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.

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 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.

Congresswoman Debra Haaland on the Verge of Making History as Secretary of Interior

Meet an NCAI Fellow: Ashley Hamilton (Ho-Chunk/Kickapoo) is a 2020 graduate of Harvard University. Upon completing her undergraduate degree in Sociology with honors and earning a secondary degree in Economics, she joined the National Congress of American Indians as a Wilma Mankiller Fellow. The Wilma Mankiller Fellowship program provides an exceptional opportunity for emerging Native professionals to work side by side with national leaders in tribal policy.

“The NCAI Wilma Mankiller Fellowship has been the opportunity of a lifetime. At NCAI, I have developed as a young professional, specifically as a young Native professional interested in working for Indian Country. I have learned how to work within a professional environment, while also working on topics that are not only important to me, but also to Indian Country at-large. Specifically, within the Tribal Governance and Special Projects Department, I have worked on food sovereignty, juvenile justice, economic development, and ending ‘Indian’ school mascots. This work is so rewarding. Every day I see the very real impacts of my work. I cannot recommend this fellowship enough to any young professional interested in working for Indian Country.”


-Ashley Hamilton, NCAI Wilma Mankiller Fellow

Please consider investing in the future of Native communities by 

donating to the Wilma Mankiller Fellowship today

Giving Opportunity: NCAI Wilma Mankiller Fellowship

On Monday, February 22, 2021, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) kicks off its 2021 Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS) with the 19th State of Indian Nations (SOIN) address. The SOIN will be broadcast virtually beginning at 2:30 p.m. EST. NCAI President Fawn Sharp will deliver the SOIN Address followed by a Congressional Response. A separate briefing event for press will directly follow the address. The SOIN address will outline the priorities for our nation-to-nation relationship with the United States and for the advancement of Native peoples.

Please refer to the full schedule below for more details.

2:30 p.m.: Opening Remarks, NCAI First Vice President Aaron Payment, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairman
2:35 p.m.: Invocation, NCAI Area Vice President Tina Abrams, Seneca Nation of Indians Councilor
2:40 p.m.: State of Indian Nations, NCAI President Fawn Sharp, Quinault Indian Nation President
3:10 p.m.: Congressional Response
3:25 p.m.: Tribal Leader/Audience Question & Answer Session
3:45 p.m.: Closing Remarks
4:00 p.m.: Post SOIN Press Conference

ECWS sessions will begin Monday afternoon and will be held in a virtual setting. The 2021 ECWS will tackle key issues facing American Indian and Alaska Native communities while providing solutions through legislative and policy planning with the Biden-Harris Administration and 117th Congress.

View the agenda and registration information >

Contact the NCAI Press Office with any questions at 

Each year, the President of the National Congress of American Indians delivers the State of Indian Nations address to members of Congress, government officials, tribal leaders and citizens, and the American public. The speech outlines the goals of tribal leaders, the opportunities for success and advancement of Native peoples, and priorities to advance our nation-to-nation relationship with the United States. For more information, visit

www.ncai.org/about-ncai/state-of-indian-nations

Media Advisory: Press Registration Open for the 2021 Executive Council Winter Session and State of Indian Nations

On January 26, 2021, President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum titled, “

Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships

, “Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments.” Today’s Memorandum reaffirms the policy announced in the 

Presidential Memorandum of November 5, 2009

 and recognizes the federal trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations.

The Memorandum directs federal agencies to complete the following actions: (1) consult with tribal nations to develop and then submit detailed tribal consultation action plans to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (APDP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) within 90 days; (2) designate an agency official to coordinate implementation of the plan and prepare progress reports; (3) submit to the Director of OMB annual progress reports on the status of each action plan; and (4) for the Director of OMB, in coordination with APDP, to submit to the President a report on the implementation of Executive Order 13175.

In response to the Presidential Memorandum, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Fawn Sharp released the following statement:

“In his first week in office, President Biden has demonstrated that the needs of Tribal Nations are an urgent priority for his administration. I am both excited and encouraged that the Biden Administration is taking so many meaningful and significant steps towards Tribal Nations' priority issues -- respect for sovereignty, racial equity, urgent action on climate change, protection of sacred sites and ancestral ecosystems, and the commitment to meaningful Tribal consultation. There's immense work still to be done, but we celebrate that the first steps President Biden has taken towards truth and reconciliation with Tribal Nations are so responsive to our needs and aligned with our values and principles."

