LEFT TO RIGHT: NCAI Great Plains Regional Alternate Vice President Garret Renville (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), NCAI President Mark Macarro (Pechanga Band of Indians), NCAI Southwest Regional Vice-President Raymond Aguilar (Pueblo de Santo Domingo), NCAI Southwest Regional Alternate Vice President Lora Ann Chaisson (United Houma Nation)

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) had a strong presence at the 23rd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, held April 15-26, 2024, in New York City. The theme of this year’s forum, “Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination in the context of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous youth,” underscored the importance of ensuring tribal governments and youth are heard within the United Nations system.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Former NCAI Youth Commission Co-President Jessica Lambert (Choctaw Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), NCAI Youth Commission Co-Vice President Kennedy Pete (Navajo Nation), NCAI Youth Commission Co-President Yanenowi Logan (Seneca Nation of Indians)

This session marked an unprecedented moment with one of the largest gatherings to date of elected U.S. tribal leaders at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The growing attendance highlights significant strides made toward enhancing Indigenous self-determination and global diplomacy.

NCAI and The Implementation Project, a joint initiative of NARF and the University of Colorado Law School, co-sponsored a side event entitled “Embracing the Declaration – Indigenous Peoples’ Policy in the U.S.,” featuring presentations by key U.S. and tribal officials.

Learn more about all that happened in this historic session: Wrap Up Report: 23rd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

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