Tribal Leaders on Capitol Hill This Week Look for Action

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

WASHINGTON DC - American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders stood in front of the US Capitol on Tuesday and called for immediate action on the most pressing issues facing Native nations and people. In launching Tribal Unity Impact Week, the leaders called on Congress to acknowledge and recommit themselves to protect tribal land, the safety of Native women, and the federal trust responsibility to invest in and support Indian Country.

Together We will be Stronger

In a media event held in front of the US Capitol, Jefferson Keel, President of the National Congress of American Indians was joined by Senator Daniel Akaka (HI), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as well as elected officials from tribal nations and leaders of Indian organizations.

“We have asked members of Congress to do more than listen; we call on them to stand with us on these issues. Together we will be stronger.”

Said National Congress of American Indians' President Keel in a statement following the event.

"We are here on Capitol Hill with a loud and clear message for all members of Congress to hear. The federal trust responsibility must be respected and, as tribal leaders, we will continue to protect what is most important to us: our land, our families, and our economic vitality,"

As the nation's oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization, NCAI brought together leading inter-tribal organizations to organize the event. The organizations delivered a joint letter on behalf of their members in a call to action to members of Congress.

Leaders attending the week of meetings represent the unified voice of hundreds of tribal nations and Indigenous communities from around the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

In addition to National Congress of American Indians, the following organizations partnered to organize Tribal Unity Impact Week: Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, All Indian Pueblo Council, California Association of Tribal Governments, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Navajo Nation, United South and Eastern Tribes, and United Tribes of North Dakota.

posted October 13, 2011 7:50 am edt