Jefferson Keel, the former lieutenant governor of the Chickasaw Nation, speaks about the recent "Broken Promises: Continuing Federal Funding Shortfall for Native Americans" report at a Congressional panel in Washington, D.C., on June 5, 2019. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

National | Politics

National Congress of American Indians heads into election season after major changes

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

By Acee Agoyo

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The race to lead the National Congress of American Indians is kicking into high gear as the nation's largest inter-tribal advocacy organization prepares for its biggest meeting of the year.

At least three tribal leaders are running for president of NCAI, which has experienced significant turmoil since the last election. The organization lost its longest serving executive director amid a scandal that also claimed its highest ranking attorney, an issue that's now the subject of litigation in federal court.

NCAI President Jefferson Keel can now be counted among the casualties. According to multiple sources in Indian Country, he decided not to run for another term, after going back and forth on the matter in the last few months following his surprise retirement as the lieutenant governor of the Chickasaw Nation, a position he held for two decades.

Keel's departure paves the way NCAI to elect a brand new president at its 76th annual convention and marketplace later this month. The field includes two well-known tribal leaders who faced off against one another during a tight election two years ago and a third who has never held elective office in the organization.

Who will lead the National Congress of American Indians, the nation's largest inter-tribal advocacy organization? Marshall Pierite, chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, is among those running for president. The election takes place in October, at @NCAI1944's annual convention. pic.twitter.com/iNwJ9xMm3Q
— indianz.com (@indianz) September 24, 2019

But Marshall Pierite, who recently won election as chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, has strong connections to NCAI. He has helped guide the organization's strategy in addressing negative court decisions, like the decade-old Carcieri case that continues to hinder efforts to restore tribal homelands across the nation.

“As the next President of NCAI, my priority will be to listen to and work with tribal communities to best advocate for our unique needs," Pierite said in an announcement to Indianz.Com. "Our campaign’s platform will improve the lives of Native Americans across the country and address the issues that impact our communities each day."

“As Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, I know, firsthand, the difficulties of leading a smaller tribal community and thus, will work tirelessly to ensure all of our communities, no matter the size, are equally represented in NCAI," Pierite added

Pierite faces a formidable challenger in Fawn Sharp, the long-serving president of the Quinault Nation. She narrowly lost the presidency to Keel two years ago after a second round of balloting put NCAI close to choosing its first woman leader in nearly two decades.

Who will lead the National Congress of American Indians, the nation's largest inter-tribal advocacy organization? President Fawn Sharp of the Quinault Nation is running for president. The election takes place in October, during @NCAI1944's annual convention. @PresFawnSharp pic.twitter.com/pZhq2Jinh6
— indianz.com (@indianz) September 24, 2019

"My vision for the next chapter of NCAI is to aggressively advance a sovereignty agenda that is reflective of our unique and collective strengths," Sharp told Indianz.Com. "There’s no question at the heart of every challenge facing Indian country is an external force precluding our nations from exercising the full spectrum of our inherent sovereign powers."

"My goal is to harness and unleash the full potential of all of Indian Country and rally behind an agenda that demands political, economic, and social justice, inside and outside of the United States," said Sharp, who previously served as vice president of NCAI.

And both Pierite and Sharp are dealing with a resolute opponent in Harold Frazier, the chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and a former area vice president of NCAI. He began campaigning earlier this year -- well before his opponents made their public announcements -- after being knocked out of the running during the annual convention in 2017.

“Chairman Frazier has served tribal nations regionally, nationally and has proven leadership dedicated to protecting our environment, our water and sovereign rights for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, water protectors and Indian Country,” the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association said in an endorsement resolution.

Carrying the staff pic.twitter.com/UHKS450EzZ
— CRSTChairman (@CRSTChairman) August 27, 2019

“Chairman Frazier has proven his leadership and willingness to advocate for all our people and be a strong voice for sovereignty, treaty rights, the health, safety, and welfare of Indian Country, and has proven his ability to stand up against the federal government and the forces that seek to limit tribal sovereignty and self-sufficiency,” said the organization, which represents 16 tribes in North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Frazier has been a vocal critic of NCAI's handling of numerous issues, including the #MeToo controversy that led to the staff shakeup. The organization has been seeking to regain its footing with the hiring of Kevin Allis, a citizen of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, as its first "Chief Executive Officer."

Since taking the job in June, right before NCAI's mid-year meeting, Allis has overseen additional staff moves. Ahniwake Rose, who had only been on the job as deputy director for six months, quickly departed for an out-of-state job while three long-serving employees were named to "Vice President" positions within the organization.

NCAI's recently hired director of communications also earned a promotion to Vice President of External Affairs, the organization's largest department which oversees public affairs, as well as all of its conventions and meetings. The area had long been led by the daughter of former executive director Jackie Pata, who left in February after 18 years on the job. Pata's husband, Chris, who had worked there for several years, also departed.

