Podcasts about ncai

Today, Native people serve in the United States military at five times the national average yet are often overlooked and underrepresented in policy-making decisions affecting veterans as a whole. In this episode of The Sentinel, we mark the 30th anniversary of the NCAI Veterans Committee, established in 1995 to advocate for and address the unique needs of Native veterans. We are honored to be joined by the three current Co-Chairs of the NCAI Veterans Committee and NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. Together, they reflect on their military service, share their experiences as Native veterans, and discuss the Committee's vision and priorities for the future.  

In this episode of The Sentinel, we explore the Land Back movement, an effort led by American Indian and Alaska Native people to restore traditional homelands to Tribal Nations. The goal of this movement is not only to reclaim property stolen from Native communities, but to restore stewardship and sovereignty over ancestral lands. While we share recent successes and highlights, we also examine the deep historical roots and ongoing struggles of this movement.   Raphael Wahwassuck, Tribal Council Member and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, joins us to discuss the recent return of 1,500 acres of land, remedying two centuries of injustice and dispossession for his tribe. He shares the long history of this issue for his tribe and how other Tribal Nations can learn from the Prairie Band Potawatomi's advocacy and experience on this issue.  

At first glance, Mung'ora's work offers glimpses into everyday life in Nairobi, capturing moments ranging from bustling cityscapes to intimate portraits.Yet, upon deeper reflection, Mung'ora's canvases reveal a profound commentary on the fragmentation of urban landscapes, where physical and socialboundaries delineate diverse experiences from street to street. Through meticulously layered compositions, Mung'ora intertwines historical referenceswith modern-day scenes, highlighting the enduring imprints of past lives while emphasizing the disparities inherent in Nairobi's evolving environments. Mung'ora is a member of Brush Tu, a Nairobi-based artists' collective, and has exhibited widely including: A Tapestry of Contemporary Africa, MoCaL.I., New York (2024); Common Ground, NCAI, Nairobi (2023); African Identities, AKKA Project, Venice (2022); Walking the Edge, Afriart Gallery,Kampala (2022); 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, New York (2022); Fragments, Antoine Dupin, Rennes (2022); A Gathering of Small Fires, MontagueContemporary, New York (2021); Sacrifice Pasture, One Off Gallery, Nairobi (2021); Kikulacho, British Institute in East Africa, Nairobi (2018);Remains, Waste & Metonymy II, British Institute in East Africa, Nairobi (2017); Stranger Times, Circle Art Gallery, Nariobi (2017), among others. He was the winner of the 2016 Manjano Art Prize in Nairobi, a finalist in the 2018 edition of the Barclays L'Atelier competition, and a finalist in the 2020EPI competition.His works form part of many notable collections, including the I&M Bank Collection, MFA Boston (promised), New Orleans Museum of Art (promised),Rodney Miller Collection, Nicolas Jay Collection, Rift Collection, Sir John Rose Collection, among others. His work been featured in the Artnet, Art inAfrica, the New York Times, and the Nation, among others. Installation, ‘Song of Lawino,' a solo exhibition by Kenyan artist Elias Mung'ora held at Indiana State University's Yang Gallery Installation, ‘Song of Lawino,' a solo exhibition by Kenyan artist Elias Mung'ora held at Indiana State University's Yang Gallery Unplanned Move 2 2024 Mixed Media on Canvas 71 x 71 in Self Portrait 2024 Signed and Dated on Front Mixed Media on Canvas 71 x 71 in

Joe Deere and Sue Masten provide an update on international affairs at the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. Deere serves on the Cherokee Nation Council. Masten is a former chair of the Yurok Tribe. Deere and Masten are two of the co-chairs of NCAI's International Committee. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

The National Congress of American Indians hosts a tribal leaders panel at its executive council winter session on February 11, 2025. PARTICIPANTS Leonard Fineday, NCAI Acting Recording Secretary, Secretary/Treasurer of the Leech Lake Reservation Business Committee Jennifer Finley, NCAI Rocky Mountain Regional VP, Tribal Councilwoman at the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Ryman LeBeau, NCAI Great Plains Regional VP, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe The panel was moderated by Geoffrey Blackwell, the general counsel and chief of staff at NCAI. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

The National Congress of American Indians hosts a panel on legal priorities at its executive council winter session on February 12, 2025. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. Hoyle delivered remarks via pre-recorded video. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

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Jennifer Romero addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. Romero serves as Democratic staff director and chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She works under Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the vice chair of the legislative panel. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Cole Miller and Kari Jo Lawrence provide a Farm Bill update at the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. Miller serves as Chair of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Lawrence is the Chief Executive Officer of the Intertribal Agriculture Council. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. McCollum serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, where she is the ranking Democratic member on the Defense subcommittee. She is also a senior member of the Interior subcommittee. McCollum is also Co-Chair Emeritus of the bipartisan Congressional Native American Caucus. NCAI's executive council winter session took place in Washington, D.C.

