NCAI announces 2012 Indian Country Leadership Awards

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – The National Congress of American Indians honored the 2012 recipients of the organization's prestigious Indian Country Leadership Awards. They were honored last night at the organization's Indian Country Leadership Award Banquet held during 2012 NCAI Executive Council Winter Session.

Congressman Don Young

They are Congressman Don Young, Republican- Alaska, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs; Larry Echo Hawk- Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs; the American University's Washington Internships for Native Students program and the accomplished Dr. Eddie F. Brown, Professor, Arizona State University.

The organization's Indian Country Leadership Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations to Indian Country in four categories: Congressional Leadership Award, Native American Leadership Award, Governmental Leadership Award, and Public Sector Leadership Award.

Congressional Leadership Award - Congressman Don Young

Representative Young has been a champion for Indian Country for 20 terms in the United States House of Representatives. Representative Young knows tribes are fully capable of self-determination and he supports sovereignty in his legislative efforts on tribal priorities from energy to healthcare. In the 112th Congress, Representative Young became the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs and his leadership has been critical to enabling tribes to fully pursue economic development.

Native American Leadership Award - Dr. Eddie F. Brown, Professor, Arizona State University

Dr. Brown's career has spanned the highest levels of tribal, state, and federal administration and universities. He has developed key bipartisan policy, conducted research, and informed social work practice to benefit Native families, communities, and governments. His endeavors ensure tribal sovereignty and strengthen the sustainability of tribal nations. He has served as the Co-Chair of the NCAI Policy Research Center's Advisory Board since it was founded in 2003 and he continues to be a powerful advocate for Indian Country.

Governmental Leadership Award - Larry Echo Hawk - Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs

Larry Echo Hawk - Pawnee

As the longest serving Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in over a decade, Larry Echo Hawk's commitment to restructuring federal relations with Native nations has resulted in considerable improvements in the nation-to-nation relationship. Highlights of Mr. Echo Hawk's accomplishments include the historic $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement; $1 billion in water settlements; passage of the Tribal Law & Order Act and implementation of a pilot program that reduced crime on four reservations by a combined 35 percent; and, sweeping trust reform.

Public Sector Leadership Award - American University - Washington Internships for Native Students Program

The Washington Internships for Native Students program offers Native students an invaluable opportunity to develop professionally while living, studying, and interning in Washington, DC. The Washington Internships for Native Students program plays a critical role in building a pipeline of young Native leaders who are prepared to lead Indian Country in the new era of nation-to-nation relations. Since 1994, over 900 students representing over 80 tribes have participated in the Washington Internships for Native Students program, and alumni of the program now hold key positions in the federal government and myriad national Native organizations, including the National Congress of the American Indians.

posted March 7, 2012 7:40 am est