Embassy of Tribal Nations

The Embassy of Tribal Nations is an embassy located in Washington, D.C.^[1] that provides a center of operations to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).^{[citation needed]} It was established on November 3, 2009^[2] and allowed the NCAI and other tribal groups an opportunity to meet in a designated location.^[3] The existence of the embassy in the United States capital allows international relations between tribes and the U.S. government to be conducted close to each other.^{[citation needed]}

History

The National Congress of American Indians had been planning to create a headquarters to conduct all political and financial business since as early as the eighties.^[4][5] Before the Embassy of Tribal Nations was established, the NCAI rented a building.^[6] The estate in Washington, D.C. is three stories and was built in the 19th century.^[6] NCAI members began raising money with assistance from tribes in the 2000s, and bought the 17,000 square foot, $8.5 million property in April 2009.^[4][7] The space was remodeled to fit the needs of its new residents, and adorned with traditional Indian artwork and relics.^[4]

Donors

David Anderson, founder of the "Famous Dave" restaurants and former head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, donated $50,000 to the cause in 2006.^[8]

Opening

The grand opening on November 3, 2009 brought in large numbers of Natives to honor the launch of the new resource, celebrating with food and traditional dances.^[4] President Jefferson Keel of the NCAI revealed his thoughts in a press release that day: "For the first time since settlement, tribal nations will have a permanent home in Washington, D.C. where they can more effectively assert their sovereign status and facilitate a much stronger nation-to-nation relationship with the federal government."^[6]

Notable guests

Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Alonzo Coby, along with twenty-eight other tribal leaders, was present at the event.^[6] Two days later, Coby met with President Obama at the Tribal Nations conference, serving as an ambassador for the Shoshone-Bannock tribes.^[6]

Today

One of the buildings is used by other Native American groups, the Native American Rights Fund and the Native American Contractors Association.^[4] The embassy serves as a tangible manifestation of a connection between the United States government and Native Americans, and the NCAI updates their website regularly to keep the public aware of their happenings.^[9]

Impact

The embassy also serves as a landmark to Indigenous people and groups, as the official website states "People from across the nation-from Cabinet officials to school children, college students and leaders of national foundations-visit the Embassy each year and leave with a deepened and renewed understanding of our nation-to-nation relationship and the unique contribution tribal nations make to America and the world."^[10]