Founded in 1944, NCAI is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian & Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of Tribal Nations.
📜New Statement from President Mark Macarro: NCAI Denounces Offensive Remarks by Montana Senate Candidate Tim Sheehy
Leaders should unite—not divide—our communities. We call for accountability and demand respect for Native voices and Tribal Nations.
🔗
Thank you Nathan Phillips for showing the world yesterday what tolerance and resilience look like. In the face of ignorance and intimidation, you reminded us that the song cannot stop, and our prayers for our people will never stop.
🧵NCAI proudly celebrates
#IndigenousPeoplesDay
& the rich tapestry of Tribal Nations across the globe that have been instrumental in shaping our world. 🌍
Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have stood as protectors of the land, defenders of the environment, & much more.
History made. Congratulations to
@RepDebHaaland
on her confirmation as Secretary of the
@Interior
. Read NCAI’s statement on today’s historic Cabinet appointment:
This week (May 1- 7, 2023) is the National Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Join us and allies across Indian Country in saying enough is enough. Visit for ways to learn more and take action.
#MMIW
#NoMoreStolenSisters
The murder rate of Native women is 10x the national average on some reservations. �Their disappearances/murders are often connected to domestic violence/sexual assault. Join us in wearing red tomorrow.
#MMIWGActionNow
#NoMoreStolenSisters
#MMIWG
Thank you Maine for taking a HUGE step in the right direction and showing the rest of the country what true leadership looks like! Thank you for listening to and respecting the tribal nations in your state and representing them in a positive manner!
NCAI denounces President Trump's invoking of Wounded Knee Massacre and Battle of Little Bighorn in political attack and encourages increased public education on tribal nations and Native peoples. Read more:
BREAKING: Washington's NFL team announces official retirement of its racist name and logo, a fight Native activists have been leading for decades. No new name at this time.
Today at
#NCAIMY2021
,
@SecDebHaaland
formally launched the
@Interior
’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative in an effort to “uncover the truth about the loss of human life and the lasting consequences of these schools.”
NCAI proudly acknowledges the second Monday of October as
#IndigenousPeoplesDay
, honoring the social, cultural, and political resilience of the Tribal Nations who authored the origin story of America.
Since time immemorial, the significance of Native people has been a foundational component of America’s origin story. Join NCAI in acknowledging, honoring, & celebrating the unique histories and vibrant cultures of today’s many thriving Tribal Nations! 💛
#IndigenousPeoplesDay
The greatest athlete of all time.🥇
#JimThorpe
is now recognized as the sole champion of the decathlon & pentathlon in the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, as the International Olympic Committee has acknowledged the feat, 110 years after its achievement.
🔗
NCAI and
@NDNrights
applaud this morning’s decision in the U.S. Supreme Court case, which confirmed that the treaty-defined boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation still remain in full force today. Read our statement:
Today we celebrate the first people of the United States. Join us and the 13 states and over 130 cities and towns standing on the right side of history, celebrating
#IndigenousPeoplesDay
.
NCAI reiterates its longstanding opposition to the Atlanta
@Braves
' mascot and “tomahawk chop” fan ritual as the team plays in the
@MLB
#WorldSeries
.
Read NCAI President Fawn Sharp’s full statement:
#NotYourMascot
📣In a letter to
@ExeterChiefs
, NCAI CEO Dante Desiderio requested the team’s support to retire all Native “themed” imagery associated with the mascot branding. Club members will vote on the future of the team’s branding later this month.
Read the letter:
Did you know that 78% of Americans know little to nothing about Native peoples? During times of crisis, invisibility kills. It is imperative that we
#WarriorUp
to fight for the visibility of Native people during this pandemic.
Today, we wear red in honor of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls. Join us in saying enough is enough— not one more stolen sister.
Learn more about
@niwrc
's
#MMIWGActionNow
campaign:
#MMIWG
#WhyWeWearRed
Did you know tribal citizens are citizens of three sovereigns: their tribal nation, the United States, and the state in which they reside. Thus, we are “Nations Within A Nation” – Happy American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month from NCAI!
On this last day of Native American Heritage Month, NCAI wants to recognize all the Native peoples of this land. We exist. We survive. We thrive.
