PRESS
RELEASE
POC:
CRST Public Relations
Rock
LeBeau
(605)964-8308
For
immediate release August 22, 2005
GPTCA Selects
Local Tribal Leaders To Run For National Congress
of American Indians (NCAI) Office
The Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association
(GPTCA) held their quarterly meeting in Rapid City,
SD on Aug. 15-16, 2005. Under consideration was
election of new leadership at upcoming 62 nd Annual
Convention of the National Congress of American
Indians (NCAI).
The GPTCA acted to support the candidacy of Cheyenne
River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier for
President of NCAI, Chairman; Sisseton Sioux Tribal
Chairman J.C. Crawford for Treasurer of NCAI and
Oglala Sioux Tribal President Fire Thunder for
Secretary of NCAI.
NCAI was founded in 1944 and is the oldest and
largest organization representing and advocating
for the rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The NCAI Annual Convention will be held in Tulsa,
OK on Oct. 30- Nov. 4, 2005. NCAI is anticipating
at least 3000 attendees from all the Tribes across
the United States. The Theme of this year’s
convention is “Celebrating 30 years of Indian
Self-Determination”
The current NCAI Chairman, Chairman Tex Hall of
Three Affiliated Tribes (located in the Great Plains
Region) has served two terms and cannot run again.
The Tribal Leaders of the Great Plains expressed
concern that someone from the Great Plains Region
must follow Chairman Hall as Chairman of NCAI.
Chairman Frazier stated he “is humbled and
honored by the trust placed in him by the other
Chairman. There is a lot of work that needs to
be done in Indian Country and electing leadership
from the Great Plains Tribes to the national level
is the best way to get it done, and to assure that
the concerns of our Tribes and people are met.”
Chairman Crawford spoke for the nomination of
Chairman Frazier, “we must take the leadership
again for the Great Plains. We have a large presence
and if we are going to have someone run, we need
a strong force.” President Fire Thunder encouraged
every Tribe in the Great Plains to participate
in NCAI and the convention. She said, “NCAI
is made up of the Great Plains and we need to collectively
participate to make the organization stronger.
The national level listens to NCAI and as such,
we need to be involved to make our voices heard.
We need strong leadership on the Board. I realize
it is a commitment of time, energy and work, but
we can make a difference for our region.”
Richard Sully, Council Representative, Yankton
Sioux Tribe talked about how important it was to
have leadership and a voice from the Great Plains.
He said, “It was sad to say that in reality
the GP Tribes lead the country in poor health,
poor law enforcement, unemployment, etc. They don't
come here to the Great Plains to be part of any
solution. As a Leader of our Tribe, we continue
to look for help, but we are not dealt with. They
are absent in our area. Because of this, we need
strong support from our area, we need a strong
presence. I am in favor of supporting our leaders
from our region for NCAI.
President Fire Thunder spoke again that we need
to change the direction of NCAI. “We need
to take advantage of the power of NCAI to get work
done for our region. This organization can do so
much more.”
Chairman Colombe recommended that “the Great
Plains Tribes come out with 100% support of our
people that we select to run for NCAI.”
Chairman Crawford spoke up for Pres. Fire Thunder
for Secretary of NCAI, “she is heard about
throughout Indian Country.” And Chairman
Crawford expressed his support for Chairman Frazier, “without
a doubt, Chairman Frazier is the best candidate
for President of NCAI. In the past, the Great Plains
put good candidates forward and we must do so again.
There is a meeting in Bismarck next month and we
will take our GP resolution there and send a message
out from there to all of Indian Country.”
Chairman Cayou, Omaha, said he would support the
3 candidates and he will go home to talk to his
Council.
Chairman Allen, Flandreau, said, “Chairman
Crawford for Treasurer, President Cecelia Fire
Thunder for Secretary and Chairman Frazier for
President would make very good leaders for NCAI.
These guys have done hard work and team work and
I will take this to Council and make sure you get
out vote. I see strong leadership here and we need
to move forward with this.”
Chairman Colombe said, “This draft of candidates
is the best thing we can do for our region and
the Tribes.”
“The GPTCA strongly endorses and supports
the candidacy of these Tribal Leaders as candidates
for Office in NCAI. In addition, GPTCA asks the
unanimous support of other Tribes, tribal organizations
and Tribal members in endorsing and supporting
Chairman Frazier, President Fire Thunder and Chairman
Crawford as candidates for office in NCAI.”
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