The discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada is a sorrowful reminder that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has repeatedly called for transparency and accountability for the historical and generational trauma caused by Native American boarding schools in the United States. In 2016 and 2017, NCAI called upon the United States government and organizations that operated residential boarding schools to fully account for their treatment of Native children and be fully transparent in providing records related to enrollment and living conditions.

“The discovery of unmarked graves of Native children at Kamloops, dating back possibly a century or more, is beyond horrific. By law, our ancestors were systematically forced into boarding schools where they were beaten, starved, sexually abused and, as we see now, died from neglect or even worse. Their families were never told the truth about what happened, and the perpetrators, individually or institutionally, were never held responsible,” said Fawn Sharp, president of NCAI. “These were lawful actions for nearly 100 years by both the United States and Canada. A new era of accountability starts with a genuine commitment to truth and reconciliation with tribal nations, and with the formation of a formal Commission to study the impacts of the Indian Boarding School Policy. We call on the federal government to finally answer for these transgressions against Native children and families.”

Historically, the Boarding School Policy of 1869 required American Indian and Alaska Native children to attend boarding schools to assimilate the children into a Westernized identity and way of life. Federal boarding school policies required AI/AN children to be taken from their families and stripped of their culture, language, and tribal identity and placed in the ‘care’ of federally run schools. Children could face severe punishment in the form of physical, mental, and emotional trauma, in addition to neglect, inadequate nutrition, disease, and succumbing to illness either as a result of either non-compliance to the assimilationist rules or as a byproduct of attending such an institution. Some students forced into these institutions between 1869 and 1972 are unaccounted for, and their fates and whereabouts remain unknown.

 to address our lost relatives and formally call upon the United States government to provide a full accounting of the total number of students removed to the custody of boarding schools or churches operating with federal funding and to account for the fate and final resting place of each child who did not survive.

 to call upon our membership to gather testimony and share information about our loved ones who attended boarding schools but who remain unaccounted for. NCAI will continue to work to ensure that none of our American Indian and Alaska Native children are ever forgotten and to right the wrongs imposed upon both past and present generations.

About the National Congress of American Indians:

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit 

NCAI Calls for Transparency and Accountability for Historical and Generational Trauma Caused by Native American Boarding Schools

 – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) applaud this morning’s decision in the United States Supreme Court case 

 (19-1414). Rightfully, the Court held that tribal law enforcement have the authority to temporarily detain and search non-Indians traveling on public rights-of-way running through a reservation for suspected violations of state or federal law.

“Protecting our tribal citizens is one of the most basic services we can provide, and today every member of the Supreme Court agreed,” said Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians. “This 9-0 decision is one of the strongest affirmations of tribal sovereignty in a generation and helps secure Native communities. For too long, non-Native criminals escaped justice from crimes committed on tribal lands, but today’s unanimous decision in 

 is monumental in changing that. We applaud this decision and look forward to advocating for our member tribes as they improve safety and security in tribal communities as a result of this new precedent.”

This case involves the temporary detention and search of Mr. Cooley, a non-Indian, by a Crow Tribe police officer. After conducting a safety check of the vehicle parked on the side of a state roadway crossing the reservation, the tribal police officer formed the opinion that the motorist was non-Indian, observed firearms in the vehicle, and suspected possible violations of state or federal law. He detained the motorist while local and federal police were being dispatched. A subsequent search of the vehicle by the tribal police officer uncovered 50 grams of methamphetamine and additional firearms. The district court granted the driver’s motion to suppress evidence obtained by the tribal police officer, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed.

The 

, which is jointly staffed by NARF and NCAI attorneys, coordinated the preparation and filing of eight amicus briefs supporting the tribal interests in this case. NCAI joined tribal nations and inter-tribal organizations in urging the Court to reject the Ninth Circuit’s decision. NCAI’s 

 brief can be found on the Tribal Supreme Court Project’s 

, 450 U.S. 644, 566 (1981), the Court affirmed tribal inherent sovereign authority to address “conduct [that] threatens or has some direct effect on . . . the health or welfare of the tribe.” It also reasoned that not recognizing authority to detain suspected non-Indian offenders could pose serious threats to public safety in Indian country. The Court noted that several state and lower federal courts have recognized this authority and several Supreme Court opinions assumed such authority existed. Moreover, the Court pointed out, such detentions of non-Indians do not subject them to tribal law, but only to applicable state or federal law.

The Court vacated the Ninth Circuit’s decision and remanded the case for further proceedings. Read today’s opinion 

Founded in 1970, NARF is the oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and individual Indians nationwide. For the past 48 years, NARF has represented over 275 Tribes in 31 states in such areas as tribal jurisdiction, federal recognition, land claims, hunting and fishing rights, religious liberties, and voting rights. For more information, visit

NCAI and NARF Applaud Unanimous Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Tribal Law Enforcement Authority in United States v. Cooley

WASHINGTON D.C. -- National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp applauds CNN's termination of its contract with senior political commentator Rick Santorum after his racist remarks at a conservative youth conference. CNN's decision upholds the network's profound responsibility to cover racial discourse equitably and responsibly.

