: 9th Annual Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum Proceedings. T

his year’s TLSF was held in Anchorage, Alaska at NCAI’s Mid Year Conference. The proceedings document includes abstracts and PowerPoint slides from the 29 conference presentations and images from the 8 poster presentations. 

Soon to Launch: Tribal Public Health Law Database. 

With the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Indian Health Board, we will soon launch a national database that features laws, policies, and codes that tribes have established to address public health issues (i.e. pollution, water quality, food safety, etc.) in their communities. We have collected close to 400 codes and are securing tribal permissions to post them on the new site. If your tribe would be interested in sharing its codes—to serve as a model for other tribes looking to develop or refine their own—please contact 

Supporting Innovative Diabetes Research in Native Contexts.

 In partnership with Washington University in St. Louis, we are working to eliminate disparities in Type 2 diabetes by translating evidence-based interventions to diverse communities. On July 23, we co-hosted the event “Getting Behind the Numbers: A Data & Policy Institute” in Denver with the University of Colorado’s Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health. Researchers committed to diabetes translation in Native contexts can visit cdtr.wustl.edu for more information. 

Under Review: National Science Foundation Grant Proposal on Tribal Labor Force Data

 Earlier this year, we submitted a proposal to the NSF to strengthen the capacity of tribes to collect and manage their own demographic data (e.g., housing, labor force, and enrollment). If your tribe has collected its own demographic data or would like support in doing so in the future, please contact 

Values, Stakeholders, and New Narratives:

A Roadmap for Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities

 The NCAI Policy Research Center participated in a Tribal Evaluation Workgroup to create a guide for scientifically 

 culturally rigorous evaluation in the context of tribal child welfare. 

 are available– get them quickly; online access expires August 31, 2014!

Here to Help: Interested in Hosting a Research Ethics and Stewardship Training?

At the NCAI Policy Research Center, we have developed a five-module curriculum to help tribal leaders make informed decisions and be proactive about shaping the future of their communities by deepening understandings of research ethics, data collection, and program evaluation. If you are interested in scheduling a training, please contact 

NCAI Policy Research Center Quarterly E-Update, July 2014

On June 23, 2014 the National Congress of American Indians, the National Human Genome Research Institute, and the National Museum of the American Indian co-hosted the symposium entitled: A Spectrum of Perspectives: Native Peoples and Genetic Research

The Symposium was held as part of the 

 exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

The goal of the Symposium was to demonstrate the range of perspectives in Native communities on genomics, highlight key topics for ongoing community conversation, and create a video recording of the conversations that can be shared with Native communities as they host similar conversations across Indian Country.

The four videos featured below include four panels of speakers—including Dr. Ron Whitener (University of Washington), Dr. Nanibaa’ Garrison (Vanderbilt University), Dr. Sarah Anzick (NIH/Rocky Mountain Laboratories), Dr. Rosita Worl (Sealaska Heritage Institute), Valerie Segrest (Northwest Indian College), and Dr. Francine Gachupin (University of Arizona)—who discussed the following topics:

Can genetics research improve Native health?

Genomics & ancestry: Ethics, origins, and policy

Insights from the field: Next generation Native researchers

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

A Spectrum of Perspectives: Native Peoples and Genetic Research

The debate over the Washington football team’s racist name and mascot has reached a fevered pitch in recent months. But too much of the debate has missed the point. It is not just about a name, a logo, a business, or a matter of intent. Racist and derogatory team names have a real and harmful impact on American Indian and Alaska Native, or AI/AN, people every day, particularly young people.

Center for American Progress released a new report

 examining the research about the harmful impact of these representations on the self-esteem of AI/AN youth, how they create a hostile learning environments in K-12 and postsecondary schools, and the decades-long movement to retire them. It also proposes new recommendations to local, state, and federal education agencies to transform learning environments that are hostile and unwelcoming to AI/AN students and their families into ones that are supportive.

, Executive Vice President for External Affairs, Center for American Progress

, Student, Argonaut High School; Champion for Change, Center for Native American Youth

, Chairman, Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians


, Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians


, Associate Director, Center for American Progress

NCAI Participates in Panel on the Real Impact of Mascots & Team Names on American Indian and Alaska Native Youth

WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama announced this morning that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has committed to lead a Native American Task Force to advance the important work of the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. NCAI is proud to have the following organizations join our initial team of partners for this task force: Center for Native American Youth, Native American Boys and Girls Clubs of America, National Indian Child Welfare Association, National Indian Education Association, and UNITY Inc. This task force will coordinate and serve as the central point for sharing important work, opportunities, and resources for our youth. Included in the task force's initial work plan, is the Native Youth Resilience Project and First Kids 1st Initiative.

Indian Country has a shared responsibility to address the issues facing our children and families. NCAI urges other interested partners to join this task force to strengthen opportunities for our Native youth.

NCAI President Brian Cladoosby released the following statement, "The National Congress of American Indians and its partners in the task force look forward to working with the White House on this important initiative. Our tribal nations’ most important resource and responsibility are our Native youth. We must work hard every day to enhance opportunities and create better lives for our younger generations and generations yet to come.”

NCAI Announces Native American Task Force for My Brother’s Keeper

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds President Obama for upholding his ongoing commitment to tribal nations and Native peoples by travelling to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation this Friday, June 13. Since taking office, President Obama has remained steadfast in honoring our nation-to-nation relationship. President Obama has kept his commitment to host the annual White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington D.C. These summits have facilitated unprecedented engagement between tribal leaders and the President and members of his Cabinet.