Select NCAI Resolutions on Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation:

Resolution #SAC-12-036: Support for a Strong Nation-To-Nation Relationship and Effective, Meaningful Consultation

Resolution #PHX-16-071: Calling for Direct, Timely, and Effective Consultation by the United States with Tribes Regarding Any International Negotiations that May Affect Tribal Interests

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed a series of executive orders, memoranda, and directives impacting Indian Country immediately after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. These actions include rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, halting funding obligations to the southern U.S. border wall, reviewing size reductions to the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, presenting a 2020 census apportionment that is fair and accurate, and directing all executive departments and agencies to review and take appropriate actions to ensure consistency with the 

To find out more information on those day one actions, please click 

Statement from the National Congress of American Indians on Presidential Memorandum on Consultation with Tribal Nations

 Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is pleased to announce its partnership with Lumina Foundation to support the expansion of tribally-designed and driven K-12 curriculum in public schools, as well as funding to support opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) college students who choose to pursue research careers.

Through a $200,000 grant from Lumina Foundation, NCAI’s Tribal Governance and Special Projects department will launch the new Tribal Civics Education Initiative, which will work with NCAI’s organizational partners to document, share, and expand the deployment of tribally-designed and driven curriculum about Native peoples in the K-12 public school systems across the country. This initiative will build on the findings of a report recently released by NCAI’s Policy Research Center and its partners titled 

Becoming Visible: A Landscape Analysis of the State Efforts to Provide Native American Education for All

“…Most Americans likely have attended or currently attend a school where information about Native Americans is either completely absent from the classroom or relegated to brief mentions, negative information, or inaccurate stereotypes. This results in an enduring and damaging narrative regarding Native peoples, tribal nations, and their citizens. Even though some exceptional efforts are happening around the country to bring accurate, culturally responsive, tribally specific, and contemporary content about Native Americans into mainstream education systems, much work remains to be done.”

Additionally, NCAI and its Policy Research Center will leverage these grant funds to provide more support and education to encourage AI/AN students to enter research careers and to promote education on conducting respectful research in partnership with tribal nations. NCAI’s Policy Research Center plans to enhance the content of its 

 with new student-focused activities and convert a previously used in-person training on tribal research to an online format for use by college- and graduate school-level instructors to teach all students about the principles of conducting research in respectful partnerships with tribal nations.

“We are humbled to receive support from Lumina Foundation, which comes at a time when fostering equity is more critical than ever for American Indian and Alaska Native people,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “This funding will help us create critical educational infrastructure so that Native students no longer feel erased from the history books, and it also serves as an opportunity to educate our non-Native brothers and sisters about the meaningful and positive contributions that tribal nations of the U.S. have made and continue to make to this country. We look forward to also inspiring and supporting the next generation of AI/AN researchers so that we are no longer missing from data that helps shape key policy and funding decisions in so many areas. Our hopes are that more accurate data will help to foster a more meaningful approach to federal trust and treaty obligations and lead to more inclusive decision-making and narratives.”

“We are supporting efforts to eradicate and dismantle systemic racism in areas that support and complement the work of Lumina Foundation,” said Danette Howard, senior vice president and chief policy officer at Lumina. “We applaud NCAI, which has demonstrated equity-mindedness through training, education, and a commitment to reflecting the community that it serves.”

To learn more about the Racial Justice and Equity work, please visit: 

https://www.luminafoundation.org/aof/racial-equity/

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 www.ncai.org.

Lumina Foundation is an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all. We envision a system that is easy to navigate, delivers fair results, and meets the nation’s need for talent through a broad range of credentials. Our goal is to prepare people for informed citizenship and for success in a global economy.

