TULSA, OK-The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) elected Brian Cladoosby as their new president. Two-term President Jefferson Keel stepped down October 18.

In his first statement after being sworn in as the 21st president of the NCAI, Brian Cladoosby, Chairman of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, called for reduced thresholds for federal tribal disaster assistance and challenged Congress to prioritize Native peoples in the post-shutdown legislative calendar, including acting on the Farm Bill.

"Congress must act immediately to provide rapid recovery for our tribes," the new president stated, "and work to ensure that political gamesmanship and inactivity does not harm Native Peoples again."

A new Executive Committee was also voted in at the 70th Annual Convention & Marketplace. The Executive Committee is charged with advancing the mission of NCAI to protect and advance tribal sovereignty by representing the issues and priorities of tribal nations throughout the country.

New officers include Michael Finley, who is Chairman of the Colville Tribes; Recording Secretary is Robert Shepard of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate; Dennis Welsh, Jr., is the new NCAI treasurer. He is also Tribal Council Member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

Don Becker, U.S. Geological Survey

The NCAI elected Brian Cladoosby as their new president.

The Executive Committee is elected by NCAI membership. The President, First Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer are elected by the entire membership; and the twelve Regional Vice Presidents are elected by each respective region. Each of these officers is a member of the NCAI board and serves a two-year term which began October 18, 2013.

President Keel honored NCAI with his leadership, elevated the role of the organization, and served tribal nations well. He remains a valued and respected leader within NCAI and throughout Indian Country.