Native American Rights Fund

Sacred places are vital to Native culture, health, and spirituality. This #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, we’re highlighting NARF’s work to protect these spaces. As NARF Staff Attorney Brett Lee Shelton says, “Sacred place protection needs rethinking in courts.” https://lnkd.in/geE5iRP9

The Indigenous Diplomacy Breakout Session at the Annual NCAI Convention this year was a success! #NCAI81 Seven panelists discussed opportunities for Tribal engagement globally and recent successes including the new UN Treaty on Genetic Resources. TIP unveiled a new publication, The Indigenous Peoples’ Guide to the United Nations, and provided copies to all attendees. Thank you to our co-hosts, panelists, and attendees for a valuable conversation. To learn more about the outcomes of the session, please visit The Implementation Project Website. https://lnkd.in/gPRjgfSW

Congratulations to NARF Deputy Director Matthew Campbell! A proud Fort Lewis College alum, Matthew is this year’s recipient of the Community Leadership Award! From co-founding the Native American Voting Rights Coalition to championing cultural preservation and environmental justice, Matt’s dedication to Tribal Nations inspires us all: https://lnkd.in/gEbfGpKc #FLCAlumni #CommunityLeadership #NativeAdvocacy

“Eradicating sacred places where religious practices take place should be a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act for any religious group.” - NARF Executive Director John Echohawk. Learn more about how we’re helping to save Apache sacred places #SaveOakFlat: https://lnkd.in/gtNbmMFz #SaveOakFlat #SacredPlaces

Last week, the 2024 Fall Board of Directors meeting and dinner was held in Boulder, Colorado. It was great to connect with colleagues, catch up with familiar faces, and plan for the important work ahead. NARF is grateful for this dedicated team and the opportunity to gather and collaborate.

ICYMI: The Indigenous Peoples’ Guide to the United Nations is an essential resource that helps Tribal leaders, lawyers, and community members navigate the UN system and international advocacy to protect Indigenous rights. Available now at: https://lnkd.in/g6sPxDh7.

Be careful before you share online information! A national media group recently conducted an election exit poll. Unfortunately, the data being shared is likely an inaccurate representation of our Native communities and perspectives. Small sample sizes, a lack of representation of people who live on reservations, and self-identification are just a few of the problems when collecting Indian Country data. One exit poll of 229 self-identified Native voters doesn’t tell the whole story of the 2024 election.

TODAY!!: Join UACW, NARF, and NIHB for a powerful webinar designed for Tribal leaders, water system administrators, consultants, and policymakers! Learn about key efforts to ensure clean water access in Tribal communities, explore recent water settlements, and discover resources like NIHB’s Tribal Environmental Justice Center and UACW’s new handbook on water funding. Register now: bit.ly/tribal-clean-water

Happy Veterans Day. We celebrate and thank American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian military veterans and their families who selflessly serve and give so much to our country.

Earlier this year, National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) presented a resolution at the National Congress of American Indians Mid Year Convention to protect the Indian Child Welfare Act and increase tribal child welfare capacity for future generations through the ICWA 2050 campaign. Read about the campaign and follow along on the Protect ICWA channel: bit.ly/ICWA2050 #ICWA2050 #ProtectICWA