A National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) resolution is a statement adopted by its members to drive change.

Do you have a proposal for a project or program to assist communities in Indian Country?

Let us guide you in the process of submitting a resolution with our webinar, and take the first steps to making a positive change in the lives of Native American elders!

NICOA introduced a new toolkit dedicated to increasing awareness and knowledge of the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people living with disabilities.

The toolkit contains information about disabilities, tribes and resources.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 30% of AI/AN adults have a disability, the highest rate of disability among any other ethnicity.

“Some of the statistics that surprised me most was that 1 in 3 AI/AN adults all have a disability. That's higher than any other race in the U.S. I believe this is something that we really need to tackle and bring awareness to,” Desiree Lapahie, Data Analyst, said in a NICOA webinar on July 13.

Watch an introductory session covering our latest resource, “Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities.”

The toolkit is dedicated to increasing awareness and knowledge of the needs of Native persons living with disabilities. During our webinar you’ll hear directly from those who helped put this wonderful resource together.

OKMULGEE, Okla.- The Okmulgee Elder Indian Community held a fundraiser on May 26 at the Okmulgee Indian Community Center. They served Indian tacos to raise money for travel expenses for the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina.

NICOA board of directors member Lillian Thomas said, “They have workshops for different issues. Just things about health or finances, anything that will help assist the elders.”

The Chairman of the Elder’s Committee of the Elder Indian Community Esther Gee has been to approximately four conferences in the past. These conferences are held in different locations.

Through these conferences, they are able to make connections within the other tribes. They get to learn how other tribes live and practice their traditions. This creates bonds that make the attendees hopeful to see each other again year after year.

During their time at these different conferences they have toured other tribes’ government headquarters and have been able to get to know the different tribes that are within the state they reside in. The elders enjoy sightseeing and being able to get out of their own home.

Dr. Pamela Monaghan-Geerneart will be holding a focus group on Native elder care during NICOA's American Indian Elders Conference at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina.

You can join the focus group in person or schedule an interview via phone or Zoom. Come share your preferences and help your community!

Dr. Monaghan-Geernaert is an assistant professor at Northern State University. She teaches in the Native and Indigenous Minor program and the mandatory course on South Dakota Indians for teachers. She is advisor to the Native American Student Association, sits on the American Indian Advisory Board and is a reviewer for the Crazy Horse Memorial Scholarship. 

Email Dr. Monaghan-Geerneart at pamela.geernaert@northern.edu or call 505-470-0945 if you're interested in participating in the focus group.

Learn the amazing story behind the creation of NICOA — and the powerful role it plays in improving the lives of Native elders.

Dr. David Derose, host of American Indian & Alaska Native Living, interviews NICOA Executive Director Larry Curley in this episode.

If so, become an advocate and learn more about supporting Native elders! NICOA is the premier organization on Native aging, and we invite you to become a member. Anyone can become a member, regardless of their age or tribal affiliation (or lack thereof).

All elders are encouraged to join and have their voices heard. Be an important part of a national membership network and become a NICOA member by applying online or by mail. Memberships are for two calendar years.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced it will host a Listening Session for Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) on Friday, August 18, 2023 from 1-4 p.m. EST.

Treasury’s decision to hold the Listening Session comes after repeated formal requests from the Native CDFI Network and Native CDFIs from across the country for such a session to discuss critical issues impacting Native CDFIs, including CDFI Certification reform and proposed changes to the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program Financial Assistance and Technical Assistance applications.

In conjunction with the Listening Session, Treasury is accepting written comments, with a comment deadline of September 15, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Alaska time. Written comments can be submitted at

tribal.consult@treasury.gov.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is substantially updating the Older Americans Act for the first time since 1988 with a new proposed rule. These changes would include equity in service delivery, accountability for funds expended, and clarity of administration for ACL and its grantees.

Whether they know it or not, elders across the U.S. rely on critical programs and services funded by the OAA to help them live safely in their homes and communities as they age.

By the year 2030, more than one in five people in the U.S. will be age 65 or older. Increasing our investment in cost-effective OAA programs and services is a critical step in responding to the needs of our aging America.

To provide your input, you can submit comments through August 15, 2023, at https://www.regulations.gov.

Scammers and dishonest businesses can target people in unique ways, so it’s important to understand how communities are affected — and at times, differently affected — by consumer protection issues.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a report to Congress about consumer issues affecting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The report focuses on the agency’s recent efforts to identify frauds, scams, and bad business practices that impact Native communities. The report detailed the FTC’s enforcement, outreach, and education initiatives on these issues, as well as data analysis.

FTC data show that government impersonation and price, sweepstakes, and lottery scams were most frequently reported. The report also summarized conversations with members of Native communities about consumer issues. The report recommended expanding partnerships with these communities, tribal leaders, and advocates to inform the FTC’s efforts.

The Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision, which was put in place to ensure that those who qualified for Medicaid could maintain their coverage without interruption, is coming to a close. This means that many people who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs will need to take action to keep their coverage.

The end of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision will affect people who have been enrolled in Medicaid for an extended period, as well as those who have recently enrolled. Without the provision, people will need to reapply for Medicaid coverage, which can be a cumbersome and time-consuming process.

One of the biggest concerns is that people may lose their coverage if they fail to reapply on time. This could result in a gap in coverage, which can be detrimental to those who rely on Medicaid for critical healthcare services. As states unwind the continuous enrollment provision, it is estimated that 17 million people could lose Medicaid coverage – including some who are no longer eligible and others who are still eligible but face administrative barriers to renewal.

The Workforce Impact Network (WIN) project, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, is looking to expand and develop Registered Apprenticeships in the healthcare sector. Their goal is to work with business and industry leaders — with a focus on minority and vulnerable populations — to raise awareness for registered apprenticeships through outreach, informational sessions, and discussions with relevant stakeholders and industry professionals.

WIN is dedicated to helping employers, educators, and workforce and training experts grow by developing solutions. Registered Apprenticeship is a proven pathway to fulfilling careers in diverse industries. It offers a great opportunity to address the workforce needs of employers that result in a well-trained workforce specific to their business.