For more than a decade, Mark Macarro has led the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians as the tribal chairman. Since 2002, Mark Macarro has worked to maintain the culture of the Pechanga people while at the same time establishing and strengthening their economic and political standing. Aside from his responsibilities as tribal chairman, Mr. Macarro serves as cofounder of the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival and a board member of the National Indian Gaming Association. He is also a former alternate area vice president of the Pacific region for the National Congress of American Indians, a position he held from 2007 to 2009.

1. National Congress of American
Indians Celebrates Its 70th
Anniversary
By Mark Macarro

2. Introduction
 For more than a decade, Mark Macarro has
led the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians as
the tribal chairman. Since 2002, Mark
Macarro has worked to maintain the culture
of the Pechanga people while at the same
time establishing and strengthening their
economic and political standing. Aside from
his responsibilities as tribal chairman, Mr.
Macarro serves as cofounder of the
Advocates for Indigenous California
Language Survival and a board member of
the National Indian Gaming Association. He
is also a former alternate area vice president
of the Pacific region for the National
Congress of American Indians, a position he
held from 2007 to 2009.

3. About the National Congress of
American Indians
 Founded in 1944 in Denver, the National
Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is
kicking off its 70th anniversary
celebration at its Annual Convention and
Marketplace, which is scheduled to take
place October 13-18, 2013, at the Cox
Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The convention is the first of a series of
events scheduled to commemorate the
NCAI’s 70th year. The convention will
feature plenary sessions, caucus
meetings, a gala banquet, and the
NCAI’s annual golf tournament.

4. Conclusion
 For the past 70 years, the NCAI has
maintained a commitment to uniting
tribal people and governments in order
to preserve their sovereign rights and
to improve their quality of life. The
organization also seeks to provide the
appropriate services and programs to
the American Indian people and to
educate the general public regarding
American Indian culture, religion, and
way of life.