NCAI President Jefferson Keel to give State of Indian Nations

Tuesday, February 12, 2013  

National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Keel will deliver the annual State of Indian Nations address on Thursday.

Among other issues, Keel is expected to discuss the impact of the sequester in Indian Country. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service will see a five percent reduction in funds if lawmakers and President Barack Obama fail to reach a deal by March 1.

“Tribal programs, as part of the discretionary budget, have already done their part to reduce the deficit through the bipartisan Budget Control Act. Continued cuts will have severe consequences for every tribal citizen," Keel said in a letter to key members of Congress.

Keel, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, will be interacting with members of Congress tonight ahead of his speech. He is attending Obama's State of the Union as a guest of Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota).

The State of Indian Nations takes place at 10:30am at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The event will be webcast at www.ncai.org/live.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) will offer a response to Keel's speech. She is the new chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.