"I am thrilled that CNN is ensuring that justice is served," President Sharp said. "This was never a matter of if a decision would be made; it was only a matter of when. I look forward to continuing to be a resource for CNN as the network works to combat racist and inaccurate narratives."

President Sharp emphasized the importance of partnerships with American Indian tribes, journalists, and media to develop creative solutions that address inaccurate portrayals of Indigenous peoples and Native erasure in the media.

The National Congress of American Indians joined tribal leaders, advocacy groups, and allies in calling for the network to cut ties with Santorum following the former Republican senator and failed GOP presidential candidate's assertion there was "nothing" in America before colonization.

Santorum's remarks propagated systematic expunction of American Indian peoples' culture and contributions to the United States. The incident highlights the critical role of media platforms like CNN in fighting the systematic eradication of Native Americans from the mainstream narrative of the United States.

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit www.ncai.org.


NCAI President Fawn Sharp Commends CNN's Actions To Address Political Commentator Rick Santorum's Racist Remarks

WASHINGTON, DC | This morning, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Lauren J. King (Muscogee Nation) as a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. If confirmed, Ms. King would be the third active Native American federal district court judge in the United States, the fifth in the history of the federal judiciary, and the first Native American federal judge in the Western District of Washington. 

“NCAI strongly supports the nomination of Lauren J. King, a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, as the first ever Native American judge to serve on a federal bench in Washington state,” said President Fawn Sharp of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). “Washington state is home to 29 federally recognized Indian tribes, making it critical that its federal judges better reflect the communities they serve and understand the unique histories of Native peoples and the legal principles that protect and preserve our standing under federal law.”

For decades, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) and NCAI have advocated for more Native American nominees for federal judgeships. Given the unique relationship between the United States and Indian tribes under federal law, federal court decisions impact the daily lives of Native Americans more so than other American citizens. Despite this, Native Americans have been historically under-represented in the federal judiciary. In the 231-year history of federal courts, only four Native Americans have been appointed as federal judges. Currently, of the 890 authorized federal judgeships, only two Native Americans serve as active federal district court judges. If the federal judiciary reflected nationwide demographics, there would be at least 14 Native Americans serving as federal judges. 

John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund said, “Ms. King is a highly respected Native American attorney whose background and experience has prepared her well for the federal bench. We congratulate Ms. King and encourage the United States Senate to act swiftly on her confirmation.” 

Founded in 1970, NARF is the oldest and largest non-profit dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and individual Indians nationwide. For the past 48 years, NARF has represented over 275 Tribes in 31 states in such areas as tribal jurisdiction, federal recognition, land claims, hunting and fishing rights, religious liberties, and voting rights. For more information, visit 

NCAI and NARF on President Biden's Nomination of Washington State's First Ever Native American Federal Judge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2021

CONTACT: Elana Needle
Email: eneedle@unidosus.org



Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Demand Accountability from CNN in Wake of Rick Santorum's Racist Remarks



Rick Santorum, a former GOP Senator from Pennsylvania, Republican presidential candidate and senior CNN political commentator, recently made racist remarks at a conservative youth conference that perpetuate the systemic erasure against the influences of indigenous peoples in the United States from their contributions – past, present and future. Mr. Santorum asserted that “We birthed a nation from nothing. . . . I mean, yes we have Native Americans, but candidly there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.” To the contrary, Native American culture is quintessentially American culture.

These remarks are a gross attempt to play revisionist historian using classic white supremacist rhetoric, and is the exact type of dangerous manipulation we have come to expect from extremists and fringe outlets. But even worse are the great lengths to which CNN, a mainstream media platform tasked with the pursuit of truth and reporting on the facts, has gone to cover for this kind of blatant racist propaganda. It is these kinds of lies, fueled by outright racism, that continue to empower hate groups and white nationalists to commit acts of terror, including storming the Capitol on January 6th of this year.

It is bad enough that a one-time presidential candidate and former Senator is willing to promote false narratives for political gain. But to essentially justify the murder of millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives and the taking of their lands, and in the process erase their legacies and co-opt their countless and enduring contributions and influence, in the name of “Judeo-Christian” values is nothing short of repulsive.
Mr. Santorum’s remarks are not only factually incorrect but they continue the erasure of Native Americans contributions to this country. Today, there are 574 federally-recognized tribes and many more state-recognized tribes with a population of over 8 million. Santorum’s inflammatory remarks dismiss each of the Tribal Nations who previously occupied the very state he represented as a member of Congress: Susquehannock, Erie, Lenape, Iroquois, Munsee, and Shawnee of Pennsylvania. In fact, it is because of our government’s aggressive and genocidal American Indian and Alaska Native removal campaigns that there are currently no federally recognized Tribal Nations in Pennsylvania.