Melody McCoy, an attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, addresses the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. McCoy provided an update on the Tribal Supreme Court Project, a joint initiative of NARF and NCAI. NCAI's executive council winter session took in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. Davids is a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation. She is the only Native woman serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. NCAI's executive council winter session took place in Washington, D.C.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum addresses the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. Burgum leads the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities. He was confirmed to his post by the U.S. Senate on January 30, 2025. Burgum served eight years as governor of North Dakota prior to being nominated as Secretary by President Donald Trump. Burgum spoke at NCAI's executive council winter session in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. Schumer is the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate for the 119th Congress. He delivered remarks via pre-recorded video. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Pedro Torres, National Tribal Liaison for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. The NRCS is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NCAI's executive council winter session took place in Washington, D.C.

Amber Ebarb addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. Ebarb serves as Republican staff director for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. She works under Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the chair of the legislative panel. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro addresses the organization's executive council winter session on February 11, 2025. Macarro serves as Chair of the Pechanga Band of Indians. NCAI's executive council winter session took place in Washington, D.C.

The National Congress of American Indians annual winter conference comes as the federal government is actively dismantling the diversity initiatives that help establish Native representation in the workplace and in the public sphere. The nation's oldest and largest Native advocacy group is shaping its strategy for carrying a unified voice to a fractured government and public on issues that matter most: sovereignty, consultation, environmental sustainability, the Trust Responsibility, and economic development. We'll hear NCAI President Mark Macarro's 2025 State of Indian Nations address and get perspectives on the organization's coming year. You can watch the entire NCAI 2025 State of Indian Nations Address here. GUESTS Tadd Johnson (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa), Regent at the University of Minnesota, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and attorney

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Welcome to the Environmental Leadership Chronicles, brought to you by the California Association of Environmental Professionals. In this episode, we're joined by Cynthia R. Harris, Director of the Institute for Environmental Sovereignty at the National Congress of American Indians. A respected leader in environmental law and tribal sovereignty, Cynthia brings deep expertise in climate adaptation, water conservation, and green infrastructure, all while advocating for tribal self-determination.  Before joining NCAI, she led tribal consultation research in California as Director of Tribal Programs at the Environmental Law Institute. With experience in local government, national policy, and leadership roles at the American Bar Association and the National Academies of Sciences, Cynthia offers a unique perspective on the intersection of tribal sovereignty and environmental policy.  At NCAI, the nation's oldest and largest American Indian and Alaska Native organization, she continues to advance tribal governance and environmental justice. Join us as we explore her insights on Indigenous leadership in environmental stewardship. Thanks for listening, we hope you enjoy! 

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. Pallone is the highest ranking Democratic member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

The National Congress of American Indians hosts the State of Indian Nations on February 10, 2025. The speech took place at the Washington Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C. It serves as the opening of NCAI's executive council winter session. Agenda: * Opening and Blessing: NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. and Jack Potter of Redding Rancheria * Native Youth Commission: Madison Brown and Angelina Serna * State of Indian Nations: President Mark Macarro * Congressional Response: Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota)

The National Congress of American Indians hosts the State of Indian Nations on February 10, 2025. The speech took place at the Washington Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C. It serves as the opening of NCAI's executive council winter session. Agenda: * Opening and Blessing: NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. and Jack Potter of Redding Rancheria * Native Youth Commission: Madison Brown and Angelina Serna * State of Indian Nations: President Mark Macarro * Congressional Response: Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota)

The National Congress of American Indians hosts the State of Indian Nations on February 10, 2025. The speech took place at the Washington Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C. It serves as the opening of NCAI's executive council winter session. Agenda: * Opening and Blessing: NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. and Jack Potter of Redding Rancheria * Native Youth Commission: Madison Brown and Angelina Serna * State of Indian Nations: President Mark Macarro * Congressional Response: Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota)

The National Congress of American Indians hosts the State of Indian Nations on February 10, 2025. The speech took place at the Washington Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C. It serves as the opening of NCAI's executive council winter session. Agenda: * Opening and Blessing: NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. and Jack Potter of Redding Rancheria * Native Youth Commission: Madison Brown and Angelina Serna * State of Indian Nations: President Mark Macarro * Congressional Response: Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota)

