The National Congress of American Indians is currently convened in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 81st Annual Convention and Marketplace. Earlier this year, the NCAI Executive Committee established a task force of elected leaders from Tribal Nations throughout the United States in order to address membership integrity, education, and healing.

On Sunday, October 27, the task force referred to the Executive Committee an initial finding of fourteen tribes that do not meet all of the criteria for NCAI membership. The Executive Committee adopted the task force’s findings, and the annual renewals of the membership of those tribes are pending the receipt of their additional information.

NCAI President Mark Macarro stated, “It is the responsibility of the leadership of NCAI to execute its fiduciary duties as mandated by its constitution and bylaws – which includes a faithful application of our membership criteria.” He added, “We look forward to the task force’s continued work and our further shared goals of education and healing.”