A few years ago, ICT held a debate in Albuquerque with candidates for president of the National Congress of American Indians. When we asked one candidate if she wanted to join the debate, she said, “Of course, I’m running to be president of Indian Country.”
In many ways that’s still the case.
Founded in 1944, the NCAI is the oldest and largest organization in the United States that advocates on behalf of tribal governments and communities. The NCAI is often the White House’s first call on policy questions and the president of the congress testifies on every major piece of legislation, setting the tone on what’s important for the nation’s nearly six hundred tribes, including globally.
On Thursday, the congress will elect a new president.
Three experienced Indigenous leaders are vying for the post:
•Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, Chairwoman of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah);
•Mark Macarro, the Chairman of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and;
•Marshall Pierite, the Chairman and CEO of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.
Appearing on the ICT Newscast with Aliyah Chavez, each of the candidates had the opportunity to address different issues and priorities needed to be tackled if elected.
Asked what their priorities would be if elected, Andrews-Maltais said it was difficult to narrow it down to one or two things. All three candidates spoke about making the organization more inclusive as well as protecting and preserving tribal sovereignty.
“Basically, helping to heal our tribal communities and build a better future, starting with our relationships and, NCAI’s domestic advocacy and reinforcing that and utilizing the strength, the wisdom and the skill sets of the regional vice presidents as well as the previous leadership, because they’re experts in the field,” Andrews-Maltais said. “We don’t often tap those resources as much as we should.”
Macarro said tribal sovereignty has been and will continue to be attacked, noting the protection and advancement of tribal sovereignty would be his top priority.
“Over the last year or so, Indian Country was able to dodge a significant potential taking in terms of the Brackeen case on the Indian Child Welfare Act in the Supreme Court,” Macarro said. “But they’re going to keep coming at us. They’re going to keep coming at Indian Country. They’re going to keep using equal protection laws to undermine tribal sovereignty as if we are a bunch of racial groups and we’re not.”
As for Pierite, he said Indian Country can be a solution to American problems.
“We are at a place in our lives where I do think our time has come,” Pierite said. “Our season is upon us, where Indian Country can be the solution to American problems. But we need a more robust, bigger and better Indian Country to be that clearing house, so to speak, or the library of information for all tribes to make sure that any issue that comes up, our tribes can call on and rely upon NCAI.”
During the organization’s annual conference this week in New Orleans, Louisiana; one major item membership will vote on is a constitutional amendment that would limit the rights of state recognized tribes in the Congress.
Related: NCAI to vote on excluding state-recognized tribes
Andrews-Maltais said NCAI should be as inclusive as possible and that there are layers to the issue. She added it’s an important issue and wants to make sure all voices are heard.
“So there are different strata to the relationship, but as Native peoples and as Indian peoples, all of our voices need to be heard,” she said. “I would prefer if we at NCAI could move this discussion away from this particular meeting because it is such an important discussion that we need to have and I think that we need to have a deliberate process through which we evaluate what is the intended goal by this action and make sure that we are all on the same page with what the long- and short-term impacts and implications will be, and maybe put a task force together representative of all of these different perspectives to really hash it out and have those difficult conversations – because they are hard conversations.”
As for Pierite, he said he is “vehemently” opposed to the amendment. He said NCAI played an integral role in helping the Tunica-Biloxi secure federal recognition, as well as advocating for other tribes to achieve the same.
“And so I do think that Indian Country is stronger together, collectively. We need a united Indian Country, not a divided Indian Country,” Pierite said.
Speaking of his individual opinion, Macarro said the result will be “the collective will of the organization,” and the constitutional amendment is something that has been proposed by a number of tribes.
“NCAI is a Congress, we’re not a trade association per se. As a Congress we’re a deliberative political body advocating the collective interests of sovereign tribal nations to Congress, the administration and the White House,” Macarro said. “In this circle of sovereigns, there is a rub when at least 24 state and non-federally-recognized tribes sit in parity with sovereign, federally recognized tribal nations.”
Macarro added not fully recognized tribes would be allowed to stay in the organization, just not have the ability to vote.
“There is a benefit to being able to stay in the organization as well. Access to the information in real time, access to the debates and deliberations, just not the final vote,” he added.
Official nominations for the position will take place Wednesday before voting is held all day Thursday.
In an email to ICT, NCAI noted it is an election year for “New Regional Vice Presidents, Regional Alternates, and four Executive Officers – the President, First Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.”
The winner will replace Fawn Sharp, Quinault, as president.
Like this story? Support our work with a $5 or $10 contribution today. Contribute to the nonprofit ICT. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter.