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During the General Session on Tuesday, April 29th, join distinguished tribal leaders for a candid discussion on navigating complex political landscapes and advancing tribal sovereignty. Tribal Executives will share seasoned insights from decades of leadership, exploring successful strategies for protecting tribal interests across changing administrations. Learn how these leaders built lasting relationships with federal partners while maintaining cultural values and advancing tribal economies. This interactive session will offer rare access to tribal leadership’s collective wisdom on advancing Native nations’ priorities in an evolving political environment.

Moderator: Chairman Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation

Speakers:

• Chairman Manuel Heart, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
• Governor Stephen Lewis, Gila River Indian Community
• Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Osage Nation

Register for the Conference

View the Agenda

The Center for Indian Country Development (CICD) based at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has welcomed three new members to its Leadership Council:

• Debbie Atuk (Inupiaq, Kingikmiut), Chair, Bering Straits Native Corporation Government Services LLC
• Cory Blankenship (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Executive Director, NAFOA
• Kūhiō Lewis (Native Hawaiian), CEO, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

CICD is a research and policy institute working to advance the economic self-determination and prosperity of Native nations and Indigenous communities through actionable data and research that inform public policy discussions.

Source: Center for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Continue Reading

On March 5th, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) met for their business meeting to discuss 25 bills concerning key issues for Indian Country, including land restoration, water rights, public health, safety, and funding.

SCIA unanimously agreed to adopt all twenty-five agenda items, formally approving them for further consideration by the full Senate. Notably, one of these bills included S. 723, Tribal Trust and Land Ownership Act of 2025, which sets deadlines and requirements for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to process and complete all residential and business mortgage packages on Indian land.

Source: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs View the Agenda and Video

Cherokee Nation citizen James “Jim” Muskrat, a 98-year-old CPA, has been volunteering for the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program since 2013, helping people file their tax returns. The VITA program offers tax assistance to low-income individuals, persons with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

“We have an awful lot of seniors that qualify for that, and it’s also available for handicap people that get supplemental Social Security. The maximum supplemental Social Security for this last year in 2024 was $11,316, and we have people that live on that little amount of money,” said Muskrat.

Source: Cherokee Pheonix Continue Reading

The Grants Accountant is the main support position for funding agreements with assigned agencies within the Tribal Government. This position is responsible for setting up and maintaining accounts and audit ready files for assigned agreements.

This role involves managing financial agreements, budgets, and records while ensuring compliance with funding requirements. Responsibilities include processing financial transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing reports, supporting grant audits, and serving as the primary financial contact for assigned agreements.

Learn More & Apply at nafoa.org/jobs