The National Congress of American Indians held its mid-year conference in Connecticut the second week of June. Top officials from the U.S. government were among the major speakers including Secretary Ryan Zinke, the new leader of the Department of the Interior, who addressed attendees during the opening session. Here is the Grand Entry of Indigenous staff and tribal flags at the 2015 event.
WASHINGTON, DC-The National Congress of American Indians held its mid-year conference in Connecticut the second week of June.
Top officials from the U.S. government were among the major speakers at the event, which kicked off on Tuesday, June 13. Heading the list was Secretary Ryan Zinke, the new leader of the Department of the Interior, who addressed attendees during the opening session.
The appearance was Zinke's first before NCAI, the largest inter-tribal organization. But he didn't come alone-Jim Cason, the Associate Deputy Secretary at Interior and Mike Black, the "acting" Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs represented the department at meetings and panels during the event, which ran through June 15.
The theme of the meeting was "Sovereign Infrastructure: Building our Communities through our Values." Tribal leaders focused on sovereignty, economic development, health care, education and other key priorities throughout the week.
The Mohegan Tribe hosted the conference at its Mohegan Sun facility on the reservation.
