Leader, LLC

10/06/2026

GOOD NEWS: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge involving the Indian Child Welfare Act, upholding protections for Native children and Tribal sovereignty.

This comes just three years after NARF successfully defended ICWA before the Court against a sweeping challenge in Haaland v. Brackeen.

Today’s decision leaves these vital protections intact. NARF continues to defend ICWA so Native children can grow up with the family ties, cultural connections, and sense of belonging they deserve.

09/30/2026

Congratulations to ALL Grantees!!

IHS has awarded $1.7 million to support Tribal self-governance and self-determination across Indian Country.

More than $1.1 million in Tribal Management Grant Program funding will go to nine Tribes and Tribal organizations to develop and improve Tribal capacity to manage health programs under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. The program is designed to prepare Tribes and Tribal organizations for assuming all or part of existing IHS programs, functions, services, and activities, and to further develop and improve their health management capabilities.

• California Rural Indian Health Board (Roseville, CA) – $150,000
• Indian Health Council, Inc (Valley Center, CA) – $130,274
• Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma (McCloud, OK) – $100,000
• MACT Health Board, Inc (Angels Camp, CA) – $150,000
• Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (Niobrara, NE) – $97,560
• Ramah Navajo School Board, Inc (Pine Hill, NM) – $150,000
• Seldovia Village Tribe (Seldovia, AK) – $84,805
• Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (Wewoka, OK) – $100,000
• Yavapai-Apache Nation (Camp Verde, AZ) – $150,000

Through annual Planning and Negotiation Cooperative Agreements, more than $600,000 will also be awarded to five Tribes and Tribal organizations to support the planning and preparation necessary to assume responsibility for providing health care to their tribal members through the Tribal Self-Governance Program.

The Planning Cooperative Agreement funding assists Tribes with legal and budgetary research, internal Tribal government planning, and preparation needed for the administration of health care programs. The Negotiation Cooperative Agreement assists Tribes to defray the costs related to preparing for and conducting self-governance program negotiations. The Tribal Self-Governance Program exemplifies the nation-to-nation relationship that exists between the U.S. Government and Tribes and the strong federal-Tribal partnership that is critical to the program’s overall success.

Planning Cooperative Agreement Awards:

• Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana (Elton, LA) – $142,170
• Guidiville Indian Rancheria (Talmage, CA) – $164,487
• Klamath Tribes (Klamath Falls, OR) – $180,000

Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Awards:

• Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (Wewoka, OK) – $84,000
• Taos Pueblo (Taos, NM) – $77,962

06/16/2026

IHS is now accepting applications for fiscal year 2026 Tribal Self-Governance Planning and Negotiation Cooperativee Agreements. These awards support Tribes and Tribal organizations with funding needed for the planning and preparation necessary to assume responsibility for providing health care to their Tribal members through the Tribal Self-Governance Program.

Learn more and apply by August 3, 2026: https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/announcements/2026-announcements/funding-opportunities-support-tribal-self-governance-planning-and-negotiation-activities/

06/14/2026

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) has survived one of the biggest legal challenges in its history.

In Haaland v. Brackeen, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7–2 in favor of the federal law, rejecting major constitutional challenges and affirming Congress’s authority to protect Native children and Tribal Nations.

Passed in 1978, ICWA was created after decades of policies that separated large numbers of Native children from their families and communities. The law establishes guidelines that prioritize keeping Native children connected to their relatives, Tribal Nations, and cultural heritage whenever possible.

Tribal leaders across the country, including the Cherokee Nation, celebrated the ruling as a historic victory for Native families and Tribal sovereignty.

Today, ICWA remains one of the most significant federal laws protecting Indigenous children and preserving the bonds between Native families, communities, and future generations.

Why do you think protecting culture and family connections matters for future generations?



Sources:
• U.S. Supreme Court — Haaland v. Brackeen (2023)
• Cherokee Nation — Statement on ICWA Decision
• SCOTUSblog — Haaland v. Brackeen Explained • U.S. Department of the Interior
• National Indian Child Welfare Association

02/24/2025

09/14/2024

Free tickets, free tickets!!! SOONER FANS!! I know it’s last minute, but I have three tickets north end zone section 17 available first come first serve!! FREE!!!

01/22/2024

Stay warm!!

01/03/2024

WASHINGTON — American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and tribal organizations, including the San Carlos Apache Tribal Council, have been awarded a...

12/23/2023

U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs Renew Reimbursement Agreement

IHS/VA reimbursement agreement