The National Congress of American Indians annual winter conference comes as the federal government is actively dismantling the diversity initiatives that help establish Native representation in the workplace and in the public sphere. The nation's oldest and largest Native advocacy group is shaping its strategy for carrying a unified voice to a fractured government and public on issues that matter most: sovereignty, consultation, environmental sustainability, the Trust Responsibility, and economic development. We'll hear NCAI President Mark Macarro's 2025 State of Indian Nations address and get perspectives on the organization's coming year. You can watch the entire NCAI 2025 State of Indian Nations Address here. GUESTS Tadd Johnson (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa), Regent at the University of Minnesota, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Duluth, and attorney

National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. addresses the organization's executive council winter session on February 11, 2025. Wright is a former chairman of the Ponca Tribe. NCAI's executive council winter session took place in Washington, D.C.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 12, 2025. Woodhouse Nepinak was born and raised in Pinaymootang First Nation, located in the province of Manitoba in Canada. Her ancestor, Chief Richard Woodhouse, was an original signatory of Treaty No. 2. Woodhouse Nepinak began her term as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations on December 7, 2023. She is the youngest woman and mother to hold the position. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) addresses the executive council winter session of the National Congress of American Indians on February 11, 2025. Murkowski serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. NCAI's meeting took place in Washington, D.C.

Part two of Episode 20 continues our exploration of NCAI's international advocacy work and examines further how NCAI's advocacy for Indigenous Peoples on the global stage ties into its larger mission of promoting tribal sovereignty.  In this expanded conversation led by Rochelle Morgan-Verdin, NCAI's Policy Lead for International Issues and citizen of the United Houma Nation, we hear from two additional experts who have been deeply involved in the organization's advocacy for decades. They shed light on the history of NCAI's international work, what progress is being made today, and what we can expect in the years to come.  

Join the TribalHub podcast team for an insightful discussion with Jessica Burghart, Professor at Haskell Indian Nations University, and Dr. Mitch Berg, Clinical Assistant Professor at Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Together, we explore how tribal governments and enterprises can align visions, overcome barriers, and support tribal citizen entrepreneurship. From leadership strategies to ecosystem development, discover actionable ideas to drive entrepreneurial success within tribal communities.   Helpful links: Past webinar recordings of the Indigenous ED CoP Tool kit NCAI produced on how to build a tribal economy Learn more and sign up to become a part of the EDA Indigenous ED CoP  

In this episode of the Sentinel, we explore NCAI's commitment to international advocacy work. NCAI has recognized that its mission of promoting tribal sovereignty must extend beyond the borders of the United States and include the representation, participation and voices of Indigenous Peoples on a global stage. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion led by Rochelle Morgan-Verdin, NCAI's Policy Lead for International Issues and citizen of the United Houma Nation, the Co-Chairs of the recently formed NCAI International Committee and key experts who have advocated for these issues for decades. Our listeners will hear from guests who are all steadfast advocates representing NCAI at international fora, carrying forth the organization's mission globally.  

Tribal leaders are heading to Washington, D.C. for President Joe Biden's last White House Tribal Nations Summit. The gathering is touted as a chance for tribal representatives to interact with Administration officials and gauge progress and hurdles when it comes to the federal government's trust responsibility. The future of the regular meetings with the executive branch is uncertain. In his previous term, President Donald Trump chose not to convene regular meetings with tribes. We'll get a preview of the upcoming summit and assess the potential for future interactions with the White House. GUESTS Larry Wright Jr. (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska), executive director for National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Kevin Washburn (Chickasaw Nation), dean at the University of Iowa College of Law Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), publisher and editor of Native News Online and Tribal Business News

In this episode of The Sentinel, we focus on the next generation of Native leaders. We are joined by three newly elected officers of the NCAI Youth Commission. The Commission was established in 1997 to provide a space for young tribal leaders to pinpoint issues of importance and strategize paths of action,then advocate for those issues on behalf of Native youth.  In this lively discussion facilitated by Alison Black, NCAI's Youth Leadership and Training Coordinator, we hear firsthand from the officers about their respective backgrounds, what being on the Commission means to them, and what they hope to achieve during their terms of office. Our listeners will be inspired by their passion, their knowledge, their hope for the future, and their commitment to advancing the principles of tribal sovereignty both within NCAI and within their own communities.  