National Congress of American Indians Announces Investment from Lumina Foundation to Support its Tribal Civics Education Initiative and Education for Native Researchers

Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden signed a series of executive orders, memoranda, and directives impacting Indian Country immediately after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. These actions include rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, halting funding obligations to the southern U.S. border wall, reviewing size reductions to the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, presenting a 2020 census apportionment that is fair and accurate, and directing all executive departments and agencies to review and take appropriate actions to ensure consistency with the 

. NCAI applauds the new Administration’s immediate responses to Indian Country’s advocacy on these issues, many of which were identified by tribal nations as priorities in 

NCAI’s 2021 Presidential Transition Plan

. NCAI looks forward to supporting tribal government-to-government engagement with our federal partners. Below is additional information about these executive orders and NCAI’s resolutions supporting these decisions. 

By Executive Order, President Biden revoked the Presidential permit granted to the Keystone XL pipeline and has signed the instrument to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Beginning in 2008, NCAI opposed the Keystone XL pipeline and since 2015, has called for the adoption of strong human rights-based approaches to climate change, including recognition of the principles of free, prior, and informed consent and the rights of sovereign tribal nations to combat climate-related threats through a formal and meaningful commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. NCAI applauds the Administration’s decision to prioritize climate change and tribal sovereignty on Day 1 by revoking the 

NCAI’s Resolutions on the Keystone XL Pipeline and Paris Climate Agreement:

DEN-18-061: Opposition to Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline and the Use of Excessive Force or Private Security to Suppress Free Speech

Resolution #MOH-17-053: Continued Support for the Paris Climate Agreement and Action to Address Climate Change

For more information about NCAI’s climate-based advocacy, please visit our Climate Action Resource Center 

 and NCAI’s Climate Action Task Force 

By Executive Order, President Biden directed the Census Bureau to include all persons, regardless of immigration status, in the apportionment count. The President also directed the Secretary of Commerce to “ensure the total population information presented to the President and the States is accurate and complies with all applicable laws.” NCAI has continued to call for timeline extensions for the 2020 Census, as this census has been plagued by numerous issues, including suspension of the enumeration process due to COVID-19, data accuracy in proposed privacy methods, and an undue acceleration of data processing. NCAI encourages President Biden to fulfill the commitment made today to 

, which must begin with the new Administration conducting meaningful tribal consultation. 

Resolution #PDX-20-007: Extending Census Reporting Deadlines to Ensure a Fair and Accurate Census

Cultural Resources and Tribal Sovereignty: 

President Biden declared an immediate termination of the national emergency declared through Proclamation 9844. Terminating Proclamation 9844 effectively ends the funding diversions to support construction of the southern border wall. Tribal nations have citizens on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border who make crossings for traditional cultural, ceremonial, and religious purposes. Access to healthcare, transportation, and other governmental services are also affected by the border. NCAI supports the Biden Administration’s actions intended to halt construction of a continuous border wall, which would erect a physical barrier that divide tribal lands and communities, harm the wildlife and natural resources sacred to tribal nations, and infringe upon tribal sovereignty. 

President Biden, through Executive Order, also directed the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce, the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, and tribal governments to conduct a review of the size reduction of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. The Secretary of the Interior has 60 days to submit a report to the President summarizing the findings. In 2015, NCAI supported the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, Ute Indian Tribe, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe – which collectively make up the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition – in the creation and tribal co-management of the Bears Ears National Monument. NCAI has since opposed any reduction of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments as well as changes to the Antiquities Act of 1906 that would threaten National Monument protections for tribal historic landmarks and objects of historic and ongoing cultural importance. NCAI 

 of the previous Administration’s actions and looks forward to the protections of National Monument status being restored to the original boundaries of these vital cultural places. 

Resolution #ECWS-17-002: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement on Tribal Lands

NCAI’s Resolutions on the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments:

Resolution #MOH-17-006: In Support of Preserving National Monument Designations

Resolution #MKE-17-057: Opposition to Amendments to the Antiquities Ac

Resolution #EC-15-002: Supporting the Presidential Proclamation of the Bears Ears National Monument, Including Collaborative Management Between Tribal Nations and the Federal Agencies

By Executive Order, President Biden withdrew the previous Administration’s regulatory process executive orders, and issued a memorandum placing a freeze on all of the Trump Administration’s new regulations and other actions, including several legal opinions negatively affecting tribal nations, until the Biden Administration can review them. This includes withdrawing rules not yet published in the Federal Register until they can be reviewed, and rules and legal opinions that have been published but have not taken effect, and agency actions that otherwise do not comply with the Biden Administration’s national objectives. These previous legal opinions and rules include, but are not limited to:

Status of Mineral Ownership Underlying the Missouri River within the Boundaries of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation (North Dakota)

Withdrawal of Solicitor’s Opinion M-37029, “The Meaning of ‘Under Federal Jurisdiction’ for Purposes of the Indian Reorganization Act”

“Oil and Gas; Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands; Rescission of a 2015 Rule,” 82 Fed. Reg. 61924 (December 29, 2017).