After these remarks, CNN, a major media outlet which utilizes Mr. Santorum as a contributor made no comment, and its silence is deafening. By failing to denounce these comments, CNN intrinsically ties itself to a blatantly racist commentator. And, this is not the first time that CNN has outright refused to recognize and be inclusive of American Indians and Alaska Natives. In its live Election Night coverage in November, CNN, while listing white, black, Latino and Asian voters, labeled American Indian and Alaska Native voters as “something else.” When asked to issue an apology for that discriminatory coverage, CNN refused.

It is the denial of our government’s violent history by influential voices like Santorum, combined with the silence and complicity of media outlets like CNN, that continues to provide fodder for racists and extremists alike.

Particularly because of its continuing erasure and racism against Native Americans, we call on CNN to take immediate and swift action, including immediately denouncing these remarks, issuing a written apology to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, cutting ties with Rick Santorum, training and educating reporters and pundits on American Indian and Alaska Native culture, white supremacy and anti-racism, and encouraging reporting on race in a responsible and equitable way. The media holds enormous power and responsibility in the creation of American discourse on race; our very democracy relies on CNN rooting this discourse in racial justice values that promote the safety and wellbeing of everyone.





The Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative includes the following leading national racial equity anchor organizations (the Anchors): Advancement Project National Office, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Demos, Faith in Action, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Congress of American Indians, National Urban League, Race Forward, and UnidosUS. Supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, we work together to promote racial equity, advance racial healing, and ensure that all children, families, and communities have opportunities to reach their full potential.

Joint Statement: Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Demand Accountability from CNN in Wake of Rick Santorum's Racist Remarks

"I am heartened by yesterday’s Presidential Proclamation of May 5, 2021 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. For tribal communities, this all-too-real epidemic has devastated families across our nations. Victims’ families and Native advocates have marked this day to remember those we have lost but have never forgotten, and my prayers are with all of the families in Indian Country who are awaiting answers or grieving their missing relatives.

Today as we remember them, our commitment to combating the crisis on behalf of our missing and murdered Indigenous relatives does not stop at awareness. We must continue to take action. Thousands of cases of those who are missing or murdered across Indian Country still remain unsolved. We welcome the creation of the Missing and Murdered Unit at Interior to help bring closure to these families. Tribal Nations have long worked to develop innovative solutions for their communities, and we are committed to continuing to work as partners with the federal government. I also call on Congress to move swiftly to enact life-saving legislation, beginning with the 2021 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act with stronger tribal provisions.

Today and every day, those who go missing or whose murders remain unsolved stay in the forefront of our hearts and minds, and motivate us to continue to strive for policy changes that will advance our goal of protecting our citizens and creating safe and vibrant tribal communities."

Statement of President Fawn Sharp on Presidential Proclamation on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, May 5, 2021

"On behalf of the Executive Board, our Regional Vice Presidents and the entire staff, NCAI sends our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to our friends and colleagues at the Oneida Nation following the tragic shooting at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center over the weekend. We keep the victims and their loved ones especially close to our hearts.

Although Indian Country is a vast cross-section of hundreds of separate and distinct tribal reservations and communities, each with its own unique culture, language, heritage, and history, our Native ties will always bind us. Often, it feels as though we are simply a close circle of friends, so when a senseless tragedy harms one tribal community, we cannot help but feel their pain.

Today, tomorrow, and as long as NCAI is needed, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at the Oneida Nation. Our prayers and healing thoughts are on the way, and we stand ready to assist however we are needed."

NCAI President Fawn Sharp's Statement on the Tragic Shooting at the Oneida Casino in Wisconsin

Yesterday, on April 27, 2021, Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI) Deb Haaland took several actions related to the fee-to-trust process at the DOI, all of which NCAI had called for in the NCAI Presidential Transition Plan. 

 reversed a 2017 Trump-era policy that removed the authority for off-reservation land acquisitions from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Regional Offices and delegated that responsibility to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs for non-gaming acquisitions and to the Deputy Secretary of Interior for gaming acquisitions.

In 2017, NCAI opposed the previous Administration’s decision via 

 because it occurred without tribal consultation and effectively froze off-reservation trust acquisitions. Secretarial Order 3400 now re-delegates the authority to review and approve applications to place land into trust to BIA Regional Directors, excluding decisions related to gaming applications.

Additionally, the Solicitor’s Office withdrew M-37053 and M-37055. Solicitor Opinions M-37053 and M-37055 created an unnecessarily burdensome process for Tribal Nations seeking to place land into trust under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (IRA). In their place, the Solicitor issued 

, and reinstated a previous opinion (M-37029), which has been upheld by multiple federal courts and outlines a reasonable process for tribal applications for land into trust.

The Solicitor also withdrew M-37064. This Solicitor Opinion wrongly concluded that the Secretary of Interior did not have the discretionary authority to take land into trust for Tribes in Alaska. In its place, the Solicitor issued 

, which clearly establishes the Secretary of Interior’s continuing authority under the IRA to take land in Alaska into trust for the benefit of Alaska Tribes. Interior, within the next 90 days, will schedule virtual consultation sessions with Tribal Nations to engage in meaningful and robust consultation on the Secretary’s land into trust authority in Alaska.

