Seen & Heard at NCAI Executive Winter Session in Washington, D.C.

It was standing room only for the reception at the U.S. Capitol for the two first Native women ever elected to Congress. Rep. Sharice Davids listerns to Rep. Deb Haaland. Photograph by Levi Rickert

Published February 17, 2019

WASHINGTON — Tribal leaders gathered in the nation’s capital this past week for the National Congress of American Indians Executive Winter Session. Celebrating its 75th year, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the nation’s largest and oldest Amercian Indian organization.

Native News offers some brief snippets of events in Washington last week:

First Time Three Elected Native Women in Same Room

2018 became known as the Year of the Native Woman because of the successful election victories of several American Indian women. Three women who gained the national spotliight are Rep. Deb Haaland (N.M.-1st District), a tribal citizen of the Pueblo of Luguna; Rep. Sharice Davids (Kan.-3rd District), a tribal citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation; and Minnesota Lt. Governor Peggy Flannagan, a tribal citizen of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe.

The two Congresswomen were the two first Native women ever elected to Congress. Lt. Gov. Flannagan became the second Native American woman to ever be elected to statewide executive office in U.S. history.

Rep. Deb Haaland, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan; and Rep. Sharice Davids. Photograph by Levi Rickert

Last Monday night, at a reception held in their honor, marked the first time the three Native women were in the same room at the same time.

Acting Interior Secretary Leaves Emergency Room to Give Address at NCAI

Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt

David Bernhardt, nominee for the secretary of the Department of the Interior, addressed the NCAI general assembly on Wednesday morning. Currently the acting secretary of the Interior was nominated earlier this month to replace Ryan Zinke, who was Interior secretary, left after being fired by Trump in December.

The U.S. Department of the Interior houses Indian Affairs, which oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.

As he concluded his speech, Bernhardt told the audience he had left an emergency room because of an undisclosed medical condition to directly come to address NCAI. “This is not a speech I was gong to miss,” said Bernhardt.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren at luncheon.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Recognized for Her Work to Imrove Indian Country

For all the notions that 2020 presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), is not well thought of in Indian Country because of her DNA results, you would not have known that on the Tuesday luncheon of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.

She was recognized for her work to better Indian Country by putting her name on five bills to improve lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

“It’s what’s in our hearts and our actions. Elizabeth Warren has had some strong actions,” said one presenter.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Secretary Elaine L. Chao

No Photographs from the First Two Rows

Prior to bringing U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Secretary Elaine L. Chao to the stage, the emcee announced that no photographs would be allowed from the first two rows of seats in the general assembly.

Chao also brought along a security detail that stretched across the half of the room and made her entrance from the opposite side of the stage than all other speakers who spoke to NCAI.

Lt. Governor Peggy Flannagan Announces that Deborah Parker will run for Congress in 2020

Feeling the eurphoia of Year of the Native Women election victories, Lt. Governor Peggy Flannagan announced at a reception held at the National Indian Gaming Association’s headquarters that another Native woman warrior, Deborah Parker, Tsi-Cy-Altsa (Tulalip/Yaqui), will run for Congress in Washington’s 2nd congressional district in 2020.

Deborah Parker (second from left) at VAWA signing in Washington on March 7, 2014.

A co-founder of the Indigenous Women Rise and a board member of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Parker is known for her strong leadership in campaigning for the inclusion of tribal provisions in the reauthorization of the Violance Against Women Act (VAWA).

Jacqueline Pata, Executive Director, served as emcee of the 2018 “State of Indian Nations.”

Neither Seen or Heard: Jacqueline Pata

Prior to last year’s NCAI Convention and Marketplace in Denver, NCAI announced its executive director, Jacqueline Pata, was taking a leave of absence.

Pata, who normally serves as emcee of the “State of Indian Nations” address, was replaced this year by Aaron Payment, first vice president of the NCAI.

Pata was neither seen or heard at the NCAI Executive Winter Session — nor was her named mentioned in the general assembly sessions.