efferson Keel (third from left) at last year’s White House Tribal Nations Conference held in Washington, D.C. With him is Nedra Darling (far left), Steve Ortiz (second from left) and Tim Rhodd (far right). Darling is PBPN and Public Affairs Director for the Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs Office in D.C., Ortiz is PBPN Tribal Chair, and Rhodd is Chair for the Iowa of Kansas Tribe.
November 03, 2011 –
MAYETTA: Jefferson Keel (Chickasaw) was re-elected President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) yesterday at its 68th annual convention being held in Portland, Ore., according to a news release issued by NCAI today.
Keel was elected unanimously for the position and will represent the nation’s oldest, largest, and most representative tribal advocacy organization in the United States.
“Indian Country spoke with conviction today and I’m honored to be asked to continue addressing our greatest challenges with real solutions,” said Keel. “The message from Indian Country is this: we will not lose ground on the gains we have made.”
PBPN Tribal Council members attending the convention this week are Joyce Guerrero, Carrie O’Toole and Jancita Warrington. The week-long convention began last Sunday and ends tomorrow. Initiatives being launched during the convention include its 2012 Native Vote initiative, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month focus that is on Native youth and making preparations for the 2011 White House Tribal Nations Conference with President Obama on Dec. 2 that PBPN Chairman Ortiz plans to attend.