August 2020
August 5, 2020
National Native Organizations Issue Joint Statement on U.S. Census Bureau Change to 2020 Census Operations
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the National Urban Indian Family Coalition (NUIFC) are deeply alarmed and concerned with this unwarranted and irresponsible decision. An accurate Census count is essential to ensure fair and accurate representation of all Americans, including this country’s First Americans, because Census data is used for reapportionment of congressional seats and in redistricting to elect representatives at every level of government. Ending the 2020 Census count early during a global pandemic is not only bad policy, it puts at risk the ability of our communities to access social safety net and other benefits that a complete Census count affords Americans wherever they are.
July 2020
July 31, 2020
NCAI Calls on the FCC to Honor its Trust Responsibility to Tribal Nations During Global Pandemic
Despite widespread requests from tribal nations, intertribal organizations, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Congress, various corporations, and national broadband advocates to extend the 2.5 GHz tribal priority filing window by 180 days, earlier today the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced only a 30-day extension of the 2.5 GHz Tribal Priority Window (TPW) to September 2, 2020.
July 31, 2020
NCAI Partners with Bright Path Strong and Pictureworks Entertainment to Support the Jim Thorpe “Take Back What Was Stolen” Movement
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is proud to join forces with Pictureworks Entertainment and tribal partners across the country to “Take Back What Was Stolen,” an initiative to restore legendary Native American athlete and icon Jim Thorpe’s status as the sole gold medal champion of the 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon.
July 29, 2020
Statement on U.S. House of Representatives Passing Amendment Protecting the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and its Reservation Land
The inclusion of this amendment to protect the reservation land of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is a welcome development, and an important recognition of tribal sovereignty by the U.S. House of Representatives.
July 23, 2020
NCAI Statement on Legislative Efforts to Diminish Tribal Sovereignty in Oklahoma
NCAI is aware of a legislative effort currently underway in Congress to disestablish or terminate the reservations of certain tribal nations in Oklahoma, and we will aggressively oppose this baseless action.
July 23, 2020
Call to artists
The National Congress of American Indians is holding its 77th Annual Convention & Marketplace on November 8-13, 2020, and is seeking artwork for the conference program cover from local Native artists in the Northwest region.
July 15, 2020
NCAI Statement on Legal Filing by Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Regarding Illegal Taking of Nation’s Missouri Riverbed Property Rights
Today, the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation (MHA Nation) took steps to prevent the illegal taking of the Nation’s property rights to minerals beneath the Missouri River on its Fort Berthold Reservation in western North Dakota. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) holds firm its position in support of the MHA Nation’s land and mineral rights, and has advocated for government-to-government consultation between the MHA Nation and the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor to confirm the longstanding Executive and Congressional actions declaring that the Missouri River bed within the Fort Berthold Reservation is owned by the MHA Nation.
July 13, 2020
NCAI Statement on the Washington Football Team’s Retirement of Racist Mascot
"Today is a day for all Native people to celebrate. We thank the generations of tribal nations, leaders, and activists who worked for decades to make this day possible. We commend the Washington NFL team for eliminating a brand that disrespected, demeaned, and stereotyped all Native people, and we call on all other sports teams and corporate brands to retire all caricatures of Native Americans that they use as their mascots."
July 9, 2020
Historic Win in McGirt v. Oklahoma
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative organization comprised of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal nations and their citizens, along with the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), the oldest and largest legal organization devoted to protecting the rights of Native American tribes and people, applaud this morning’s decision in the U.S. Supreme Court case, which confirmed that the treaty-defined boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation still remain in full force today.
July 6, 2020
Great Plains Tribes Win Important Legal Fight to Protect Tribal Water and Treaty Resources
The Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association (GPTCA), the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), and the National Congress of American Indians Fund (NCAI Fund) applaud the D.C. District Court’s decision today to vacate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Oahe easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline, and to require the removal of all oil flowing through the pipeline by August 5, 2020.
July 3, 2020
NCAI Response to the Washington Football Team’s Commitment to Addressing Name Change
WASHINGTON, DC | Today, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) welcomed the Washington NFL team’s announcement this morning of its plan to conduct a “thorough review” of the team’s name and mascot, which represents an important breakthrough for Indian Country in its longstanding effort to change the name and mascot.