In this episode of the Sentinel, we mark the one-year anniversary of the NCAI Foundation, established in November 2023. The Foundation was created to unlock philanthropic dollars and build sustaining relationships supporting tribal sovereignty and Native self-determination. The NCAI Foundation is the only one of its kind that upholds these core principles while holding itself directly accountable to Tribal Nations. Funds raised go to support Native-led programs addressing challenges in a wide variety of issues such as food security, health, and education.  Greg Masten, President of the NCAI Foundation, and Dawn Knickerbocker, Vice President of Philanthropic Strategies, join us to report on the success of their efforts and the growth of the Foundation's reach during their inaugural year. We also learn about the current landscape of Native philanthropy and the specific challenges that tribal communities and Native organizations face when accessing philanthropic dollars.  

In this episode of The Sentinel, we examine the ongoing barriers and obstacles that Native voters face when accessing the polls. As we approach the 2024 elections, we examine NCAI's legacy of advocacy on this subject. We also take a look at current advocacy and initiatives that will increase Native civic participation in the political process. We are joined by Dr. Aaron Payment (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), the campaign manager for NCAI's nonpartisan, national Native Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign. Dr. Payment examines the barriers that Native voters continue to face to this day, one hundred years after The Snyder Act granted their long overdue right to citizenship. Join us to learn why this is an issue of critical importance not only today but also in the future.

Federal prosecutors have attempted to tie Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier to the murder of fellow AIM activist, Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash. It is a frequent allegation that has relied on weak evidence and the charges of paid federal informants. In this episode, TRN Podcast co-host Nick Estes (@nickwestes) looks at several sources of information from key Indigenous activists who knew Leonard Peltier and Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash to the FBI's own knowledge of her murder at the time it happened and federal prosecutors' initial hesitancy to take up the case. Learn more here from a lecture by Ernesto Vigil at the University of Denver on May 6, 2023. Watch the video edition on The Red Nation Podcast YouTube channel The Red Nation Podcast is sustained by comrades and supporters like you. Power our work here: www.patreon.com/redmediapr ------ Below is the text of Hank Adams' 2020 Facebook post, shortly before his passing: Note: Adams is responding to a 2016 APTN article in which Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde apologizes to Anna Mae Aquash's family. December 14, 2020 Intellectually dishonest hate-monger Paul DeMain has reignited his campaign to assure denial of any Executive Clemency to LEONARD PELTIER, 76, at any time before Leonard's next scheduled Parole Hearing in Year 2024 with a continued misuse and abuse of the December 1975 gunshot death of ANNA MAE AQUASH and the unconscionable exploitation of Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash's children. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde makes significant points in this 2016 article in which the 1975 Aquash death became the center point in President Barack Obama's decision to deny Clemency to Peltier: “I regret that my statement caused some hurt and pain and I apologize for the pain I caused her [Denise Maloney Pictou] and her family,” said Bellegarde. “That wasn't my intent.” Bellegarde said he still would like to see Peltier freed. He said the case is a separate issue from AIM's execution of Aquash. “I called for that (Peltier's release) because there is an injustice there,” said Bellegarde. “So I will continue to advocate for that.” Bellegarde said two previous AFN national chiefs have made the same call which is also backed by Amnesty International and prominent individuals like the Dalai Lama. Peltier was extradited from Canada to the U.S. in December 1976. Warren Allmand, Canada's solicitor general at the time of Peltier's extradition, has since stated the F.B.I submitted false information to have Peltier extradited." DeMain's posting of Aquash daughter Denise Maloney Pictou's December 12, 2020, renewed accusations against Leonard Peltier