Tribal land restoration is vital for all Tribal Nations, but historical context creates different hurdles. Fee-to-trust efforts should assist tribal governments to overcome the geographic challenges associated with previous federal policies, such as delayed federal acknowledgment, forced relocation, and termination. Simplifying the process of reacquiring lands within or near tribal communities will hasten economic development, help some tribes reestablish a land base, and clarify jurisdiction over some tribal lands for the first time in generations.

NCAI is proud to have worked tirelessly on this issue the last several years and has strongly advocated for the restoration of tribal homelands since 1944. We are encouraged by the policy shift undertaken by the Biden Administration and the progress made in the first 100 days under the leadership of DOI Secretary Deb Haaland. We look forward to continuing to push policies forward that make Indian Country stronger, more vibrant and more united than ever.

NCAI Welcomes Movement on Land Into Trust Process at DOI

"Before I correct the record, let me address Rick Santorum directly without mincing words: Rick Santorum is an unhinged and embarrassing racist who disgraces CNN and any other media company that provides him a platform. Televising someone with his views on Native American genocide is fundamentally no different than putting an outright Nazi on television to justify the Holocaust. Any mainstream media organization should fire him or face a boycott from more than 500 Tribal Nations and our allies from across the country and worldwide.

Make your choice. Do you stand with White Supremacists justifying Native American genocide, or do you stand with Native Americans?

To correct the record, what European colonizers found in the Americas were thousands of complex, sophisticated, and sovereign Tribal Nations, each with millennia of distinct cultural, spiritual and technological development. Over millennia, they bred, cultivated and showed the world how to utilize such plants as cotton, rubber, chocolate, corn, potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco. Imagine the history of the United States without the economic contributions of cotton and tobacco alone. It's inconceivable.

As far as contributions to American culture, it is impossible to capture the significant influences from individuals with Native ancestry. How do you quantify the impact of Will Rogers in film and popular culture? Maria Tallchief, the country’s first major prima ballerina? How do you ignore Olympic gold medalists like Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills, who changed sports forever? How ignorant do you have to be not to realize the impact of Native American art on every imaginable facet of American culture, from architecture to furniture making to painting, sculpture, and writing?

But most importantly, how can anyone ignore what is arguably the single most important philosophical development of human history: environmentalism. The very concept of man as but one animal within a complex ecosystem, needing to live in harmony with nature and sustainably use natural resources. No idea is more fundamentally Native American and more explicitly spread by Native American peoples. There would be no National Park system without Native American influence.

Suppose we have a prayer of confronting climate change and centuries of selfish destruction of our planet. In that case, it is due to the wisdom of leaders like Tecumseh, Chief Seattle, Chief Joseph, Sitting Bull and so many others burning into the minds and hearts of generations of American citizens until it finally changes the way people look at the entire world.

Hopefully, sophisticated and humane Native American philosophy will win out over the caveman mentality of people like Rick Santorum. Then the survival of the human race itself will be one more contribution that Native Americans made to the world."

NCAI President Fawn Sharp’s Statement re: Rick Santorum Comments to Young American Foundation

. -- National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp joined world leaders at the White House Leaders Summit on Climate yesterday to highlight the dramatic effects of climate change on Tribal Nations and the importance of tribal sovereignty and traditional knowledge in combating those effects.

President Sharp, Indigenous leaders from Brazil and Chad, and local government leaders from Mexico, France, Japan, and the U.S. discussed holistic responses to the climate crisis while at the same time creating opportunities for economic growth and respecting tribal sovereignty in a breakout session titled “Climate Action at All Levels.” The session was moderated by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan.

President Sharp emphasized the grave impacts of climate change on Tribal Nations, and the specific climate challenges she has navigated as a leader of the Quinault Indian Nation since taking office 15 years ago.

“In 2006, I faced a harsh reality. While millions of sockeye salmon returned to the mighty Quinault River each year for millennia, only 4,000 returned that year. I had to declare multiple states of emergency, witnessing sea level rise inundate our main village, flood our courthouse, community center, jail facility and our only store in town. I stood on our shores along the beautiful Pacific Ocean and witnessed miles of coastline littered with dead marine life due to oxygen depletion on the ocean floor,” President Sharp said. “Every one of these front-line impacts has taken a significant toll and traumatized our entire nation. Sadly, my Tribal Nation is not alone. All across the country and around the world, Indigenous communities share our tragic, true, and very harsh reality, story, and narrative.”

Her remarks further stressed the importance of traditional knowledge and multi-lateral partnerships to develop creative solutions to address climate change.

“Tribal Nations and communities are truly a brain trust of millennia-old ideas and practices. We share centuries of timeless and ancient wisdom and knowledge on how to best confront the impacts of climate change,” Sharp said. “I look forward to a robust discussion leading to full, creative, holistic, and inclusive actions that respect our communities, respect and honor tribal sovereignty and propel our economies into a bright, prosperous, and sustainable future, a future that our ancestors dreamed of and a future that generations to be born to deserve.”

