NCAI Annual Convention Agenda
October 21-October 26, 2012 Sacramento, CA
Theme: Our Rights, Our Sovereignty
DRAFT UPDATED: 10/10/2012
Saturday, October 20
9:00-3:00 NCAI Executive Committee Meeting
Room 101 & 102
11:00 Embassy Fundraiser Golf Tournament
Teal Bend Golf Club 7200 Garden Highway, Sacramento, CA 95837
Enjoy a great day of golf with friends while supporting the Embassy of Tribal Nations. For more information click here or contact Chris Pata at .
Sunday, October 21
9:00-4:00 US Fish & Wildlife Service National Eagle Repository Consultation
Room 103
The US Fish & Wildlife Service’s (FWS) National Eagle Repository is considering changing its eagle and eagle feather distribution process. Because of the potential impact such a change would have to tribes across the country, the FWS invites officially designated tribal representatives to attend this meeting and share input on the repository’s feather distribution process.
Steve Oberholtzer, Special Agent in Charge, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Bernadette Atencio, Repository Supervisor, US Fish & Wildlife Service
9:00-3:00 Native Women’s Forum
Room 105
9:00-Noon Violence Against Women Task Force
The NCAI Task Force on Violence Against Women is working diligently to ensure passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) with key tribal provisions intact, including a limited jurisdictional fix to address domestic violence against Native women perpetrated by non-Indians on tribal lands. Speakers will discuss key tribal VAWA amendments, the current status of the VAWA reauthorization, and legislative strategy moving forward.
1:00-3:00 Native Women’s Caucus
The Native Women’s Caucus supports the interests of women throughout Indian Country. The Caucus gives visibility and respect to Native women’s perspectives and actions. Sessions will explore emerging issues that our communities are facing and the central roles of women and families.
9:00-3:00 Fostering Resilience in Native Youth
Room 204
It is no secret that today’s Native youth face many challenges and pressures, ranging from alcohol and substance abuse to suicide. This session will bring together members of NCAI’s suicide/meth prevention, TANF, and SAMHSA task forces to learn how to most effectively equip Native youth with healthy coping mechanisms. Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine, will provide adult leaders with tools and strategies to build on youths’ internal strength to foster resilience. Most importantly, participants will consider how to leverage Native cultures and adapt existing youth resiliency models in a culturally appropriate way to best serve Native youth. Please RSVP to Tara Kitcheyan at .
9:00-Noon Energizing our Community, Respecting our Environment
Room 104
Tribal energy resources can be a key and a motivator in developing Tribal economies. Unlocking the full potential of its resources under the guise of Tribal regulations, Tribes can not only have access to affordable energy, but they can be instrumental in developing and providing solutions to ensure protection of our environment.
Tribes can also be strengthened by their understanding of the tax policy and how existing tax legislation impacts Indian self-development. NCAI also believes that it is vital for Tribes to be updated on Legislation currently before Congress that advances Tribal interests and Tribal consultation, as we continue to work toward American Indian and Alaska Native self- sufficiency.
9:00-Noon Training: Information to Support Housing in Indian Country
Roon 102
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is undertaking a national Indian Housing Needs Study and is offering tribes the opportunity to learn how to undertake their own housing needs assessment. This half-day HUD training will provide tribal leaders and tribal housing officials with the tools they need to gather information and use the study results to shape tribal housing policy. For more information contact Jennifer Stoloff, HUD Office of Policy Development and Research at or 202.402.5723.
9:00-Noon Training: Tribal Communicators Circle - Best Practices for Indian Country
Room 202
Tribal communicators, tribal leaders, and Indian Country advocates come together to share challenges with each other, provide ideas and feedback, and hear from industry experts on how to deal with the day-to-day challenges of tribal communications.
The interactive session hosted by NCAI’s National Tribal Communications Network will be in two parts; one part best practice sharing by participants along with Pyramid Communications giving a presentation focusing on the company’s experience working on crisis communications in Indian Country and provide work flows for how to deal with the toughest Public Information Officer challenges. The second part will be to update individuals on pressing communications issues and messaging strategies and use of new media technologies.
10:00-1:00 Building a Stronger Future Together - Native Organizations Meeting Moving Forward Together
Room 203
Native organizations at the local, regional and national level, provide an important institutional infrastructure supporting tribal and Native community efforts. Each organization has its own mission and programs but sharing information about trends and strategies that affect Indian Country can serve to help strengthen varied efforts. Join in this special session for leaders of Native organizations and tribal leaders to discuss emerging trends that impact tribes and Native communities and share strategies to work together for the common good. NCAI leadership will facilitate an interactive discussion to develop opportunities for coordination and action.