July 2, 2020
NCAI Commends Leadership of FedEx in Taking Stand Against the Washington NFL Team’s Racial Slur Mascot, Calls on League’s Other Sponsors and Retailers to Join Movement
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends this evening’s formal request by FedEx asking the Washington NFL team to “change the team name.” FedEx’s announcement is particularly noteworthy given that the company is the stadium sponsor of the Washington NFL team, and FedEx CEO Fred Smith owns a minority ownership stake in the team.
July 1, 2020
NCAI is here for you
We’re here for you. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) stands with you in these uncertain and difficult times. We’re here to help. We’re here to listen. We’re here to work. We’re here to heal.
June 2020
June 30, 2020
Pride 2020: Indian Country, Black Lives Matter, and the Struggle for Equality
This year’s Pride Month has been unlike any other, as a social justice movement more powerful, diverse, and widespread than any seen in decades has swept across the United States.
June 26, 2020
NCAI Statement on the Negative Decision in Chehalis v. Mnuchin
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is extremely disappointed in today’s decision by the D.C. District Court in Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation v. Mnuchin.
June 22, 2020
MEDIA ADVISORY: NCAI to Convene Tribal Leaders to Discuss Tribal Lands and Sacred Sites Issues and Threats across Indian Country
Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and tribal leaders for our upcoming Forum: Protecting Tribal Lands and Sacred Places: Current Threats across Indian Country.
June 18, 2020
NCAI Statement on Supreme Court Decision on DACA
Statement from NCAI CEO Kevin Allis on the Supreme Court's decision to now allow the end of DACA.
June 18, 2020
NCAI Statement on Supreme Court Decision on DACA
Statement from NCAI CEO Kevin Allis on the Supreme Court's decision to now allow the end of DACA.
June 16, 2020
Katy Perry and Black Eyed Peas to Co-Headline Star-Studded Lineup to Kickoff #DemocracySummer2020 on June 18
The vast coalition led by Rock the Vote, Voto Latino Foundation, When We All Vote and March For Our Lives aims to register 200,000 new voters over the summer. Thursday’s special will be co-hosted by Rosario Dawson and Logan Browning.
June 15, 2020
NCAI Commends DC Mayor Bowser’s Call for Washington NFL Team to Change Its Name and Mascot, Appeals to State and Local Officials and Corporations to Do the Same
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) commends the public statement of Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who declared Friday in referring to the “R*dskins” name and mascot of the Washington NFL team that “it’s past time for the team to deal with what offends so many people.”
June 13, 2020
NCAI Statement on the Removal of Christopher Columbus Statues
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country, does not acknowledge Christopher Columbus as a hero
June 9, 2020
NCAI Youth Commission Statement on George Floyd
“We are heartbroken by the loss of George Floyd. We are astonished at the continued acts of violence by law enforcement towards people of color.
June 6, 2020
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Native Organizations Encouraged by Recent Decision in Mashpee v. Bernhardt and Now Call on DOI for Recommitment to Tribal Sovereignty
Yesterday, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia rendered a decision in favor of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in the case of Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe v. Bernhardt.
June 1, 2020
Leading National Civil Rights and Racial Justice Organizations Denounce Murder of George Floyd, Call for Impartial Investigation of Officers Involved
As the foremost national coalition of organizations dedicated to civil rights and racial justice, we are both heartbroken and outraged at the brutal and senseless murder of George Floyd by officers of the Minneapolis Police Department. George Floyd becomes the latest in a long and growing line of members of our communities who have needlessly died at the hands of police acting outside of the bounds of the law and their sworn duty to uphold and protect the public. This epidemic of racialized violence must stop, and it must stop now. Bringing it to an end will require the affirmative commitment, solidarity and sustained action of all Americans, from grassroots advocacy to the ballot box.
May 2020
May 29, 2020
NCAI Condemns the Behavior of the Officers Involved in the Death of George Floyd
“As someone who served in law enforcement for a decade and took an oath to protect and serve all of my fellow citizens, I am sickened by what I’ve witnessed over the past several days, first with the murder of George Floyd, and the inadequate response since to apprehend and bring to justice all of those responsible. This latest unjustifiable tragedy is a stark reminder that people of color face disproportionate rates of police brutality, a situation that merits a comprehensive national policy response. No one should be harmed or murdered simply because of the color of their skin,” said Kevin Allis, Chief Executive Officer of the National Congress of American Indians.