President Sharp highlighted four key principles to move the discussion forward. First, all federal and international climate-based planning must continue to include Tribal Nations. Second, Tribal Nations’ involvement must meet the standards of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Third, tribal co-management of lands and resources can support intergovernmental approaches to climate responses. Lastly, there must be parity for Tribal Nations in climate action funding provided at the state, national, and international levels.

“All across Indian Country, with our vast and precious natural resources, we are unlocking new and emerging opportunities for economic growth and justice,” Sharp said. “We stand poised and ready to engage in bilateral and multilateral conversations to partner with a global community in an aggressive, inclusive, strategic, and global climate action agenda.”

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit

NCAI President Fawn Sharp Joined World Leaders to Address Climate Change at the White House Leaders Summit on Climate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Congress of American Indians today applauded the White House nomination of Bryan Newland as Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior. His nomination now goes before the U.S. Senate. NCAI urged swift confirmation of Newland’s appointment.

“Today, on Earth Day, I’m heartened by President Biden’s nomination of Bryan Newland for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. As the former President of the Bay Mills Indian Community and a former employee of Interior, his record and experience in Indian Country are well-known and respected,” NCAI President Fawn Sharp said. “Indian Country is poised for investment and new opportunities for economic growth and the time is right for new leadership. We are ready to engage in initiatives that create a sustainable, inclusive, and strategic agenda for Indian Country. With Bryan Newland as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, along with the first Native American Secretary of Interior, we will have that critical voice for our traditional cultures, our tribal economies, and the healing of our broken relationship with the federal government. NCAI stands ready to help make this confirmation swift so the Department of Indian Affairs can have in place the vital leadership infrastructure it needs at this important time.”

Mr. Newland is a citizen of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe), where he recently completed his tenure as Tribal Chairman. Before that, Newland served as Chief Judge of the Bay Mills Tribal Court. From 2009 to 2012, Newland served as a Counselor and Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior-Indian Affairs. In that capacity, he helped develop the Obama Administration’s policies on Indian gaming and Indian lands, reforming the Department of the Interior’s policy on reviewing tribal-state gaming compacts. He also led a team that improved the BIA’s Indian leasing regulations and worked with key officials to help enact the HEARTH Act of 2012.

Prior to his federal service, Newland worked as an attorney with Fletcher Law in Lansing, Michigan. He represented tribal clients on issues including the regulation of gaming facilities, negotiation of tribal-state gaming compacts, the fee-to-trust process, and leasing of Indian lands. He graduated magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law and received his undergraduate degree from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

NCAI Applauds President Biden’s Nomination of Bryan Newland as Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs

WASHINGTON D.C. -- National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp has been invited to join 40 world leaders at the White House Leaders Summit on Climate April 22-23. The virtual summit is a key milestone on the road to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November and is intended to increase the chances for meaningful outcomes on global climate action at COP26.

One of the White House’s major themes for the summit is to showcase actors at all levels, including Indigenous nations, that are committed to green recovery, share an equitable vision of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius this decade, and are working closely with global partners to advance ambition and resilience.

“As place-based peoples, Tribal Nations have long understood our sacred and timeless values, teachings, and responsibility to care for all things living and steward our lands in a way that honors those traditions. Across this country, we are taking bold, strategic action, implementing climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience solutions and we look forward to this important dialogue with leaders from around the globe,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp.

President Sharp will speak alongside Indigenous leaders from Brazil and Chad and local government leaders from Mexico, France, Japan, and the U.S. starting at 12:45 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 22. Her session will highlight the critical efforts of tribes and other Indigenous peoples contributing to the green recovery.

The White House Leaders Summit on Climate reconvenes the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate, a U.S.-led initiative that played a vital role in delivering the Paris Agreement. The Summit aims to galvanize the world’s economies to reduce emissions by recognizing this decade is critical to the climate fight, and remind countries that the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is within reach.

By adding Indigenous voices to the Summit alongside major economies, President Biden ensures key stakeholders have a seat at the table.

"We applaud President Biden for making sure Tribal Nations are not only included in the climate crisis conversations but also looked at as notable allies working for climate solutions. Tribal Nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis and are a brain-trust of millennia-old ideas and practices that are critical to have at the table,” said NCAI President Sharp.

Climate action has been a lifelong passion and guiding mission for President Sharp, and has been a top priority for her Presidency of NCAI as well. As a former four term President for the Quinault Indian Nation, President Sharp has seen the ocean risings and the seasonal changes adversely impact her community. In the last couple of decades she has worked tirelessly to advance climate action for all of our communities.

The White House and NCAI hope the Summit and upcoming COP 26 will mobilize public and private sector investment in Native communities to advance the transition to net-zero emissions, as Native communities are among the most impacted by climate change.

