Advocates and National Organizations – American Indians/Alaska Native people and Sovereign Tribal Nations
These are hard times to be talking about advocacy work; there are so many parts of our world and of the work that need strong advocacy right now. This blog post is a starting place for people who seek to support advocacy work focused on supporting American Indians/Alaskan Natives and/or sovereign tribal nations.
There has always been advocacy for Native rights and wellbeing on this land. Native people have always had community based ways of advocating for one another, but the formalization of organizations that do advocacy work for Native rights and at a national level started in the early to mid 1900s. This is a very recent timeline in comparison to the arrival of foreigners to this land in 1492. The work that national organizations do to advocate for American Indian and Alaska Native rights is especially important during times of uncertainty. Many of the national organizations that advocate for Native people do so through the understanding that upholding tribal sovereignty is what affirms tribes’ right to operate their sovereign nations and govern their citizens in specific and unique ways.
There are avenues of support that all people can take to support the work that national organizations do to promote and protect the first people of this land. We are currently in a legislative session and advocacy work is an immensely important aspect right now. Below are some of the national organizations that focus on support for American Indians/Alaska Natives on topics like health, education, governance, law, college access, wellness, and safety/protection of Native women and children. If you are able, I encourage you to learn more about these organizations and the initiative that they are working on. And if you are even more able, I encourage you to donate to some of these organizations and their efforts.
- National Indian Health Board: The National Indian Health Board serves as the unified voice of 574+ Federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, championing the cause of health equity. Before colonization, our people were among the healthiest on Earth, sustained by our traditional foods, clean water, and natural medicines. Today, NIHB is dedicated to helping Tribes reclaim that legacy of health and well-being.
- National Congress of American Indians: Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
- National Indian Education Association: NIEA was formed in 1969 by Native educators and advocates who were anxious to find solutions to improve the education system for Native children. The NIEA Convention was established to mark the beginning of a national forum for sharing and developing ideas, and influencing federal policy. NIEA advocates for policies and creates programs that support self-determination and the development of comprehensive culturally-grounded learning opportunities for Native students. By empowering the capacity for self-determination, our communities gain the skills, knowledge, and voice to nurture the strengths, resilience, and intelligence of our Native youth grounded in traditional Native ways.
- Native American Rights Fund: Since 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has provided legal assistance to Native American tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide who might otherwise have gone without adequate representation. NARF has successfully asserted and defended the most important rights of Indians and tribes in hundreds of major cases, and has achieved significant results in such critical areas as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education.
- Native Wellness Institute: Promoting the well-being of Native people through programs and trainings that embrace the teachings and traditions of our ancestors. The Native Wellness Institute was founded in 2000 by a knowledgeable and dedicated group of Native individuals, including tribal leaders, committed to making a positive difference in Indian country. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving as the leading provider of Native-specific and wellness-related training and technical assistance to Native people, communities, tribes, and organizations throughout North America.
- American Indian College Fund: Since its founding in 1989, the American Indian College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native student access to higher education. We provide scholarships and programming for American Indian and Alaska Native students to access higher education. And once students are in college, we provide them with the tools and support to succeed.
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC) is a Native-led nonprofit organization committed to ending violence against Native women, children, and communities. We provide national leadership in addressing violence within Tribal communities by amplifying the voices of grassroots advocates and offering resources, technical assistance, training, and policy development. Our work strengthens Tribal sovereignty, creating lasting change to protect Native women and their families.
Discussion Question:
- If you are non-Native, how do you advocate for Native rights and tribal sovereignty in your work, life, or community?