10:00-5:00 Registration/ Rules & Credentials Open West Lobby
1:00-5:00 Large Land Base Tribal Nations Task Force
Room 101
The purpose of the Large Land Base Tribal Nations Task Force is to strengthen the ability of NCAI to advocate for the unique issues of the large land base tribes and to foster unity and cooperation among all tribes to preserve tribal sovereignty, lands, culture, and quality of life for all.
1:00-3:00 Ensuring Tribal Public Health Laws Protect Our Communities
Room 102
During this roundtable session, we welcome tribal leaders, health practitioners, tribal health program directors and staff, and other stakeholders to discuss public health laws in Indian Country. Staff from NCAI and NIHB will share current information on tribal public health laws and from the Network on Public Health Law to inform the discussion. The objectives are to: 1) Provide information to tribal leaders on the scope and range of tribal public health law; 2) Share with tribal leaders the importance of public health law development; 3) Identify unique aspects of public health law in Indian Country; and 4) Inform the development of a tribal public health law database that will benefit tribal communities.
Moderators:
Malia Villegas, Director, PRC, NCAI
Emily White Hat, Program Manager, PRC, NCAI
1:00-5:00 Saving Lives: Improving Communications for Our First Responders
Room 104
Legislation passed earlier this year created ‘FirstNet’, which will become a nationwide public safety broadband network. FirstNet will allow police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety officials to communicate with each other across agencies and jurisdictions on a single nationwide network. It is imperative that tribes participate in the build out of FirstNet in order to identify areas where communications services are either nonexistent or in complete disrepair. Attend this session to engage with federal officials and the FirstNet Authority to ensure your tribe is included in the deployment of this network on tribal lands.
Speakers:
Brian Howard, Wilma Mankiller Fellow, NCAI
Fuzzy Fletcher, Member, SAFECOM Emergency Response Council
Gene Fullano, Associate Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, invited
Geoffrey Blackwell, Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy, Federal Communications Commission, invited
1:00-5:00 Federal Recognition Task Force
Room 202
The Federal Recognition Task Force was established to address the interests of all tribes, both federally and non-federally recognized, on any recommended changes to policies, procedures, or strategic plans in the federal recognition process. This session will continue work on the development of realistic, actionable recommendations to Congress and the Administration on revising the federal recognition process.
1:00-5:00 Emergency Management Overview for Tribal Leaders
Room 201
Tribal leaders have demanding schedules that precludes them from attending multiple-day workshops and training sessions. This is a purposely abbreviated course to assist tribal leaders seeking to successfully prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents and disasters through a better understanding of emergency management. The curriculum includes how effective emergency management can improve the sustainability of tribal communities and better protect tribal citizens, lands, culture, and sovereignty. Upon completion tribal officials are eligible for 4 hours of CEU credit.
2:30-5:00 US Environmental Protection Agency Consultation
Room 301
The US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of International and Tribal Affairs is initiating consultation and coordination with federally-recognized Indian Tribes, and seeks feedback and input from Tribal leaders on the following consultations that may have national impacts and/or interest: Guidance on the award and management of general assistance agreements (GAP Program) for tribes and inter-tribal consortia (aka for Guidebook for Building Tribal Environmental Capacity); Consultation on the State of Drinking Water Compliance in Indian Country, and The Environmental Protection Agency-Wide Plan to Provide Solid Waste Management Capacity Assistance to Tribes.
3:00-5:00 Tribal TANF Task Force
Room 204
NCAI recently established the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Taskforce to develop national tribal priorities for the reauthorization of TANF. During this meeting, the Taskforce will finalize its set of national tribal TANF priorities, which were drafted during NCAI's Midyear Conference. These recommendations encompass recommendations on effective implementation strategies, administrative fixes, and programmatic changes that will assist tribes and tribal TANF participants.
3:00-5:00 New NCAI Member Orientation
Room 102
All members and officers are invited to this welcoming session for new members of NCAI and a briefing on membership, committees, voting, and process. This is an opportunity to learn more about NCAI meeting policy and procedures.
Jackie Johnson Pata, Executive Director, NCAI
Robert Holden, Deputy Director, NCAI
John Dossett, General Counsel, NCAI
Juanita Ahtone, Chair, Resolutions Committee, NCAI
5:00-6:00 NCAI Committee and Subcommittee Chairs Meeting with Resolutions Committee
Room 102
NCAI requests all committee and subcommittee chairs to attend.
