National Congress of American Indians

New Statement from NCAI President Mark Macarro: NCAI Denounces Offensive Remarks by Montana Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy Leaders should unite—not divide—our communities. We call for accountability and demand respect for Native voices and Tribal Nations. Racism and ignorance have no place in public office. It's time to confront the harmful stereotypes that continue to undermine Native communities. We remain committed to standing up for our people and advancing justice and equality. ✊🏽 This doesn't happen if we vote for leaders who don’t represent our values. 🔗Read the full statement here: https://lnkd.in/eivkkPHy

The U.S. Department of Treasury has issued a proposed rule for the federal tax status of tribally chartered entities, clarifying that wholly-owned tribal entities are not subject to federal income tax. This rule would also affect eligibility for certain clean energy tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act reserved for entities without federal tax liability. This is the second set of proposed rules coming from the Treasury over the past few weeks regarding the sovereignty and self-determination of Tribal Nations and their economies. "Sovereigns do not tax other sovereigns; governments do not tax other governments. This second tranche of new draft regulations respects tribal sovereignty as a foundation and puts a premium on tribal self-determination. The federal government understands that tribal revenue generation should not be taxed," said NCAI President Mark Macarro. "These draft rules make clear that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS value the input of Tribal Nations and tribal leadership it has received through the years. This tilt toward embracing tribal sovereignty in federal rulemaking should not be anomalous. With the leadership Treasury has shown, now other agencies' leadership will see that the primacy of tribal government decision-making is valued." This proposed rule comes after 30 years of Tribal Nations requesting clarification and consultations with Tribal Nations and the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee. The U.S. Department of the Treasury will hold virtual tribal consultations on December 16-18, and we urge Tribal Nations to participate in these historic conversations. 🔗To read the Treasury's press release and to access information about the tribal consultations, visit https://lnkd.in/eWk-NkCS.

It's National Voter Education Week! ✊ Voting empowers citizens to influence their government and community, and registering to vote is the first step. Voter registration varies by state, and the voter registration deadline for several states is TODAY! ⏰ To ensure you can vote on election day, visit vote.gov to see your state's registration deadline, check your registration status, and register to vote. Don't wait! 🎙️ In The Sentinel's newest episode, learn how every election impacts Indian Country and our future generations. Special guest Dr. Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) discusses the importance of participating in elections, why your voice matters, and how to Get Out the Native Vote in your community! 🗳️ Visit NativeVote.org for resources, quick links, and more to be sure your voice is heard on November 5th! 📣 🎧📲 Listen now on all platforms and at bit.ly/TheSentinel17

🎙️ Episode 17 of The Sentinel is available now! With the 2024 elections on the horizon, join us as we reflect on NCAI's advocacy legacy and explore current initiatives to boost Native civic engagement. Dr. Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), campaign manager for our national, nonpartisan Native Get Out the Vote campaign, sheds light on the persistent barriers Native voters encounter, even one hundred years after The Snyder Act granted their long overdue right to citizenship. 🗳️✊ Learn about the influence of Native voters in elections, the importance of voting for those running on a sovereignty ticket, and how our Native Get Out the Vote campaign can help your community mobilize this November. 🎧📲 Listen now on all platforms and at bit.ly/TheSentinel17

The agenda at a glance for the 81st Annual NCAI Convention & Marketplace is now available online! This year's event promises to be an inspiring gathering of tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and allies dedicated to advancing the priorities of Indian Country. Explore the agenda at a glance and plan your experience! Join us in Las Vegas from October 27 through November 1, and contribute to NCAI's ongoing mission. 🗓️ View the agenda at bit.ly/agenda81.

🧡 Today, we join Indigenous communities across the U.S. and Canada in honoring the resilience of survivors and remembering the countless children who were lost to the tragic history of Indian Boarding Schools. #OrangeShirtDay, or National Day of Truth & Reconciliation, is not just a day of reflection but a call to action—a reminder of the lasting impacts of cultural erasure and the ongoing need for healing, truth, and justice. At NCAI, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the recovery of our languages, traditions, and identities, and we stand with all Tribal Nations in the fight to protect Native children’s future. As we continue pushing for accountability and reconciliation, let us unite to ensure these stories are never forgotten. Every child matters. 🧡

🏌️♂️ Join NFL Legend Joe Greene at NCAI’s 81st Annual Golf Tournament! 🏌️♀️ We’re thrilled to welcome four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Greene to Las Vegas for an unforgettable day on the green! ⛳️ Don’t miss this chance to tee off alongside a football icon at the prestigious Las Vegas Country Club during NCAI’s 81st Annual Convention & Marketplace. 🔹 Date: October 26, 2024 🔹 Time: Shotgun start at 9 AM 🔹 Location: Las Vegas Country Club Your participation supports the NCAI Foundation’s Empowering Leaders Initiative, investing in the next generation of Native leaders. 🙌 🏆 Register today and secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/e2HnAaEn.

🚨 New Statement: NCAI Commends Treasury's New Proposed Tribal Welfare Rules 🚨 The U.S. Treasury has proposed vital new rules under the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014, marking a major step forward for Tribal sovereignty! 🛡️ These new regulations—shaped by consultations with Tribal leaders—protect critical programs for housing, education, and cultural preservation from federal taxation, allowing Tribal Nations to meet their citizens' needs without unnecessary federal oversight. 💪🏽 This is a significant win for self-determination and cultural preservation in Indian Country. We urge Tribal leaders to participate in the consultation process to ensure these rules reflect the unique needs of our communities. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/evBZVu8w

NCAI’s Institute for Environmental Sovereignty wants to hear about your Tribal Nation’s environmental priorities so we can effectively advocate for policies and funding opportunities that advance the interests of Indian Country. We are currently seeking participation from Tribal Nations in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Together We Can Accomplish: 💰Evidence-based recommendations for the federal budget 🏛️Solid grounds to advocate for policy change advancing Indian Country’s priorities  🌱Drive the Institute’s projects, programs, and activities  🔍Inform and educate federal policymakers and agencies  🫱🏼🫲🏽More targeted support from non-governmental organizations and philanthropy Participants must be selected by their Tribal Nation to represent them in the sharing circle. 👉🏽Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eMq5KMmJ ✋🏽Express your interest in participation by filling out this form: https://lnkd.in/eH8eaiMS by September 25, 2024.

I’m heading back from a full week in Anchorage, following the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals’s biennial National Tribal and Indigenous Climate Conference! The National Congress of American Indians Green Team showed up to #NTICC2024 in force. I had the pleasure of joining Illeana Alexander and Pedro Torres on the Sept 10 panel about #IndigenousKnowledge. Ileana introduced the GREAT LAKES INDIAN FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION’s latest climate change vulnerability assessment; Pedro covered the wide range of services available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; and I talked about the “Catch 22” of sharing Indigenous Knowledge when it may be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. We’re continuing our deep dive into this area, especially given the increasing recognition and role of Indigenous Knowledge in climate change resiliency (and I would love to hear from others who have run into this sticky issue.).