and DeMain's hated AIM organization [re-Posted here in Comment 1] are the beginning of a campaign to assure that 2020 President-Elect Joe Biden will not grant Executive Clemency to Leonard Peltier. In death and posthumously, Anna Mae has been made a sainted heroine. But between 1972 and November 14, 1975, Anna Mae's ways were AIM's ways. AIM's ways - good and bad - were without qualification or reservation Anna Mae's ways, by choice. At NCAI in November, American Indian Press Association's (AIPA) Richard LaCourse told me of his meeting with Dennis Banks, Leonard Peltier, Kamook Banks, and Anna Mae just before his coming to Portland for NCAI.. Anna Mae then had indicated no distress nor given any indication that she was being held prisoner or against her will. On November 14, 1975, the four AIM "leaders" only broke apart because of the Ontario, Oregon stopping of their [Marlon Brando] recreational vehicle by armed Oregon police. A couple days later, Leonard Peltier was transported (through Franks Landing) from Portland into British Columbia (by associates of mine, who did not inform me then of their activity). He spent the next month in the locale he was taken to and remained incommunicado with U.S. colleagues until later, at least until he traveled to Small Boy's camp in Alberta, Canada. That is where the RCMP and FBI picked up on Leonard - long after Anna Mae Aquash's death in the second week of December 1975. Memorandum in the FBI's Denver Office dated as early as December 19, 1975 disclosed Anna Mae Aquash had been killed - although the FBI would feign ignorance of the death and the corpse identity for more than the next three months. The December 1975 memos identified the killers as John "Boy" Graham, Arlo Looking Cloud, and Theda Nelson Clarke - although none of the three were indicted through the next 28 years. The Looking Cloud trial was held in December 2004; Graham's in 2010 - lapses of 29 and 35 years. Theda Nelson - a likely FBI Informant in December 1975 - (on mental competency findings) did not go to trial. Clark died at age 87 in 2011. Although a lead prosecutor opened the Leonard Peltier trial in Fargo, North Dakota on March 16, 1977 declaring: "AIM is not on trial."; both AIM and Leonard Peltier were made the main 'defendants' in the 2004 and 2010 trials for the killing of Anna Mae Aquash! If there was ever a case where all parties - prosecution, defense and all witnesses - acted in friendly collusion to 'convict' undefended and absent non-parties [1st Leonard Peltier; 2nd AIM] - the Looking Cloud and Graham trials were such cases. The fodder for the trial's conspiratorial claptrap largely was wrung from the mind and imagination of Paul DeMain in his relentless vendetta against AIM leaders and most creatively against Leonard Peltier. Many of his unsubstantiated claims were rejected by author Steven Hendricks when writing "The Unquiet Grave" (2007). DeMain "Timelines" for Anna Mae Pictou have since focused on the AIM Convention in New Mexico just prior to the Jumping Bull Compound deaths of FBI Agents on Pine Ridge on June 26, 1975 leading to the 1977 life sentence convictions of Peltier. The design is intended to prejudice considerations against any grant of parole or clemency for Peltier. Canada's Assembly of First Nation is correct in declaring the "execution" of Anna Mae Aquash and the pursuit of "freedom" for Leonard Peltier on compassionate and humanitarian grounds are "separate issues." They are correct in continuing their support for Executive Clemency through offices of both the Canadian Prime Minister and any U.S. President. What satisfaction can President Elect Biden derive from side-stepping all humanitarian and compassionate considerations for Leonard Peltier through a first term, deferring any favorable consideration to the scheduled Parole Hearing in 2024? The Pardons Office of a bureaucratic and prejudiced Justice Department housing the FBI has already failed the last four Presidents of the United States in this matter! Will retribution finally end if Leonard Peltier is still alive in 2024 and then 80 years old? Indians of Western Washington who transported Leonard Peltier to Canada on or about November 17, 1975, and Indians of British Columbia who hosted and concealed him for the next month or until beyond when the FBI first was informed of Anna Mae's death and the identity of her killers can attest to Leonard's movements and communications (record) that wholly absolve Leonard Peltier of any direct or indirect role in the December 1975 murder of Anna Mae Pictou-Aquash.