#NAHM18
Today,
@POTUS
signed a proclamation declaring October 11, 2021, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring America’s first inhabitants and in celebration of the many Tribal Nations across
#IndianCountry
that continue to thrive today.
Read the full proclamation:
The final vote on Rep. Deb Haaland's confirmation to lead the U.S. Department of Interior is set for Monday, March 15, 2021. Haaland has the experience - click here to learn more:
#DebForInterior
🧵 Yesterday, Angelina Jolie stopped by the Embassy of Tribal Nations to visit with NCAI and
@niwrc
to discuss
#VAWA
and the extreme rates of violence facing American Indian and Alaska Native women.
Today, the Vatican announced the repudiation of its centuries-old Doctrine of Discovery, which was used to justify colonization and land theft across the globe. NCAI responded to the announcement. Read full statement:
As the
#MMIW
National Week of Action comes to an end, we recognize the work does not stop here. NCAI is committed to taking the necessary steps to help improve public safety needs of all Tribal Nations across
#IndianCountry
.
📣 Enough is enough— no more stolen sisters.
"Exposure to American Indian mascot images has a negative impact on American Indian high school and college students’ feelings of personal and community worth, and achievement-related possible selves."
During WWII Native American Code Talkers used their native languages to communicate secret messages that saved thousands of Americans and allies. These codes were never broken. Today AI/AN’s serve at the highest rate per capita in the military
#NAHM19
#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
📣 This
#SuperBowlLVIII
, NCAI reaffirms its mission to eradicate harmful Native “themed” mascots from sports & pop culture. Our voice on this issue has been consistent & clear for generations.
Stop sidelining Native voices— we are
#NotYourMascot
.
📲
The list of American cities choosing to celebrate
#IndigenousPeoplesDay
continues to grow every year. Today we celebrate the hundreds of tribal nations, appreciate all the unique cultures, and celebrate the peoples that make up
#IndianCountry
! It's a good day to be indigenous!
NCAI congratulates
@RepDebHaaland
on her nomination by the Biden-Harris Presidential
@Transition46
and celebrates with Indian Country on this momentous step forward. Read our statement:
They are mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, grandmas and so much more. Join us in shining a light on this epidemic and wear red this Sunday, May 5, in support of the National Day of Awareness for
#MMIW
#MMIWG
#WhyWeWearRed
On some reservations, Native women are murdered at more than ten times the national average. During this
#MMIW
National Week of Action— join NCAI in amplifying the injustices facing Native women across
#IndianCountry
.
This is
#WhyWeWearRed
.
🚨
NCAI Partners with Bright Path Strong and Pictureworks Entertainment to Support the Jim Thorpe “Take Back What Was Stolen” Movement. Read full release here:
"Every congressional leader has a responsibility to uphold the federal government’s tribal trust responsibility whether they have tribes in their districts or not." -
@RepDebHaaland
addressing tribal leaders at
#ECWS19
.
Celebrating the
#NativeExcellence
on the field during the
#BigGame
doesn't mean that stereotypical, race-based mascots aren't foul.🚨 Native “themed” sports mascots and fan rituals are symbols of disrespect that degrade, mock, and harm Native people, particularly Native youth.🚨
NCAI joins
@NABSHC
and our relatives in Canada in recognizing today as the National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools.
#EveryChildMatters
"In November,
@Marvel
will celebrate Native American history with a comic book (Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices) written and illustrated by Indigenous creators."
As a result of ongoing education and advocacy by NCAI and so many others across Indian Country, roughly two thirds of “Indian” sports mascots have been eliminated since 1970. But about 2,000 remain at the professional, collegiate, and K-12 levels.
#NotYourMascot
#Superbowl
Monday, N.D. passed a bill which prohibits school districts in the state from creating policies that bar students from displaying eagle feathers/plumes at graduation in expressing their traditional beliefs and to honor their academic and other achievements
“[T]hese teams have a civic and moral responsibility to demonstrate that this commitment is genuine by taking real action to make our society an equitable, respectful, and just society for all Americans.” – NCAI CEO Kevin Allis
NCAI is sad to share the passing of Juanita Ahtone, a guiding light and ray of wisdom for NCAI and all tribal nations. Indian Country is stronger today because of her decades of selfless service. The family appreciates the love, support, and prayers. More info to come.