6:00-8:00 Welcome Reception
Exhibit Hall D
Come and visit old friends and make some new ones. This reception will kick off the great week we are going to have at the 69th Annual Convention. Hosted by the Local Tribes.
Monday, October 22
7:00-8:00 National Native Prayer Breakfast
Room 202
This event is a casual breakfast gathering. Attendees will hear encouraging stories of faith and strengthen relationships. This breakfast is reflective of a national event held every year in Washington, DC. Here, we will join together in prayer in order to better serve the concerns of Native communities and nations. Tickets are for sale at registration.
Speaker: Billy Mills, 1964 Gold Medalist
7:30-5:00 Registration/Rules & Credentials - Open for the week West Lobby
7:30-5:00 Resolutions Office Open for the week Room 101
8:30-Noon First General Assembly Exhibit Hall B
8:30 Call to Order
Jefferson Keel, President, NCAI
Color Guard
Tule River Native American Veterans Post 1987
Honor Song
Invocation
9:00 Welcome from Host Tribe
9:10 California Welcome
Jerry Brown, Governor, California
9:20-10:00 Rules of the Convention
Yvonne Oberly, Credentials Committee Chair
Resolutions Process
Juanita Ahtone, Resolutions Committee Chair
President’s Address
Jefferson Keel
Executive Director’s Report
Jacqueline Johnson Pata
10:30 Message from the White House
Jodi Gillette, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs,
The White House
10:50 Message from the U.S. Department of the Interior
Honorable Ken Salazar, Secretary, US Department of the Interior
11:10 Message from the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Kevin Washburn, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior
11:30 Tribal Leader Discussion
12:00-1:00 NCAI Press Conference Room 102
1:30-4:00 Second General Assembly Exhibit Hall B
1:30 Call to Order
Juana Majel Dixon, First Vice-President, NCAI
NCAI Announcements
1:40-1:55 Energy Update
Tracey Lebeau, Director, Office of Indian Energy, US Department of Energy
2:20-2:40 Economic Forecasting
2:40-3:00 Google Earth
Rebecca Moore, Outreach Leader, Google Earth
3:00-3:30 Messages from the US Presidential Campaigns
Katherine Archuletta, Representative, DNC
Representative, RNC, invited
3:30-3:50 Assembly of First Nations Message
Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
3:50-4:00 Briefing on Constitutional Convention
Joe A. Garcia, Constitutional Committee
4:00-4:30 Tribal Leader Discussion
4:30-6:00 Committee Meetings
Economic, Finance & Community Development-Room 306
Human Resources-Room 307
Land & Natural Resources-Room 308
Litigation & Governance-Room 316
Veterans-Room 317
6:30-8:30 United League of Indigenous Nations Evening Event
Room 202
The United League of Indigenous Nations Treaty was developed and proposed by NCAI’s Special Committee on Indigenous Nation Relationships in 2007. The Treaty establishes an international political and economic alliance to advance the common interests of Indigenous Nations, to bring their cultural properties under the protection of the laws of Indigenous Nations, to protect the human rights of Indigenous Peoples and to assert traditional rights to cross international borders. This event will provide treaty signatories, as well as tribes interested in endorsing the treaty, a forum for discussion and presentation.
Tuesday, October 23
7:30-8:30 Area Caucus Meetings
9
NCAI Annual Convention Agenda
October 21-October 26, 2012 Sacramento, CA
Theme: Our Rights, Our Sovereignty
DRAFT UPDATED: 10/10/2012
Alaska Area-Room 202
Eastern Oklahoma Area-Room 203
Great Plains Area-Room 204
Midwest Area-Room 301
Northeast Area-Room 304
Northwest Area-Room 306
Pacific Area-Room 307
Rocky Mountain Area-Room 305
Southeast Area-Room 309
Southern Plains Area-Room 310
Southwest Area-Room 308
Western Area-Room 311
9
NCAI Annual Convention Agenda
October 21-October 26, 2012 Sacramento, CA
Theme: Our Rights, Our Sovereignty
DRAFT UPDATED: 10/10/2012
9:00-5:00 Exhibit Hall Open Exhibit Hall C & E
8:30-Noon Third General Assembly Exhibit Hall B
8:30-8:40 Call to Order
Edward K. Thomas, Recording Secretary, NCAI
Invocation
8:40-9:10 Mobilizing Tribes to Protect the Federal Indian Budget
Amber Ebarb, Legislative Associate and PRC Program Manager
9:10-9:30 Civil Rights
Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division,
US Department of Justice
9:30-11:30 Preparing for the Next 4 Years: What do we need to do to get ready?
Kevin Gover, Director, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American Indians