Last week, our Mescalero Tribal leadership—President Thora Walsh-Padilla, Vice President Duane Duffy, Councilman Robert Rice, Councilwoman Tanis Torres, and Councilman Carson Carrillo III—attended the 2026 Executive Council Winter Session (ECWS) in Washington D.C. This annual conference, organized by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), is crucial for establishing a unified advocacy agenda for Tribal Nations in the upcoming year.
Key Highlights:
-Strengthening Relationships: The session focused on enhancing the government-to-government relationship between Tribal Nations and the federal government, allowing our leaders to engage directly with members of Congress and the administration.
- Core Activities: Leaders participated in plenary sessions, policy discussions, and Task Force meetings, culminating in the adoption of resolutions that will guide NCAI’s lobbying efforts.
- State of Indian Nations: The event kicked off with the State of Indian Nations address by the NCAI President, outlining the legislative priorities for Indian Country.
- Empowering Youth: Our leaders also supported the Native Youth Leadership Summit, which trains Native youth (ages 14–24) in advocacy and policy-making.
- Targeted Discussions: Key issues discussed included Tribal sovereignty, economic development, public safety, and infrastructure.
During their visit, our leadership engaged in critical discussions with Senators John Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), as well as Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Emily Randell (D-WA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM). They addressed pressing concerns regarding:
- The CGTC licensed Sport Betting
- Targeting of Native Americans by ICE agents
- Protection of tribal interests and co-management of federal lands
- Public safety issues, including the Detention Center and crime data
We are proud of our leadership’s efforts to advocate for our community’s interests on such significant platforms. Let’s continue to support their work to strengthen our Tribe’s voice!
