President Trump Pardons Thanksgiving Turkeys Amid Political Barbs and Reflection on a Complicated Holiday
November 25, 2025
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Washington, D.C. — In a blend of ceremony and political theater, President Donald Trump carried out the annual presidential turkey pardon on Tuesday, granting clemency to two birds named Gobble and Waddle. The lighthearted ritual, traditionally held ahead of Thanksgiving, unfolded in the White House Rose Garden — though its tone and timing land differently for many Native communities who view the holiday as a symbol not of celebration, but of survival.
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Empowering Indigenous Youth Through Food: How Newman’s Own Is Fueling Food Justice
November 24, 2025
Newman’s Own Foundation is making a meaningful impact in Indigenous communities by investing in food sovereignty, cultural traditions, and youth-led education. Their Indigenous Food Justice program helps reconnect Native youth with their food heritage — from growing traditional crops to cooking ancestral meals — while building holistic well-being and resilience for future generations.
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Senate Passes Murkowski, Schatz Resolution Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month
November 20,2025
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan Senate resolution led by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), the Vice Chairman, recognizing November 2025 as National Native American Heritage Month, honoring the enduring cultures, histories, and contributions of Native Americans to the United States. The resolution, titled “Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States,” emphasizes the importance of preserving and celebrating Indigenous traditions, strengthening the government-to-government relationship with Tribal Nations, and reaffirming the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities.
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Interior Department Announces Major Fentanyl Seizure Following Joint Operation on Pueblo of Isleta Reservation
November 17, 2025
WASHINGTON –The Department of the Interior today announced the successful seizure of more than 37,000 fentanyl pills during a coordinated drug interdiction operation on the Pueblo of Isleta Reservation in New Mexico, led by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement and Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Police. The operation, which also included the Homeland Security Task Force, resulted in the seizure of approximately 37,300 fentanyl pills with a street value of nearly $1.5 million and $37,877 in cash.
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MURKOWSKI, SCHATZ LEAD OVERSIGHT HEARING TO EXAMINE TRIBAL ENERGY PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
September 16, 2025
Washington DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi), Vice Chairman, held an Oversight Hearing entitled: “Unleashing Indian Energy – Examining Federal Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy”. The hearing provided the Committee with an opportunity to examine the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Tribal energy programs in greater depth and to explore potential enhancements that would enable these initiatives to more effectively support Tribal nations in developing and managing their energy resources.
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Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal if Washington Commanders don’t switch back name
July 21, 2025
President Donald Trump is threatening to hold up a new stadium deal for Washington’s NFL team if it does not restore its old name, which was considered offensive to Native Americans.
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The Department of the Interior and Federal Agencies Launch Training Series to Combat Violent Crime in Indian Country
July 15, 2025
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior’s Victim Assistance Program has partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Indian Country Training Initiative, U.S. Indian Police Academy, FBI, DEA and ATF to curb violent crime in Indian Country. Through this partnership, several federal agencies have joined forces to offer a comprehensive training series aimed at improving how law enforcement and service providers respond to violent crime and enhance support for victims in tribal communities.
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NCAI Condemns Ann Coulter’s “We Didn’t Kill Enough Indians” Violent and Shameful Hate Speech Targeting Tribal Nations
July 8, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) emphatically condemns the hateful, genocidal statement of Ann Coulter on July 6, 2025, through a post on the social platform X, declaring: “We didn’t kill enough Indians.” There is no place in society for this direct incitement of hatred and violence toward American Indian and Alaska Native people.
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Critical Information for Tribal Advocacy: Updated CTS Analysis of FY 2026 President’s Budget Request
July 1, 2025
NCAI and its partners at the Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty (CTS) have an important update regarding the federal budget process and its direct impact on tribal programs. CTS has released a comprehensive analysis of the President’s full FY 2026 Budget Request—an update to our initial review of the “skinny” budget and memo on the Budget Request’s interaction with Budget Reconciliation released earlier this year.
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SCHATZ: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ILLEGALLY BLOCKING FUNDING OWED TO NATIVE COMMUNITIES
May 14, 2025
WASHINGTON — A new tracker revealed that the Trump administration is blocking or freezing more than $430 billion in federal funding owed to communities across the country — including nearly $316 billion for national programs that support Indian Country and Native communities. The data reflects just how widespread the damage is — with funding for public safety, housing, disaster recovery, child care, transportation, infrastructure, and education either delayed or terminated, and whole agencies and offices closed down, cutting off vital services.
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SCHATZ, MURKOWSKI URGE HHS TO HALT CUTS THAT JEOPARDIZE TRIBAL, NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALTH, CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
Senators Called For Immediate, Legally-Required Consultations With Native Leaders
May 13, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, warned U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. that his reorganization efforts, including job and budget cuts, will harm programs serving Native communities. They also demanded the Secretary immediately convene consultations to seek meaningful input from American Indians, Alaska Natives, and the Native Hawaiian Community, in accordance with the HHS’ own Tribal consultation policy and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act.
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Padilla, Schatz, Wyden Lead Push Warning Trump Admin of Harmful Impacts of SAVE Act, Anti-Voter Executive Order in Native Communities
May 13, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over elections, Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led 11 Senators in sounding the alarm on the devastating impacts of President Trump’s anti-voter “election integrity” executive orderand the SAVE Act on Native American voting rights. In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the Senators specifically warn about the challenges Native communities will face with the proposed requirements of documentary proof of citizenship andrestrictions on mail-in voting.
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SCHATZ MARKS MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AWARENESS WEEK, CALLS FOR MORE URGENCY TO ADDRESS ONGOING CRISIS
May 6, 2025
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Merkley, Schatz, Murkowski Sound the Alarm Over Staffing Shortages at the Indian Health Service
May 6, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senate Indian Affairs Vice Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Senate Indian Affairs Chairman and Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) demanded urgent action from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to ensure the Indian Health Service (IHS) has the necessary resources and staffing to fully deliver health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives, as required by federal law.
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