The National Congress of American Indians held its annual winter session in Washington, D.C., this week. Here's a rundown of what happened on Wednesday, the final day of the conference.

The Bush Tax Cut
Democrats have often criticized President Bush's tax cuts and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (Rhode Island), a founder of the Congressional Native American Caucus, is no different -- even though he told NCAI that he benefits greatly from reduced liabilities. "I should love that," he said of one cut that will save him "millions" in taxes, "but if that makes us a stronger country, I don't know."

Kennedy said the tax cut wiped away the federal budget surplus and that Bush is making up for it by cutting millions from Indian programs, all while seeking $82 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said the federal government is not fulfilling its promises to Indian Country. "We took your land and we need to pay the mortgage," he said.

Great Tribal Leaders
Former U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Furse, a Democrat from Oregon, came to NCAI to tout the work of the Institute for Tribal Government [http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu] at Portland State University. Specifically, she promoted the "Great Tribal Leaders of Modern Times" video series designed for public schools.

The series features 28-minute episodes on tribal leaders like Wilma Mankiller, the first woman to lead the Cherokee Nation, and Earl Old Person of the Blackfeet Nation. "Out sovereignty should not be questioned," Sue Schaffer, the chairwoman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians from Oregon, says in her video.

Tsunami Relief
Indian Country has donated more than $2 million to aid the victims of the recent South Asian tsunami that claimed the lives of more than 225,000 people in 11 countries. Ron Allen, the treasurer of NCAI, gave an update on the effort, citing $1 million from the Oneida Nation of New York, $1 million from the United Auburn Indian Community and the Rumsy Band of Wintun Indians, both of California, more than $300,000 from the Cherokee Nation, plus other donations from the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Blackfeet Nation, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Tlingit-Haida Tribes of Alaska.

The National Indian Gaming Association also has raised funds and has set up an account. Donations can be sent to: Indian Nations UNICEF Tsunami Relief Fund, Borrego Springs Bank, 5005 Willows Rd, Alpine, CA 91901.

A Ticking Clock
It's hard to believe that it's been more than two years since Phil Hogen was sworn in as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. That means his term, along with the terms of the two other commissioners, will expire at the end of 2005.

All the more reason why NIGC is eager to finalize regulations that define what is and what isn't a Class II game. "I think knowing the difference between Class II gaming and Class III gaming is going to become increasingly important," Hogen told NCAI. Expect publication in the Federal Register of the Class II definitions "soon" in order to hold public hearings and take comments by the end of June, Hogen said.

NIGC is also finalizing regulations on the minimum internal control standards (MICS) that cover the day-to-day operations of tribal casinos. A second proposal is headed to the Federal Register soon as well.

Indian Gaming Update
There's a lot on the National Indian Gaming Association's plate this year, said chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. and executive director Mark Van Norman. Some of the issues NIGA will be taking on during the 109th Congress include off-reservation gaming, Internet gaming, tobacco taxes and the National Labor Relations Board decision against tribal sovereignty.

Stevens said NIGA is collaborating with NCAI to host three forums on off-reservation gaming on March 24 in Washington, D.C., on April 13 at NIGA'a trade show in California and at the Great Plains Indian Gaming Association conference in May. "Some people speculated that there's politics setting around our position," Stevens said of NIGA's decision not to take a stand for or against off-reservation gaming. "I just want to make sure everybody understands it's not about politics, it's about policy."

NIGA is still engaged in a public relations campaign to tout the successes of tribal gaming and recently paid for an advertising feature in the March 2005 issue of Fortune. "We're making a big difference and paying more than our fair share," said Stevens.

White House Briefing
After NCAI was over on Wednesday, a select group of tribal leaders went to the White House in the afternoon to meet with Bush administration officials. NCAI President Tex Hall said the visit was "very positive" and welcomed the involvement of Claude Allen, an assistant to President Bush on domestic issues.

"Claude Allen brings a real breath of fresh air and expertise in Indian issues to the White House," Hall said on Wednesday.� "The meeting today was very encouraging to Indian tribal leaders who traveled to D. C. from across the country."

Allen, an African-American attorney from Virginia, won praise from tribal leaders as deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development because he took particular interest in Indian Country. He visited the Navajo Nation and other reservations to advocate for more tribal resources. Allen was previously nominated for a spot on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Other officials who spoke at the briefing included Victoria Vasques, an assistant deputy secretary at the Department of Education and director of the Office of Indian Education, and Jim Cason, assistant deputy secretary at the Department of Interior and acting assistant secretary for Indian Affairs.

"What we heard from the Bush administration demonstrates that the President is firmly committed to working with Indian Country on a government-to-government basis," Hall said, saying tribes are "ready to roll up our sleeves" and work on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act in Indian Country.

Tribal Hotel Debuts
NCAI attendees also spent a relaxing afternoon on Wednesday at the newResidence Inn by Marriott Capitol, financed by four tribes. They attended a reception and took tours of the 13-floor, 223-room hotel near the new National Museum of the American Indian and the halls of Congress.

"I never thought in my life I would be sitting in an Indian hotel in Washington," Victoria Higgins, a tribal councilor for the Aroostook Band of Micmacs in Maine, said from an executive suite on the 13th floor. The hotel provides good views of the U.S. Capitol and the rest of the city.

Tribal government and organizational discounts are available through the hotel, which had a soft opening on January 16 and has been receiving visitors since. Bookings have already exceeded expectations, said an employee.

The hotel is located in an area of southwestern D.C. that is rapidly expanding. Office buildings are going up on both sides of the hotel, making the plot look somewhat unfinished, but the presence of NASA right across the street and a Metro train station nearby show the importance of the new development.

Stay tuned! Join Indianz.Com next week for yet another wrapup coming of the NCAI 2005 winter session. Who is the better jokester, Sen. John McCain or Tex Hall? Who wants to make sure the media doesn't quote him? And who is up for the assistant secretary job?

Relevant Links:
National Congress of American Indians - http://www.ncai.org