At the 2013 White House Tribal Nations Summit, the President announced that he would visit Indian Country himself – a longtime priority of tribal leaders. Friday’s visit to Standing Rock fulfills that promise. This historic visit is the first by a sitting President in over 15 years and makes President Obama only the fourth President in history to ever visit Indian Country.

NCAI expects the President to address the economic development needs of tribal nations and the needs of Native youth. While tribal youth are included in the Administration’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, this Administration has always known that Native children have specific cultural and education needs that require focused attention.

For this reason, Indian Country has witnessed an unprecedented collaboration between the Secretary Jewell at the Department of the Interior and Secretary Duncan at the Department of Education, to study what is necessary to make sure that all of our Native students – in public schools, tribal schools, and Bureau of Indian Education schools have the tools they need to ensure a strong future for all Native children. In 2013, Secretary Jewell visited the Pueblo of Laguna to see first hand how a tribal education department was improving the quality of schools operations, performance and structure of BIE schools. She witnessed a nation that was engaged and excited to participate in efforts to improve educational outcomes in Indian Country.

It will take visits like this – the agencies working together with tribal governments and national organizations such as the NCAI and the National Indian Education Association to ensure that our students can be the future tribal leaders, teachers, health care workers, and entrepreneurs that our nations and the United States need to thrive for generations to come.

The President’s visit builds on ongoing efforts of his Administration to work closely with tribal nations on policy that affects their citizens. We trust the visit will be a catalyst for more policies that will not only succeed today, but cement the positive relationship between tribal governments and the federal government well into the future. President Obama has made annual summits between our nations in his words, "almost routine." We trust this will be the continuation of his Administration's engagement with our nations that makes visits to Indian Country by the President and his Cabinet routine too.

NCAI Applauds President Obama’s Historic Visit to Indian Country

Washington, DC- The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was proud to be a part of the 14th Annual Tewaaraton Award Ceremony. The event honors the top male and female college lacrosse players in the United States. This year marks the first time that Native Americans received college lacrosse's most distinguished honor.

Albany teammates and brothers, Miles and Lyle Thompson, became the first players to share the award. The Foundation said the committee’s vote for the Onondaga Nation brothers was unanimous. The Tewaaraton Award is awarded by the Tewaaraton Foundation that celebrates excellence in lacrosse, recognizes the Native heritage of the game, and gives back in a meaningful way to Native communities.

NCAI President Brian Cladoosby, said “We are proud of these young Native leaders and congratulate them and the Tewaaraton Foundation on this important award. The Thompson brothers have inspired Indian Country – and young people everywhere – with their hard work and dedication. It’s a great day when Native Americans are honored, especially for excellence in a sport built on the innovation and strength of Native peoples that is now played all around the world. Miles and Lyle are role models for other Native young people and embody the spirit behind the national 

 initiative.” The initiative, launched earlier this year by the White House, strives to give young men of color the opportunity to reach their full potential. 

First Native Americans Honored with 2014 Tewaaraton Award

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a stunning victory for Indian tribes, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in 

, reaffirming the doctrine of tribal sovereign immunity. In a 5-to-4 decision, Justice Kagan, joined by Chief Justice Roberts, Justices Kennedy, Breyer and Sotomayor, upheld the lower court’s decision that Indian tribal governments posses sovereign immunity against lawsuits, including lawsuits brought by state governments, and reaffirmed the principle that it is for Congress, not the Court, to determine the circumstances where Indian tribes should be subject to suit. In an unexpected development, Chief Justice Roberts provided the crucial fifth vote to secure this legal victory, having not voted in favor of tribal interests in a single case since he joined the Court in 2005.

The lawsuit had its origin in a dispute between the State of Michigan and the Bay Mills Indian Community over whether a particular location constituted Indian lands eligible for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, but then turned into a much larger legal battle over the rights of all Indian tribes across the country.

“This is a good day for tribal governments,” said NCAI President Brian Cladoosby and Chairman of the Swinomish Tribe. “Congratulations to the Bay Mills Indian Community! We always thought this case was an overreach by the State of Michigan. Tribal and state governments work together and find common ground all the time. All governments are working to create jobs, educate our children, provide public safety and protect our environment. We find agreement on thousands of issues, but every now and then we disagree. When that happens, we have to negotiate solutions on a government-to-government basis. That takes leadership, and we can’t take each other to court. The Supreme Court agrees.”

Upon learning of the decision and the fact that Chief Justice Roberts voted in favor of tribal interests, NARF’s Executive Director John Echohawk’s initial response was a simple “WOW!” After a sigh of relief, he stated: “I am pleased that the Court today stood upon the foundational principles of Indian law that we are all familiar with, instead of changing the rules on us all the time. The victory in this case is attributed to the hard work and dedication of the tribal leaders and attorneys for Bay Mills, as well as the on-going efforts of the Tribal Supreme Court Project.” 

In parts of the opinion aside from the main holding, the Supreme Court found that the states can use other remedies to address issues off-reservation, including negotiations, permit enforcement, and lawsuits against tribal officials in their individual capacities. A dissent written by Justice Thomas strongly disagreed with the holding, stating that sovereign immunity is a judicially created doctrine and could be modified by the Supreme Court. However the majority emphasized that tribal sovereignty is an inherent right of Indian tribes recognized in a string of Supreme Court decisions from the founding of the United States.

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