In this episode of The Sentinel, we uncover the devastating effects that dams have on Indian Country. The construction and maintenance of dams cause flooding of sacred sites, displacement of people from their ancestral lands, and permanent disruption of the ecosystem and fish populations. These irreparable consequences result in the loss of traditional ways, vital resources, and quality of life in tribal communities. Join us and take a look back at the history of NCAI's advocacy efforts against dam construction on tribal lands, which began shortly after the organization's founding in 1944 and has continued through today. This episode also features an interview with Corrine Sams, elected Board of Trustees Member for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and Treasurer of the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission. Sams discusses recent progress in the Pacific Northwest as Tribal Nations defend their sovereignty and advocate for the removal of dams and restoration of salmon populations in the region. She also sheds light on the Biden administration's recent report on the detrimental effects of dams in the Columbia River Basin, marking the first time the federal government has acknowledged the decades of harm tribal communities have endured. Listen now to learn more about the impacts of dams on Native people, the environment, and their intrinsic rights.

As the growth of technology permeates every aspect of our lives, the issue of Tribal Digital Sovereignty is of crucial importance now more than ever. Join us on this episode of The Sentinel as we hear from experts who will help shed light on this subject.  Listeners will learn about the recently launched Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty, a partnership between NCAI and Arizona State University's American Indian Policy Institute, the first of its kind in Indian Country. We hear from Geoff Blackwell and Matt Rantanen, experts in the field of Tribal Digital Sovereignty, who help us examine the unique challenges that Native communities face with governing their own data, information, and technology.  This episode provides a deeper understanding of the intersection of technology and Tribal sovereignty, why it matters so much now, and why it is one of the most significant challenges facing the future of Indian Country.  

WI Tribe aims to compile full list of those taken to boarding schools Mending Broken Hearts program helps families through addiction crisis ASU, NCAI launch new Tribal digital sovereignty center

In this episode of The Sentinel, we commemorate the centennial of the Indian Citizenship Act, passed into law on June 2, 1924. Also known as The Snyder Act, this pivotal piece of legislation granted citizenship to all American Indian people born within the limits of the United States.  Join us as we look back at the origins of this law, and its connections to NCAI despite predating the organization's inception by two decades. We examine the intent and limitations of the legislation and the advocacy that NCAI has undertaken to ensure that all benefits of citizenship are conferred equally upon American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. As we approach the 2024 Presidential Election, the enfranchisement of Indian Country is a particularly pertinent issue.  

In this episode of The Sentinel, we uncover the origins of the Farm Bill. Although not a common household name, this massive omnibus bill touches many aspects of our personal lives. It governs agriculture, regulates food prices, legislates food policy and production, establishes funding for food distribution programs, and much more.  The first Farm Bill was passed into law more than 80 years ago, during the Great Depression. Despite the fact that agriculture is a large part of tribal economies, Tribal Nations have only recently been actively engaged in the drafting of this legislation. This episode examines NCAI's history of advocacy to ensure Native voices are not just heard but deeply integrated into new iterations of the bill. Finally, looking forward to the 2024 reauthorization, we highlight the need for legislators to continue consulting with Tribal Nations. Integrating tribal perspectives into the legislative process is vital in shaping future agricultural policy with inclusivity and resonance.

In this episode of The Sentinel, we examine a critical piece of legislation aimed at remedying past injustices by addressing the treatment and repatriation of cultural items, objects of cultural patrimony, sacred objects, and human remains. Since its enactment in 1990, the Native American Graves Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) has presented considerable hurdles for Tribal Nations, museums, and cultural entities alike.  Throughout this episode, we will look back at the National Congress of American Indians' historical advocacy efforts leading up to the enactment of this legislation. Then, we will discuss the inherent complexities of NAGPRA and analyze the recent regulatory changes announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, examining their implications for museum practices, collections, and exhibitions nationwide.

NCAI's Macarro set to make 1st State of Indian Nations address CA tribes to host 2nd annual MMIP Summit and Day of Action Navajo Nation's Nygren, Curley meet with NASA's Nelson about moon

National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro delivers the State of Indian Nations on February 12, 2024. The speech is Macarro's first since winning election as president of NCAI, the largest inter-tribal advocacy organization in the U.S. #SOIN2024 took place at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. The event kicks off NCAI's executive council winter session, being held February 12-15 in the nation's capital.

National Congress of American Indians President Mark Macarro delivers the State of Indian Nations on February 12, 2024. The speech is Macarro's first since winning election as president of NCAI, the largest inter-tribal advocacy organization in the U.S. #SOIN2024 took place at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. The event kicks off NCAI's executive council winter session, being held February 12-15 in the nation's capital.

This week: controversy at the Congress. The National Congress of American Indians, that is. And according to its website, NCAI is “the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.” A little too representative, claim critics, who allege entities are permitted if not encouraged to join the Congress as tribes with insufficient claims to being tribes.  The core concern: recognition. Not just how, but by whom. A concern which came to a head last month at NCAI's 80th annual convention, when a pair of resolutions pushed to restrict full membership rights to federally-recognized tribes, thereby limiting state-recognized tribes to non-voting associate membership. But is federal recognition the be-all and end-all of what makes a tribe truly tribal? Isn't outsourcing who you are to outsiders itself oppressive? And why would the approval of a colonial country hellbent on your destruction be of help to anyone?  Leading host/producer Rick Harp and Ken Williams (University of Alberta department of drama associate professor) through the nitty-gritty of this divisive debate is fellow MI regular  (U of A Faculty of Native Studies professor). 100% Indigenous owned + operated, MEDIA INDIGENA is 100% audience funded. Learn how you can support our work to keep our content free for all to access.  // CREDITS: Our theme is 'nesting' by birocratic. Edited by Rick Harp and Cassidy Villebrun-Buracas.