The NARF 2023 Annual Report is now available!
The annual report is an opportunity to see how your donations are paying off as an investment in justice. The report covers projects and case development from the past year and is organized by NARF’s five guiding principles:
1. Preserve tribal existence
2. Protect tribal natural resources
3. Promote Native American human rights
4. Hold governments accountable to Native Americans
5. Develop Indian law and educate the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues
In addition to NARF’s work, this year’s report features an inside look on cultural markings and tattooing. Traditional tattoo artists Quannah Chasinghorse (Sicangu/Oglala Lakota and Han Gwich’in) along with her mother Jody Potts-Joseph (Han Gwich’in), as well as Sulu’ape Keone Nunes (Native Hawaiian). We hope you can take a moment and check out the report!
From the Report: Executive Director’s Report
2023 was the 53rd year that the Native American Rights Fund has served as the national Indian legal defense fund providing legal advice and assistance to Tribes, Native organizations and individuals in cases of major significance across the country. Once again, we were proud to be able to help our Native American clients achieve several significant legal victories and accomplishments during the year.
The U.S. Supreme Court in Brackeen v. Haaland upheld the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act passed by Congress in 1978 to address the mass removal of Indian children from their families, communities, and Tribes. The authority of Congress to pass the Act was challenged by a small coalition of anti-tribal interests.
In Alaska, the Environmental Protection Agency denied a permit for the proposed Pebble Mine at the headwaters of the largest salmon-producing river in Bristol Bay that many Tribes in the area depend on for sustainable salmon runs. On the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain, many Tribes who depend on the Porcupine Caribou Herd for subsistence were threatened by oil and gas development, but the Department of the Interior announced the cancellation of all remaining oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge.
We continue to represent the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) at the international level through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. At the recent Conference of the Parties 28, we participated in the Indigenous Caucus preventing the approval of the Article 6.4 market approach where projects threatening Indigenous rights are approved.
After President Biden restored the Bears Ears National Monument, the State of Utah filed suit against him alleging he abused his authority under the Antiquities Act. We intervened in the case on behalf of the Hopi, Zuni and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes and helped get the case dismissed.
After several years of effort, we were able to help the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative acquire 605 acres of land in Texas for use of peyote for religious and ceremonial purposes. We have represented the National 3 Council of Native American Churches and the Native American Church of North America for four decades.
The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, the Spirit Lake Nation and Native voters successfully challenged North Dakota’s legislative redistricting plan on the basis that it diluted the Native American vote in violation of the Voting Rights Act. A remedial redistricting map has been implemented for the 2024 elections in North Dakota.
The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation and individual Native voters intervened in a lawsuit by two individuals seeking to eliminate the majority-Native state legislative district encompassing the MHA Nation. The constitutional challenge to this district was dismissed.
The Tohono O’odham, Gila River Indian Community and future Native voters successfully filed a lawsuit that challenged an Arizona law requiring documentary proof of residency to vote. The law had been passed despite the known lack of addressing on homes on tribal lands in Arizona. The court held that the proof of address requirement is preempted under the National Voter Registration Act and that no one is required to have a street address to register in any election.
In Nebraska, the Winnebago and Omaha Tribes successfully challenged the Thurston County Board of Supervisors’ redistricting plan that disregarded Native voters, who comprise a majority of the county, by only providing effective Native voter majorities for three of the seven supervisor districts. Under the Voting Rights Act and the U. S. Constitution, a favorable consent decree provided for four majority-Native voter districts.
A settlement agreement in 2015 between some Alaska Native Villages and the State of Alaska required a comprehensive language assistance program to enforce the statutory guarantee of language assistance under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. Unfortunately, Alaska has never meaningfully complied with the settlement, so the Villages requested an extension of the settlement agreement and it was extended to 2026.
The Organization of American States (OAS) approved the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2016. We have been representing NCAI and calling for the OAS to fully carry out its plan to implement the American Declaration. The OAS General Assembly recently approved a resolution to create a body to monitor the implementation of the American Declaration.
We have been representing the Turtle Mountain Chippewa, Chippewa Cree, White Earth Band of Minnesota Chippewa and the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe for many years in their case against the federal government for misaccounting and mismanagement of their tribal trust fund, the Pembina Judgment Fund. A settlement of $59 million was finally reached and distributions commenced to the four Tribes and more than 30,000 eligible individuals.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and Spirit Lake Nation succeeded in bringing the remains of two of their children back to their tribal homelands from the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery in Pennsylvania with our assistance. This was accomplished pursuant to a first-of-its-kind, written and signed agreement with the Army, which was negotiated between the Tribes and the Army in arms-length, government-to-government negotiations.
These legal victories and accomplishments would not have been possible without the contributions and grants from the many supporters of our nonprofit organization. We thank you for your support and hope that your support will continue in 2024 and beyond so we can continue to pursue justice for Native Americans.
John E. Echohawk
Executive Director
