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National Congress of American Indians Convenes Feb. 25-27 in Washington, D.C. Annual winter meeting will stress top Indian issues and Capitol Hill visits by Tribes PRESS CONFERENCE&Monday, Feb. 25, 9:30-10:15 a.m. Location: Woodlawn Room, Wyndham Washington Hotel, 1400 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C&R.S.V.P. to Liz Hill (see phone number, above, or by e-mail: liz_hill@ncai.org).

Washington, D.C. - Several hundred American Indian Tribal leaders and their representatives are expected to attend the Executive Council Winter Session meeting of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), to be held Monday, Feb. 25 through Wednesday, Feb. 27 at the Wyndham Washington Hotel (1400 M Street, N.W.) in Washington, D.C. The theme of the winter meeting is 'Tribes Take Action'.

General assemblies will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25; 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26; and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27. This year, NCAI also has coordinated with the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) to include an additional day that will be devoted to a legislative summit on Indian gaming issues. The meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 28, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Wyndham Washington Hotel.

In addition to deliberating on the top issues facing Indian Tribes and people, this meeting also is the time when the organization urges its members to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill. Time is available on the agenda for Tribal leaders to pay visits to their Senators and Representatives.

Issues that will be discussed during the three-day meeting include: appropriations; trust management; the protection of sovereignty; transportation; economic development; energy; health care; education; and others.

"Many people don't know that NCAI, the oldest, largest and most representative national American Indian and Alaska Native organization, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and that we gather here together every year to discuss what are truly life and death issues for our people", said NCAI President Tex G. Hall, who also is Chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota. "There is perhaps no better time as Tribes gather together in a powerful coalition with the goal of making our voices heard, bringing our issues to the highest-ranking officials of the federal government."

Speakers include Stephen G. Breyer, Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court (Tuesday, Feb. 26, 3-4 p.m.). This is the first time in the NCAI's 58-year history that a sitting Supreme Court judge has publicly addressed the group. Breyer's talk will focus on 'how federal Indian law can improve governance on Indian lands and assist in maintaining the long-term viability of Tribal communities and Tribal cultures.'

Other speakers include: Ruben Barrales, White House, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs (Monday, Feb. 25, 2-2:20 p.m.); U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii (Monday, Feb. 25, 3-3:20 p.m.); and U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo. (Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2:15-2:35 p.m.).

In conjunction with the Winter Session, NCAI also will host its Fourth Annual Leadership Awards Banquet on Wednesday, Feb. 27, from 7-10 p.m., at the Wyndham Hotel. This years honorees include U.S. Senator Thomas A. Daschle, D-S.D.; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and NIKE, Inc. All are being honored for their significant contributions to Indian Country.

Other special events that will take place at the Wyndham Washington Hotel include: a reception to launch the Native American Bank (Monday, Feb. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m.) and a reception hosted by NIGA (Wednesday, Feb. 27, 5-7 p.m.).

An agenda and other information about the Executive Council Winter Session is posted on www.ncai.org.

For more information about the NIGA meeting, call Carla Nicholas, Public Relations, phone: 202-546-7711. The NIGA website is Indian Gaming.org.