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Fawn Sharp
Fawn Sharp of the Quinault Nation was sworn into a second term as President of the National Congress of American Indians on October 14, 2021.
National Congress of American Indians elects leadership
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Indianz.Com

The leadership of the National Congress of American Indians is mostly staying the same following an election at the organization’s annual meeting.

Fawn Sharp, vice president of the Quinault Nation, is returning for a second term as President of NCAI. She was elected by acclamation on Wednesday after the only other person who was nominated withdrew from consideration.

Keith Anderson of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community said he was surprised to have been nominated for president. He bowed out of the race, leaving Sharp as the only candidate.

New to NCAI executive board of officers is Mark Macarro. The longtime chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians defeated two other candidates for the post of Vice President, according to results reported on Thursday.

Macarro won 51.6 percent of the vote, according to the results. Lance Gumbs of the Shinnecock Nation came in second with 29.4 percent while Juana Majel-Dixon of the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians had 19.0 percent.

Aaron Payment, chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, won election as Secretary of NCAI. He was the only candidate nominated.

Payment most recently served as Vice President of NCAI. Due to the organization’s term limits, he was barred from running for the position again.

Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians, won election as Treasurer of NCAI. She was the only candidate nominated.

Holsey will be serving her first full term as NCAI’s Treasurer. She stopped into the role last year due to a vacancy.

All of the winning candidates, plus the regional vice presidents and alternate vice presidents, were sworn into office on Thursday.

NCAI, which is the largest inter-tribal advocacy organization in the U.S., concluded its 78th annual convention on Thursday afternoon.

National Congress of American Indians
A slide showing the regional vice presidents and alternate vice presidents for the National Congress of American Indians was shown during the organization’s 78th annual convention on October 14, 2021. Screenshot
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