{"id":127230,"date":"2025-03-17T09:13:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T14:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=127230"},"modified":"2025-03-17T09:13:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-17T14:13:11","slug":"nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-march-17-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-march-17-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week (March 17, 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-march-17-2025\/nafoa-183\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-127234\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" data-attachment-id=\"127234\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-march-17-2025\/nafoa-183\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1536\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"NAFOA\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;NAFOA&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Last week, NAFOA Executive Director Cory Blankenship spoke on the Nonprofit Leadership and Development: Trends, Challenges, and Strategies panel at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development\u2019s Reservation Economic Summit. Pictured: Cory Blankenship, left, with NAFOA 1st Vice President VaRene Martin. Photo courtesy &lt;a href=https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/nafoa\/newsletter-03172025?e=a53ed034df&gt;NAFOA&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-1.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-1.jpg\" alt=\"NAFOA\" class=\"size-full wp-image-127234\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Last week, NAFOA Executive Director Cory Blankenship spoke on the Nonprofit Leadership and Development: Trends, Challenges, and Strategies panel at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development\u2019s Reservation Economic Summit. Pictured: Cory Blankenship, left, with NAFOA 1st Vice President VaRene Martin. Photo courtesy <a href=https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/nafoa\/newsletter-03172025?e=a53ed034df>NAFOA<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">5 Things You Need to Know this Week<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to NAFOA and stay informed!<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, March 17, 2025<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Source: NAFOA<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nafoa.org\">nafoa.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<strong>Was this forwarded to you? <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/nafoa\/newsletter\">Subscribe to NAFOA<\/a> and stay informed!<\/strong>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><EM>1. CONFERENCE:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Tribal Sovereignty in Times of Transition at #NAFOA2025 <\/div>\r\nDuring 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&#8217;s collective wisdom on advancing Native nations&#8217; priorities in an evolving political environment.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nModerator: Chairman Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSpeakers: \r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Chairman Manuel Heart, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe<\/li>\r\n<li>Governor Stephen Lewis, Gila River Indian Community<\/li>\r\n<li>Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Osage Nation<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/web.cvent.com\/event\/a1c18e82-c6c0-47b0-ae4d-5c3a3d7ba15a\/summary\" role=\"button\">Register for the Conference<\/a>\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/nafoa.org\/conference\/agenda\/\" role=\"button\">View the Agenda<\/a>\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><EM>2. NAFOA NEWS:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">NAFOA Executive Director Joins New Members on Center for Indian Country Development Leadership Council<\/div>\r\nThe\u202fCenter for Indian Country Development (CICD) based at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has welcomed three new members to its\u202fLeadership Council:\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Debbie Atuk (Inupiaq, Kingikmiut), Chair, Bering Straits Native Corporation Government Services LLC<\/li>\r\n<li>Cory Blankenship (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Executive Director, NAFOA<\/li>\r\n<li>K\u016bhi\u014d\u202fLewis (Native Hawaiian), CEO, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nCICD 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.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSource: Center for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/www.minneapolisfed.org\/news-releases\/2025\/new-members-named-to-center-for-indian-country-development-leadership-council\" role=\"button\">Continue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\">\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_youtu-be\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rUN4TJn6_aQ\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/11\/maxresdefault-497.jpg\" alt=\"Business Meeting to consider several bills (March 5, 2025)\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rUN4TJn6_aQ\">\n\t\t\tBusiness Meeting to consider several bills (March 5, 2025)\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rUN4TJn6_aQ\">\n\t\t\t<p>The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds a business meeting to consider pending legislation on March 5, 2025.The committee approved a total of 25 bills a&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/s\/desktop\/0a4db377\/img\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"YouTube\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tYouTube\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Indianz.Com Video: <a href=https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/06\/video-scia-business-meeting-march-5-20255\/>Senate Committee on Indian Affairs &#8211; Business Meeting to consider several bills &#8211; March 5, 2025<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><EM>3. POLICY:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Met For Business \r\nMeeting to Consider Several Bills<\/div>\r\nOn 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.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSCIA <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/06\/lets-get-em-all-done-senate-committee-moves-quickly-on-indian-country-legislation\/\">unanimously agreed to adopt all twenty-five agenda items<\/a>, 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. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSource: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/03\/06\/video-scia-business-meeting-march-5-20255\/\" role=\"button\">View the Agenda and Video<\/a>\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><EM>4. MUST READ:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Muskrat, 98, Continues Providing Tax Services<\/div>\r\nCherokee Nation citizen James \u201cJim\u201d 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.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n\u201cWe have an awful lot of seniors that qualify for that, and it\u2019s 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,\u201d said Muskrat. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nSource: Cherokee Pheonix\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cherokeephoenix.org\/people\/muskrat-98-continues-providing-tax-services\/article_ddb04812-fad0-11ef-a4f0-7fa192a807e7.html\" role=\"button\">Continue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\"><EM>5. JOBS:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Grant Accountant, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community<\/div>\r\nThe 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.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nThis 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.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-block\" href=\"https:\/\/nafoa.org\/job\/swinomish-indian-tribal-community-la-conner-washington-full-time-grant-accountant\/\" role=\"button\">Learn More &amp; Apply at nafoa.org\/jobs<\/a>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Subscribe to NAFOA and stay informed every week.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":127234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10,1,14],"tags":[5366,117,1708,5383,71,121,3393,1375,138,36,6131,213,91,220,3514,499,4549,314],"class_list":["post-127230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-national","category-politics","tag-119th","tag-bia","tag-cicd","tag-cory-blankenship","tag-economic-development","tag-employment","tag-fed-reserve","tag-louisiana","tag-meetings","tag-nafoa","tag-s-723","tag-scia","tag-senate","tag-sovereignty","tag-swinomish","tag-taxation","tag-vita","tag-washington","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-x66","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/17\/nafoa-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127230"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127237,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127230\/revisions\/127237"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}