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The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a non-profit
501c(3) organization that provides legal representation and
technical assistance to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide
- a constituency that often lacks access to the justice system.
NARF focuses on applying existing laws and treaties to guarantee that national
and state governments live up to their legal obligations.
The staff of NARF, many of whom are Native American,
use their understanding of Indian legal issues to assist tribes
in negotiating with individuals, companies and governmental
agencies. With credibility built over thirty-five years, NARF
has become a respected consultant to policy makers and others
engaged in drafting legislation. As a consensus builder, NARF
works with religious, civil rights, and other Native American
organizations to shape the laws that will help assure the civil
and religious rights of all Native Americans. This emphasis
helps tribes in all fifty states to develop strong self-governance,
sound economic development, prudent natural resources management
and positive social development.
Over the past three decades Indian law has dramatically changed. It has
become a recognized specialty with a well documented body of statues and case law. In the
1970's and the early 1980's, courts were generally receptive to Indian rights cases.
However, since the mid to late 1980's, an increasingly conservative federal bench has
made Indian rights cases more difficult to win. Combined with the huge cost of litigation
- in time and in money - this means NARF and its Indian clients are always attuned to
opportunities for negotiation, consensus, and settlement.
The Native American Rights Fund is headquartered in
Boulder, Colorado with branch offices in Washington, D.C. and Anchorage,
Alaska.
NARF is governed by a volunteer board of directors composed
of thirteen Native Americans from different tribes throughout the country with a variety
of expertises in Indian matters. A staff of fifteen attorneys handles about fifty major
cases at any given time, with most of the cases taking several years to resolve.
Cases are accepted on the basis of their breadth and potential importance in
setting precedents and establishing important principles of Indian law.
How NARF Has Helped
Throughout its history, NARF has impacted tens of thousands
of Indian people in its work for more than 250 tribes. Some examples of the
results include
- Protecting and establishing the inherent sovereignty of tribes
- Obtaining official tribal recognition for numerous Indian tribes
- Helping tribes continue their ancient traditions, by protecting
their rights to hunt, fish and use the water on their lands
- Helping to uphold Native American religious freedom
- Assuring the return of remains and burial goods from museums
and historical societies for proper and dignified re-burial
- Protecting voting rights of Native Americans
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As part of the war on poverty
during the 1960s, government
funded programs
were established to provide
legal services to poor and
disadvantaged people. Many
of these programs were located on or
near Indian reservations. >>
Early in our existence, the Board of Directors determined that legal
resources should be concentrated in the five areas outlined in our
mission statement. >>
Our work depends
solely upon the generosity
of donors like you. Make a
secure online donation today. >>
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