To view these presidental actions, please click 

NCAI will be closely monitoring the Biden Administration’s initial actions in the coming days and weeks and will share out further updates as developments warrant.

NCAI Commends President Biden’s Day One Executive Actions Addressing Climate Change, Racial Equity, and the Governmental Regulatory Review Process

WASHINGTON, DC | The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends today’s announcement by the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Cleveland to retire its “Indians” name and mascot, which the team has used for more than a century. Cleveland arrived at this landmark decision following an extensive, multi-faceted process to engage with and learn from tribal nations, leaders, scholars, local and national Native organizations, and Native people from all walks of life about how the team’s name impacts them.

“Today’s announcement represents a monumental step forward in Indian Country’s decades-long effort to educate America about what respect for tribal nations, cultures, and communities entails, and how sports mascots like the ‘Indians’ prevent our fellow Americans from understanding and valuing who Native people are today, what makes us unique, and the many contributions we make to this country,” said NCAI President Fawn Sharp. “The genuine commitment the team has made to listen to and learn from Indian Country over the past several months is to be applauded, and the process the team used should serve as a blueprint for sports teams and schools across the nation as this movement for racial justice and inclusion continues to grow.”

“This decision and the team’s ensuing transition to a new name offer us an unprecedented teaching moment, as our work is far from done. We must continue to teach all who will listen the fact that Native people are still here, that we belong to sovereign tribal nations, and that a racially just society must center and celebrate Native people, welcome our perspectives, and value the rich cultural diversity we bring to America’s table,” said Dr. Aaron Payment, NCAI 1st Vice President. “It also presents an opportunity to honor the toil and sacrifice of those who have fought for so long to enable us to reach this moment, individuals such as Clyde Warrior, Suzan Harjo, Lynda Clause, Faye Brings Them, Ray Halbritter, and Amanda Blackhorse.”

NCAI joined other national and local Native organizations and leaders, local civic leaders, and academic experts in engaging with the team’s leadership during its comprehensive listening and learning process over the past several months, and it is committed to partnering with the team moving forward to share knowledge and information with its fan base, the Cleveland community, and schools across the country about tribal nations, the mascot issue, and the thoughtful process the team devised to address it.

NCAI is the oldest, largest, and most representative national organization serving American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations and their citizens, and has been 

 to eradicate offensive Native “themed” mascots from sports and popular culture for more than 50 years.

NCAI Commends Decision by Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Franchise to Change Its “Indians” Name

“Protecting our sacred places is non-negotiable. USDA Secretary Perdue and the federal government are duty-bound to defend and preserve tribal nations' places of cultural and religious significance, including Oak Flat (

),” said Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians.

Right now, the USDA is fast-tracking the transfer of the Oak Flat area in the Tonto National Forest – a place rich with sacred, cultural, historical, and ecological significance for many tribal nations in Arizona and New Mexico – to Resolution Copper, a foreign-owned private limited liability company. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper will annihilate this place and the religious and cultural connections tribal nations have with it. Contact Secretary Purdue and demand that the USDA #SaveOakFlat.

· Please contact the following Trump Administration officials and urge them to save sacred Oak Flat, located in the Tonto National Forest and listed as a Traditional Cultural Property on the National Register of Historic Places, and stop the giveaway of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, a shell limited liability company owned by foreign mining conglomerates Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, for a mine that will destroy it:

o Jim Hubbard, Undersecretary, National Resources and the Environment, USDA, 

o Vicki Christiansen, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, USDA, 

o Diane Cullo, Director, Office of Tribal Relations, USDA, 

o Douglas Hoelscher, Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, White House, 

o William Crozer, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, White House, 

o Tyler Fish, Senior Policy Advisor & Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, White House, 

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