Honoring Traditions of Service: The NCAI Veterans Committee
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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...
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Land Back: Restoring Sovereignty, Remedying Injustice
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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,...
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The ISDEAA: 50 Years of Empowering Tribal Nations
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
In this episode of The Sentinel, we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act. Enacted on January 4, 1975, this pivotal piece of legislation marked a major shift in federal Indian policy. It authorized Tribal Nations to enter into contracts with the federal government for the provision of essential services. The goal was to shift control and autonomy of those services from Washington, D.C., to the tribes themselves. Join us as we explore the history and ongoing significance of this legislation to Indian Country.
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Advocacy on the International Stage: The NCAI International Committee
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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,...
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Advocacy on the International Stage: The NCAI International Committee
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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 Affairs 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...
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The Emerging Leadership of Indian Country: The NCAI Youth Commission
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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...
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The NCAI Foundation: Supporting the Legacy of NCAI
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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...
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Native Vote: Supporting a Sovereignty Ticket in 2024 and Beyond
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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...
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Eroding Sovereignty: The Devastating Impacts of Dams on Tribal Communities
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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...
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Empowering Tribal Nations in the 21st Century: NCAI and the Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty
NCAI The Sentinel Podcast
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...
info_outlineAs 2023 comes to an end, The Sentinel looks ahead to next year and the 2024 US Presidential Election. Campaigning and debates will soon dominate the news in advance of voters heading to the polls in November. In this episode of The Sentinel, we examine the ongoing barriers that American Indian and Alaska Native citizens face while exercising the right to vote. We take a look back at NCAI’s historical advocacy in fighting against the disenfranchisement of Native voters, since the organization’s very start.
The Sentinel welcomes Jacqueline DeLeón (Pueblo of Isleta), Staff Attorney from Native American Rights Fund. As lead of the Voting Rights practice group, and co-author of the 2020 report Obstacles at Every Turn: Barriers to Political Participation by Native American Voters, Ms. DeLeón brings a wealth of knowledge to this subject. She offers key insights into the obstacles Native voters face and the work that partner organizations and individuals are doing to eliminate them.
Lastly, Saundra Mitrovich (Tyme and Yahomee Maidu), NCAI’s Manager of External Engagement and Civic Engagement Lead, joins us for a conversation about the US Census and the remapping of voting districts. We learn more about NCAI’s participation in the CHARGE coalition and its recent report card, which grades all 50 states on their redistricting progress. She speaks with us about the Census and how undercounting in Native communities impacts the ability for Tribal Communities to achieve fair representation in the electoral process.