Entries by Shea Vassar

Welcome home, Leonard

In one of the last acts of his presidency, President Biden freed Leonard Peltier — a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the longest serving Native political prisoner in U.S. history. And today, February 18, 2025, Leonard was was released from federal prison.This is thanks in no small part to our collective […]

Trump Questions Native Peoples’ Birthright Citizenship

Actions are “Unconstitutional” and “A Continued Attack on Sovereign Nations” The Trump administration has challenged the birthright citizenship of Native peoples in Court. The following statement is from Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), executive director of Native Organizers Alliance and NOA Action Fund: The actions by the Trump administration to challenge the birthright citizenship of Native Americans […]

Contact the Interior Department about Bears Ears

As the first national monument proposed by a coalition of Tribal Nations, Bears Ears gained protections under the Obama administration but lost protections under the Trump administration. The five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission (BEC) — Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and the Zuni Tribe — are among the many Tribal Nations with deep […]

Protect Sovereign Rights and Continue to Allow Access to Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve for the Miccosukee Tribe Now

The Biden administration has been doing a good job at providing many ways for Tribal communities to exercise self-determination, protecting our sacred places, creating opportunities for Tribal co-management of land and water, and restoring dignity by removing racist and misogynistic names from land and buildings across the country. Still, while President Biden has made important […]

Indigenous Leaders Call for Compassionate Release of Leonard Peltier

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2024 Rapid City, SD – In light of the severe health conditions and medical needs of longtime Indigenous political prisoner Leonard Peltier, NDN Collective and Native Organizers Alliance are asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to free Peltier through compassionate release. “At the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, Attorney General Merrick Garland stood in front […]

Women’s History Month

Every March is Women’s History Month and this year, we uplifted four women–both past and present–who have been vital in the Native Vote. While the month might be over, we know it is important to lift up the matriarchs around Indian Country 365 days a year. Zitkála-Šá Zitkála-Šá was born on the Yankton Indian Reservation […]

Tell Congress: Pass the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act

Right-wing members of Congress have used annual government funding bills as a political football — threatening government shutdowns in an attempt to push through their wildly unpopular policy ideas including attacks on communities bearing the brunt of systemic racism and exploitation as well as cuts to critical programs and services. All this month, Congress is […]

NOA Supports New Bill to protect Kuskokwim River

  Native Organizers Alliance praises bill to protect “Indigenous ways of life” Washington, DC—The “Balance for the Kuskokwim River Act” was introduced today in Alaska that would protect the Kuskokwim River’s water quality and prioritize the customary and traditional subsistence lifestyle of the Alaska Native people of the region under the Federal Clean Water Act. […]