NCAI OFFICIAL STATEMENT: 

"The actions by law enforcement in North Dakota are shocking and the NCAI community is at a loss trying to grasp the events of yesterday's attack on protectors gathered to defend water rights, lands, and sacred places. We are working closely with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as they strive for peace during this difficult time. The Army Corps has a tremendous amount of responsibility for this conflict.  Despite federal laws and Executive Order, the permitting process for the Dakota Access Pipeline was anything but transparent, tribal consultation did not occur, and even the Department of the Interior's concerns over tribal water supplies and cultural resources were ignored. We call on the Army Corps of Engineers to deploy an immediate "stop order" on the Dakota Access Pipeline, deny the easement, and conduct a full environmental impact study. We also call on the Department of Justice to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of thousands of Native protectors and allies. We will not stand for the continued violation of our First Amendment rights and Tribal Sovereign rights. Enough is enough. "

Please see the link below to view NCAI letter to the Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Justice sent today, October 28, 2016:  URGENT: Requesting Stop Work Order at Standing Rock.

CALL TO ACTION:

The Tribe is requesting calls and letters to the Obama Administration asking it to:

1. Direct the Department of Justice to send observers to protect the water protectors' safety and their First Amendment rights. Contact:

Attorney General Loretta Lynch
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530 


2. Direct the Army Corps to immediately issue an order to stop work on additional construction within a mile between Highway 1806 and the Missouri River to help reduce tensions until the Corps finalizes its decision regarding the Lake Oahe easement.  Contact:

Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary
of Army (Civil Works)
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310 

(703) 697-8986

3. The Tribe is also requesting calls and letters to North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple to remove the National Guard, as it's an inappropriate use of the United States military to interfere with the peaceful exercise of the First Amendment.  Contact:

Governor Jack Dalrymple &
Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley
Office of Governor State of North Dakota
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0100 

(701) 328-2200

L awyers with civil rights expertise  able to provide pro bono legal assistance to the hundreds of protectors who have been arrested over the past week  please see contact information below.  Download legal flyer here .
NCAI Webinar for Remaining Tribal Consultations on Infrastructure Permitting

NCAI is hosting a tribal leader and tribal representatives webinar for the remaining Infrastructure Permitting Consultations. Please see the webinar information below:

Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Time: 2:00pm EDT


NCAI staff has attended each of three sessions so far to collect the proposed recommendations, and invites tribal leaders and tribal representatives to join us to discuss unified Indian Country comments and recommendations to be voiced in the remaining four consultations and submitted by  November 30, 2016.

We will be discussing the following documents during the call (available for download below):
NCAI Resolutions: 
For more information, please contact: 

John Dossett, NCAI General Counsel
at jdossett@ncai.org, or Colby Duren, NCAI Staff Attorney & Legislative Counsel at cduren@ncai.org.



Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights.


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