The summit is also an opportunity to show the economic benefits of climate action, emphasizing job creation and ensuring all communities and workers benefit from transitioning to a new clean energy economy. Including Indian Country in the climate conversation helps ensure an equitable green economy as climate action creates new jobs and opportunities.

Follow along with President Sharp and other world leaders as NCAI streams President Sharp’s session live on 

 starting at 12:45 p.m. EDT. On Twitter, follow @NCAI1944 and @PresFawnSharp for updates. Across all social media platforms, look for the hashtag #LeadersClimateSummit to follow all news and updates.



NCAI President Fawn Sharp Joins 40 World Leaders at White House Leaders Summit on Climate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is pleased to announce that Dante Desiderio has been selected as the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will be joining NCAI on May 11, 2021. In his new position, Desiderio will oversee the day-to-day management and operations of the organization for an improved path to success for NCAI and the NCAI Fund. He will report directly to the NCAI Executive Committee.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dante Desiderio back to NCAI as our new CEO at this critical time. He was NCAI’s Director of Economic Policy during the Great Recession, the last time our country faced such uncertain and challenging economic times. As we emerge from a global pandemic and the social and economic instability that come with such monumental challenges, there is no better leader to guide us through the recovery and rebuilding effort, or to help us navigate the future as it pertains to policy and opportunities with the American Rescue Plan,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “It’s been a stressful year for all of Indian Country, and with Dante’s leadership, I’m confident we will build our tribal nations back stronger, more resilient, and healthier than ever.”

Desiderio, a citizen of the Sappony Tribe, comes to NCAI from the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA), where he spent 10 years as the organization’s executive director. During his tenure, he increased the organization’s commitment to its members and grew its national profile as a steward for tribal economic development. He instituted the NAFOA Member Tribes model and successfully transitioned NAFOA to a tribally-led organization.

“I am honored to be selected by the National Congress of American Indians to serve as their Chief Executive Officer,” Desiderio said. “I’ve always loved NCAI’s work on behalf of their tribal members and on behalf of Indian Country as a whole. I look forward to serving once again at an organization I respect, and with a team that puts their whole heart into their work, and am ready to meet the challenges ahead. I thank the NCAI Board for the trust they put in me and for the opportunity to return to the Embassy and lead the NCAI team as we work together for the betterment of all of Indian Country.”

Desiderio’s time in Native American economic policy includes work on multiple economic stimulus and rescue packages such as the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) under President George W. Bush, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) under President Barack Obama, and Desiderio was an essential advocate and organizer of tribal leadership voices to ensure Indian Country’s inclusion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding under President Donald Trump and now the American Rescue Plan (ARP) under President Joe Biden.

“Dante’s background in leadership, finance and economic policy is second to none in Indian Country. He is the right person at the right time to lead NCAI,” Sharp said. “Dante is proof that the National Congress of American Indians -- the oldest and largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities -- is a place where young Native Americans can come work, learn, grow, be mentored by the best and return to a leadership position. Dante is a success story I know staff can look to and aspire to be like.”

Desiderio is also a leading policy expert in tax and finance, tribal enterprise development, gaming, entrepreneurship among tribal members, financial literacy and government contracting. During his career he has been responsible for advising organizations, tribal leaders, federal officials and congressional offices on tribal economic policy issues including tax and finance, tribal enterprise development, gaming, entrepreneurship among tribal members, financial literacy and government contracting, making him a leading national expert and advocate for Indian Country’s economic development and tax-related issues.

"The NAFOA Board and staff appreciates the hard work and dedication that Dante has provided to NAFOA over the last decade. The organization has grown tremendously in scope and influence under his leadership,” said Cristina Danforth, President of the Board of NAFOA. “Good luck Dante in your new position as the NCAI Chief Executive Officer. We look forward to continuing working closely with you on the important economic and tax policy work ahead of us in Indian Country.”

“Dante has a proven ability to implement and execute a tribal nation driven agenda, within Indian Country and externally across a broad sector of partners,” said Sharp. We recognize that valuable skill set is an indispensable factor to our success during these perilous and challenging times.”

A press briefing and virtual meet-and-greet will be held for Desiderio in May.

The National Congress of American Indians Announces Dante Desiderio as its New Chief Executive Officer

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Issues En Banc Decision in Brackeen v. Haaland
(formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt)

Yesterday, April 6, 2021, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals published its en banc decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). While the Protect ICWA Campaign is pleased to see that the court recognized that ICWA generally is within Congress’s authority, we are deeply concerned that aspects of this opinion misunderstand the unique relationship between the United States and tribal nations. The opinion is 325 pages long, and given its length and complexity, we are still analyzing the decision and will provide further information in the coming days. ICWA is in the best interest of Indian children and families, and we are firmly committed to protecting the law.

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people, and rights. For more information, visit 

The Protect ICWA Campaign (the Campaign) was established by four national Native organizations: the 

National Indian Child Welfare Association

. Together, the Campaign works to serve and support Native children, youth, and families through upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act. The Campaign works to inform policy, legal, and communications strategies with the mission to uphold and protect ICWA.

