National Congress of American Indians

NCAI Statement on the Passing of Elouise Cobell

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

National Congress of American Indians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2011

Contact:

Thom Wallace, Communications Director

NCAI – 202.630.1094, twallace@NCAI.org

 

NCAI Statement on Passing of Elouise Cobell
Organization calls on Indian Country to honor tireless leader’s advocacy work with continued action on rights protection and cancer awareness

Washington, DC – The President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Jefferson Keel, has released a statement on the passing of Elouise Cobell, calling for Indian Country to honor the legacy of one of Indian Country’s most influential advocates by continuing to protect the rights of American Indian and Alaska Native people everywhere. NCAI also called for Indian Country to honor her life by confronting the quiet but devastating force of cancer, which took the life of Elouise Cobell and is the second leading cause of death among American Indian women and Natives older than 45.

“Elouise Cobell represented the indelible will and strength of Indian Country and her influence and energy will be greatly missed. Her passing on from this world must be honored by reaffirming our resolute commitment as Indigenous peoples to protect the rights of our citizens and our sovereign nations,” said Keel, President of NCAI, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization. “NCAI joins all who mourn the loss of this great individual. She committed her life to strengthening Indian Country and she contributed greatly.”

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NCAI Cert Stage Amicus Brief in Patchak Case

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here:

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NCAI Honors David Getches

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

NCAI Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously awarded to David Getches, Founder of Native American Rights Fund

07/07/2011
Pioneer of Federal Indian Law, David Getches, Passes Away; Remembered for Forging “A Revolution in Federal Indian law”
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NCAI and FBA Amicus Brief in U.S. v. Jicarilla Apache Nation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here: 10-382bsacNationalCongressOfAmericanIndians

NCAI Call for Proposals — Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Policy Research Center is currently inviting researchers, practitioners, tribal members, and organizations conducting research in areas that have or could have real impacts for tribal communities to submit a proposal to make a presentation at the 5th Annual Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at the NCAI Mid-Year Session in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The NCAI Policy Research Center welcomes proposals from all scholars (both Native and non-Native), academic institutions, and organizations. However, proposals from tribal colleges, Native graduate students, and tribal communities are especially encouraged. In addition, those proposals that include student presenters or youth, tribal leaders and citizens, and feature collaborative partnerships are preferred. Both completed and on-going research (with preliminary findings) will be considered.

Research from all disciplines and fields are encouraged, but this year preference will be given to research proposals that address law enforcement/public safety, health care reform, natural resources and energy development, and strategies for strengthening tribal governance.

The Tribal Leader/Scholar Forum provides an opportunity for eight selected researchers to share their work with tribal leaders, policymakers, and tribal citizens during NCAI’s Mid-Year Session.  The purpose of the Forum is to offer a space for dialogue between tribal representatives and researchers regarding their work.  Tribal policymakers offer feedback to researchers about the implications, impact, and potential next steps of their work.  During the presentations and discussion, emphasis should be place on practical, real-life implications of the research.

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NCAI Resolution on White House Agenda for Indian Country

Matthew L.M. Fletcher3 Comments

Res PSP-09-008 – WH Agenda topics

NCAI Written Testimony for the SCIA Hearing on Carcieri v. Salazar

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

NCAI Testimony to SCIA on Carcieri – final

Here is NCAI’s proposed legislative “fix”:

25 U.S.C. §479:

The Act entitled “An Act to conserve and develop Indian lands and resources; to extend to Indians the right to form business and other organizations; to establish a credit system for Indians; to grant certain rights of home rule to Indians; to provide for vocational education for Indians; and for other purposes”, approved June 18, 1934, is amended by:

Section 1: In Section 19 [25 U.S.C. § 479] deleting in the first sentence the words “now under Federal jurisdiction.”

Section 2: Actions of the Secretary taken prior to the date of enactment of this amendment pursuant to or under color of this Act [25 U.S.C. §461 et. seq.] for any Indian tribe that was federally recognized on the date of the Secretary’s action are hereby, to the extent such actions may be subject to challenge based on whether the Indian tribe was federally recognized or under federal jurisdiction on June 18, 1934, ratified and confirmed as fully to all intents and purposes as if the same had, by prior act of Congress, been specifically authorized and directed.

Careers in Indian Law Panel — MSU Law College — April 16

Matthew L.M. Fletcher3 Comments

Please join us for our annual Indian law career panel. Graduates of the MSU Indigenous Law and Policy Center are now working in many disparate jobs in Indian Country. This year’s panel is Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 11AM in the Castle Board Room. Lunch is provided, so get there early!

Careers in Indian Law

Matt Lesky, ‘05, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

Bryan Newland, ‘07, Dykema Gossett

Nova Wilson, ‘08, National Congress of American Indians

Moderator: Kate Fort, ‘05, MSU College of Law Indigenous Law and Policy Center

Indian Law Resource Center/NCAI to Host Lunch on Human Rights Violations Against South American Indians

Kirsten Matoy Carlson

More than 1,244 indigenous people have been assassinated in Colombia in the past five years.  This persecution is not unique to Colombia.  It is part of an alarming trend of human rights violations against indigenous peoples in South America.  Indigenous rights to life, land, equality, natural resources, self-determination, and religious freedom are under attack.  A strong American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will help prevent human rights violations in the Americas.

The Indian Law Resource Center and NCAI will host a brown bag lunch highlighting these human rights abuses:

March 19, 2009, 1:00-2:30pm

NCAI Conference Room

1301 Connecticut Ave., NW

Washington, D.C. 20036

For more information, see the Center’s website, http://www.indianlaw.org/node/391.

NCAI Talent Pool for Obama Administration

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

The National Congress of American Indians has put out a call for recommendations for and resumes of people who would be good advocates for Indian country to serve in the new administration at all levels from secretary to staff.

A story about the NCAI initiative, which is part of the organization’s detailed “transition plan,” is here:
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/politics/33233399.html

You can find contact information for NCAI at its web site here: http://www.ncai.org

— from Gale Toensing