It’s never too late to right a wrong. NCAI applauds
@LittleLeague
for its decision to stand on the right side of history by banning racially offensive team names and mascots. Read NCAI’s press release here
Today is Navajo Code Talker Day, and every year since 2005, the Navajo Nation has hosted an event in Window Rock to honor the Navajo men who served as code talkers across the Pacific during World War II. Learn more:
One cannot truly understand Native America without understanding the historical, political, and cultural role Native women hold within Tribal Nations.
#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth
Tomorrow, Sunday May 5th, wear red to honor our Native sisters who are gone, but not forgotten. Join us in support of recognizing May 5th as the National Day of Awareness for
#MMIW
#MMIWG
#WhyWeWearRed
Breaking barriers in film. 📽️
NCAI joins all of
#IndianCountry
in congratulating
@Lily_Gladstone
(Blackfeet & Nez Perce) for her spectacular awards season and historic nomination at the
#Oscars
.
A milestone for authentic Native representation.
🔗
A recently published scoping review of 20 years of research on Native "themed" mascots shows the evidence is clear: these mascots harm AI/ANs and contribute to health disparities of AI/ANs and Tribal Nations. Read the review!
:link:
After intense debate, the Teton School District Board voted 4-1 to retire the R-word mascot of Teton High School. Central to the decision was opposition to the mascot by Native people, including the Shoshone-Bannock and Nez Perce Tribes. Read more here:
NCAI commends today’s announcement by the MLB franchise in Cleveland of its new team name and mascot, the “Guardians.”
#NotYourMascot
Read NCAI President Sharp’s full statement:
🚨 NCAI and the
@NDNRights
have released a joint statement, urging the swift confirmation of Sara Hill (Cherokee Nation) as the first-ever Native woman to sit on the federal bench in the state of Oklahoma.
🔗
🧵 For more than fifty years, NCAI has been at the forefront of
#IndianCountry
’s movement to eradicate offensive Native “themed” mascots from sports and pop culture.
We honor Anderson High School for choosing to stand on the right side of history by retiring its R*dsk*n mascot! Dan Snyder, time for you to do the same!
#ChangeTheMascot
The artwork of a Tlingit artist from Juneau, Rico Lanáat’ Worl, will be featured on a new postage stamp set for distribution next year.
#NativeArtSaturday
Day 2 of the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit starts at 11:00 a.m. ET! Follow along here for live updates as tribal leaders work with the administration on how to best address key issues facing Tribal Nations.
💻Watch the live stream:
On the 100th anniversary of the
#19thAmendment
, "it is worth taking up Bonnin’s call to remember Native women and their full range of political experiences."
“At the Department of Transportation, we take this very seriously, and that’s developing consultation with tribes. It's very important that we have all voices at the table.” -
@SecretaryPete
delivering opening remarks during the Third General Assembly at
#NCAIECWS2021
.
NCAI and our partners work diligently to educate others on the offensiveness and harm of this racial slur. Thank you for joining the movement! For more resources, view our mascot toolkit here:
#ChangeTheMascot
SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. This billboard went up this morning in Michigan on Interstate 94 btwn Chicago & Detroit just west of the Paw Paw exit. Paw Paw Schools uses this derogatory sports team name.
#NativeTwitter
@mieducation
@NCAI1944
@NCAIYouth
Today, ICWA's constitutionality is being challenged in front of SCOTUS. Opponents of ICWA are threatening the law that offers protection for Native kids & families.
Learn more:
The Iroquois Nationals "is the only Native American team that has been authorized to play a sport internationally, and has been competing in international lacrosse since 1990."
Pocahontas holds significant value to her family and her tribe, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe in Virginia. Using her name in a disparaging manner is inappropriate. NCAI Executive Director speaks with
@JohnBerman
of
@CNN
.
November is Native American Heritage Month. Join us as we share this year’s theme: "Sovereignty is Sacred: Sharing our Rights and Cultures." In partnership with the Society of American Indian Government Employees.
Delivering the Congressional response at
#SOIN2020
,
@RepDebHaaland
discussed the importance of passing
#VAWA
reauthorization, legislation mandating tribal consultation, the need for a clean Carcieri fix, and called for
#IndianCountry
participation in the
#2020Census
.