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Issues En Banc Decision in Brackeen v. Haaland (formerly Brackeen v. Bernhardt)

Indian Country Today has a new owner. On Friday the National Congress of American Indians, NCAI, transferred its ownership interests in Indian Country Today, LLC to IndiJ Public Media effective March 26, 2021.

donated to NCAI by the Oneida Indian Nation

 in October 2017. The news organization operated as an independent limited liability company owned by NCAI. Now Indian Country Today will operate as an independent company owned by IndiJ Public Media, an Arizona nonprofit corporation.

“This is an exciting time for Indian Country Today to become fiscally independent and to continue its tradition of an autonomous free press. I have the utmost confidence in Mark Trahant’s ability to successfully lead this new media endeavor in its next phase of growth,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “NCAI has supported ICT in its quest for independence the last three and a half years and will continue to be an important ally moving forward in achieving our shared objective of educating the public about American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations.”

“This is a new day for ICT, which has a long history as a premier source of news for and about Indigenous communities, written and produced by Indigenous journalists,” said Karen Michel, Ho Chunk, president and CEO of IndiJ Public Media. “As IndiJ Public Media’s name implies, our focus remains on Indigenous journalism while emphasizing our expansion into broadcasting.”

IndiJ, a combination of the words “Indigenous” and “journalism” and pronounced in-Didge, was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in Arizona in November 2020 and is awaiting approval of its 501(c)(3) application from the IRS.

“We had no idea how important ICT was to our community until we saw first-hand the connection with our readers and viewers,” said Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock) who was hired in 2017 to serve as the publication’s editor. “More than a century ago the first tribal editor, Cherokee Nation’s Elias Boudinot, called Native news ‘a spacious channel.’ That channel is even more spacious -- and more important -- in this digital age.”

Over the past four decades Indian Country Today has evolved from the weekly Lakota Times, to a national magazine, and now an online daily digital publication and a daily national news broadcast reporting on the ground from – and for – Indian Country about the critical issues impacting Native nations and peoples in the United States and around the globe.

The digital site 

 reaches about a half million people each month.

A half-hour news broadcast began in March of 2020 as a daily report about the pandemic. It has evolved to a full half hour newscast carried by FNX and many public television stations. The show is produced at Arizona PBS and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. For more information, visit 

Ownership Change for Indian Country Today

On March 17, 2021, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021, with bipartisan support. The bill contains key provisions aimed at enhancing safety in tribal communities and ensuring offenders who abuse children and elders or commit crimes of sexual violence, stalking, sex trafficking, obstruction of justice, and assaults against law enforcement and corrections personnel are held accountable.

Traditional Councilwoman Juana Majel Dixon, Co-Chair of the NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women released the following statement:

“VAWA has always been a bipartisan bill, and has always included provisions aimed at empowering tribal governments to protect our communities. With passage of HR 1620, the House has recognized that Native victims of sexual violence, child abuse, stalking, and trafficking deserve the same protections that Congress afforded to domestic violence victims in VAWA 2013. This is about our right, as governments, to protect our citizens from violence. It is about the countless victims who have experienced life-changing trauma simply because federal law has tied our hands from protecting them. We cannot allow this to continue. We appreciate the House prioritizing passage of VAWA in the 117th Congress, and we call on the Senate to move swiftly to take up HR 1620.”

H.R. 1620 will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.

To view NCAI’s letter and resolution supporting HR 1620 click 

For additional information about NCAI’s priorities for addressing violence against Native women click 

NCAI Statement on House Passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the historic confirmation today of Rep. Debra Haaland as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Department of the Interior (Interior). Congresswoman Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna), an attorney, and tireless advocate for Native American communities, was confirmed Monday by a vote of 51 to 40 in the Senate. Her confirmation is a watershed moment for Indian Country, marking the first time in the history of the United States that a Native American has served as a cabinet Secretary.

Haaland’s confirmation recognizes the importance of Native American leadership, partnership, and representation at a federal agency critical to the needs of Indian Country. The Interior Department is responsible not only for the management of public lands, waters, mineral resources and wildlife, it holds a fiduciary duty to uphold federal trust and treaty responsibilities to 574 tribal nations and more than 5.2 million American Indian and Alaska Native people.

“The impact of Native American representation at the top of a federal agency that so directly affects our daily lives cannot be overstated, and we congratulate Secretary Haaland on this historic achievement,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “The relationship between Tribal Nations and the federal government has been fractured for far too long. Having an ally like Secretary Haaland who is not only deeply qualified but is from our communities has the potential to transform the government-to-government relationship and will be vital in advancing Native American issues for generations. We are grateful to President Biden for her nomination to the post, to the Senate for their support, and to everyone in Indian Country who supported Secretary Haaland in this historic journey. Most importantly, we are grateful for Secretary Haaland’s history-making commitment to serve and look forward to working with her in her new role.”