It's time to think about who will be President of NCAI. I have been asked to run by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmans. I am asking for your support to petition your tribe to help me make this happen. #FrazierforNCAIpresident #Nativevote pic.twitter.com/gTIJZ1yky5
— CRSTChairman (@CRSTChairman) August 27, 2019

Jamie Gomez, a citizen of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes who began working at NCAI before her mother arrived in 2001, has since been promoted to Chief of Staff. She fills out a leadership team that now includes Derrick Beetso (Navajo) as General Counsel; Jacob Schellinger as Vice President of Government Relations; Ian Record as Vice President of Tribal Governance and Special Projects; Yvette Roubideaux (Rosebud Sioux) as Vice President of Research; Lycia Maddocks (Quechan) as Vice President of External Affairs; and Virginia Davis as Senior Advisor and Director of Justice and International Policy

Additionally, Yawna Allen, who is Cherokee, Quapaw and Yuchi, has been named director of communications, replacing Maddocks, who had taken on the job only in February. Fatima Abbas, who hails from the Haliwa Saponi Tribe, is serving as NCAI's director of policy and as legislative counsel.

“I can’t emphasize enough how honored I am to work with the talented staff at NCAI. Each individual is accomplished and skilled in their respective fields, and they are also fiercely dedicated to the work we do for Indian Country,” said Alllis, whose own title as "Chief Executive Officer" must be formally adopted in the organization's constitution during the upcoming conference.

The meeting, taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is expected to draw a large crowd as the candidates seek to line up support from as many member tribes and individuals as possible. Voting will occur on Thursday, the second to last day of the event, which is being held at the convention center in the city's downtown area. A heated election for president took place there in 2003.

Keel, who previously served two terms as NCAI's president, narrowly edged out Sharp during the 2017 election in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But instead of enjoying a smooth return to leadership, he ran into turbulence as fellow tribal leaders, past and present employees and others asked him to address what appeared to be a high rate of turnover among Native women in the organization, as well as general dissatisfaction among the workforce.

Following an outcry among members tribes and advocate for Native women, Keel eventually confirmed that John Dossett, NCAI's long serving general counsel, had been investigated by the organization in connection with "two specific allegations" of sexual harassment. Following the internal inquiry, Dossett's title was changed to senior counsel.

In a complaint filed on August 29, Dossett characterized the change in title as a form of demotion. He said he was stripped of supervisory authority over any employees at NCAI. Previously he was considered part of the organization's leadership team and had played a significant role in high-profile Indian legal and policy issues.

Dossett now claims his reputation was ruined by NCAI, whose Indian Country Today news operation published stories about the turmoil, as well as by Indianz.Com, which was the first to report on his reassignment on August 31, 2018. High Country News, a non-profit news organization that also wrote about the controversy, is another defendant.

ICYMI: A non-Indian attorney who was reassigned and later lost his job at the nation's largest inter-tribal advocacy organization @NCAI1944 is suing https://t.co/0yYFAWzrcJ for writing about it. Read🧐the complaint👇https://t.co/TNFBBgfyAp
— indianz.com (@indianz) September 3, 2019

Dossett is seeking $6.2 million in damages from the organizations in the lawsuit, which was lodged in federal court in Oregon, his place of residence.

Ho-Chunk Inc., the parent company of Indianz.Com, has retained Big Fire Law and Policy Group as counsel in the litigation.

As for Keel, he had told some fellow tribal leaders that he was going to run again, only to change his mind amid speculation about his role within the Chickasaw Nation. When he announced his retirement in May following a battle with cancer, he said he was going to take on another position within the tribe.

Retaining such a position would enable Keel to run for re-election, as NCAI's eligibility requirements state that candidates for the executive board "must be tribal officials who are elected or appointed to represent their tribal government," according to an election procedures memo issued in August.

Jefferson Keel, NCAI President and U.S. Army Veteran, speaks at today's Native American Vererans Memorial groundbreaking @SmithsonianNMAI. Learn how to donate here: https://t.co/JYX1uBLSi9 pic.twitter.com/GzoEamcQqY
— NCAI (@NCAI1944) September 21, 2019

Keel's last day as lieutenant governor was Monday. The Chickasaw Nation's press office did not return a request for comment about his future role within the tribe.

Succeeding Keel as lieutenant governor is Chris Anoatubby, who is the oldest son of Bill Anoatubby, the tribe's longtime governor. The elder Anoatubby has led his people for a record 32 years. Keel was at his side for 20 years.

The Anoatubbys were sworn into office on Tuesday. Gov. Anoatubby didn't bring up Keel during his inaugural address.

Fawn Sharp - National Congress of American Indians Campaign Announcement