Policy Issues

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Tribal citizens are the lifeblood of our communities. Our traditions and lifeways, exercised everyday, bring vitality and purpose to our Tribal Nations and to our work. Strengthening the holistic health of Native people and diverse cultures serves as a principle objective of NCAI. Our cultural protection work encompasses the spiritual, cultural, physical, and overall well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people and tribal communities. We must consistently seek opportunities to uplift and fortify our societies and cultures through policy.

As Native people, we often witness threats to our traditions, languages, religions, histories, and more from mainstream society. NCAI works with partners across Indian Country to educate non-Native people and turn back these attacks on our cultures and lifeways. Protection of Native cultural resources is critical to the vitality of traditional religions, customs, languages, and status as sovereigns. Tribal Nation communities wish to ensure that the laws aimed at protecting tribal culture are enforced properly, and expanded upon justly, to provide greater coverage and autonomy. To this end, NCAI and its allies advocate for the repatriation of Native human remains and funerary objects, the vigorous enforcement of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and the revitalization of Native languages, among other important issues. Native culture is central to the identity of Tribal Nations and Native people. NCAI will continue to stand with Tribal Nations to protect our cultures for today, and for generations to come.

Policy Documents