Four months ago, NCAI membership adopted resolution 

, calling for the appointment of a Native American Secretary of the Interior. It read in part, “American Indians and Alaska Natives have served the United States with honor in the military, in Congress and federal agencies for more than a century, and have made great contributions to the advancement of American Democracy…” Even though American Indian and Alaska Native people are equally qualified as their non-Native counterparts to hold Cabinet positions, this is the first time Native Americans are seeing themselves represented in an office that touches so many facets of their day-to-day lives.

Today, it is with great pride, hope, and optimism that NCAI welcomes Secretary Haaland to her new post.

NCAI Applauds the Historic Confirmation of Congresswoman Debra Haaland as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior

Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) hailed Congressional passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a spending package containing roughly $1.9 trillion to help the country respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The final version of this legislation features over $31 billion in relief to Indian Country for tribal operations, housing, childcare, education and other critical needs – including $20 billion in direct funding to tribal governments and over $6 billion in tribal healthcare funding. President Biden will sign it into law on Friday, March 12, 2021. 

To read NCAI’s detailed overview of the tribal provisions in the America Rescue Plan Act, please click 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacted an immense toll on tribal families, communities, the livelihood of tribal citizens, and the education of Native youth. The American Rescue Plan Act will bring much-needed relief and assistance to Tribal Nations in their tireless battle against COVID-19. It is also a landmark recognition of Tribal Nations’ rightful place in the American family of governments,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “Tribal governments across the country have been leading on COVID-19 response, and the resources included in the American Rescue Plan Act will help us address the disproportionate impacts of the virus on Indian Country so that our communities recover stronger than before. NCAI will now work closely with the Biden Administration to ensure that this funding swiftly reaches Indian Country, and we will continue to work with Congress to address the chronic underfunding and resulting health disparities that have made the COVID-19 impacts on tribal communities so severe.” 

During NCAI’s 2020 Annual Convention last November, NCAI members passed Resolution #PDX-20-028, which called on Congress to provide $20 billion in direct relief to tribal governments in its next COVID-19 relief package, which became the American Rescue Plan Act. To read the resolution, please click 

NCAI Hails Passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

WASHINGTON, DC | Today, President Biden signed an 

Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting

 aimed at protecting voting rights widely, and also establishing an Interagency Steering Group On Native American Voting Rights.

According to Sec. 10 of the order, the Steering Group is to engage in “meaningful and robust consultation” with Tribal Nations and Native leaders on focus areas and concerns for Native American voting rights and to develop a report on best practices and recommendations after one year.

The following is a statement from NCAI President Fawn Sharp:

“We applaud and share President Biden’s vision for a country where all Americans secure equal access to freely and fully participate in our democracy. One of the first resolutions considered by NCAI at its inaugural convening in 1944 was brought by a tribal delegate who was concerned that American Indians were being denied the right to vote. We have been working since that time to protect and promote voting rights for Native people. We know the importance of making our voices heard and exercising our right to vote. Unfortunately, it is simply harder in many cases for tribal citizens to vote than it is for others.

In the face of increasing efforts in some states to restrict access to voting, President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting, and the Native American voting rights steering group it creates, are essential. With the myriad of jurisdictional issues, challenges facing rural and reservation communities, and the denial of the use of tribal identification cards as a form of ID, there are unique issues that warrant careful review and ultimately enactment of a modern Native American Voting Rights Act.

We look forward to working with the Steering Group to ensure that the needs of Indian Country are considered and Native voters have equal access to the ballot box.”

For additional information about challenges faced by Native voters, please see “

Obstacles at Every Turn: Barriers to Political Participation Faced by Native American Voters

,” a report published by the Native American Voting Rights Coalition summarizing the findings from nine public hearings.



NCAI Statement on President Biden’s Executive Order on Voting Rights

Today the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources favorably reported the nomination of Congresswoman Debra Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna) to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. When she is confirmed by the full Senate, Congresswoman Haaland will become the first-ever tribal citizen to serve in the capacity of Cabinet secretary.

“Today’s vote takes us one step closer to Congresswoman Haaland’s historic confirmation. It is fitting that while we celebrate Women’s History Month, Deb Haaland is poised to make it,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “We need Congresswoman Haaland on the job without delay. The nation needs her leadership and vision to help lead our response to climate change, to steward our lands and cultural resources, and to ensure that across the federal government, the United States lives up to its trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations and our citizens.”

The Department of the Interior has vast responsibilities including management of public lands, water resources, minerals, wildlife management, and cultural heritage preservation, and it is critically entrusted with upholding the federal trust and treaty responsibilities to 574 tribal nations and more than 5.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. The day-to-day decisions of the Interior Department impact all aspects of tribal sovereignty and self-governance, from education to economic development to law enforcement. As a result of this unique fiduciary obligation to tribal nations, it is critical that Interior employees and leadership reflect the communities the department serves.

In November 2020, NCAI passed resolution 

 supporting the appointment of a Native American as Secretary of the Interior.

News Archive

Who We Are

Our Work

News & Events

Resources

Get Involved

Contractor Opportunities