Native American Rights Fund

Tribal streams, wetlands, and treaty-protected resources face new uncertainty under a draft WOTUS definition. Join us and NCAI for a Dec. 9 webinar to get the knowledge needed to submit effective, legally sound comments before the Jan 5. deadline. Register today: buff.ly/Du0t1G9

#WaterSovereignty

About Tribal Nations, Tribal Citizens, and the United States - Native American Rights Fund Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with inherent authority over their lands and citizens. This is a political status that predates the establishment of the United States and continues to be…

Long before the United States existed, Tribal Nations governed their lands and peoples. Tribal government-to-government relationships with the U.S.require the federal government to ensure Tribal sovereignty is respected and that the United States fulfills its treaty obligations.

The newest edition of NARF’s Legal Review is out now—featuring case updates, water rights work, voting rights litigation, and major Supreme Court developments. Read now: buff.ly/4EdhB16

After #GivingTuesday, we just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who supports NARF’s mission. Your generosity helps protect Tribal sovereignty, homelands and the rights of Tribal citizens every day. We couldn’t do this without you! #ThankYouWednesday #GiveNative

#DYK only 0.25% of #philanthropic funding by large foundations goes to #NativeledNonprofits? Your support makes an impact on #NativeLed orgs. This #GivingTuesday, will you uplift our work by sharing our stories or making a donation? #GiveNative #GiveNow

buff.ly/P7rtePu

The Klamath Tribes are challenging illegal orders stemming from a backroom agreement that removed a long-time administrative law judge in the Klamath Basin Adjudication—without notifying the parties. Tribal water rights deserve transparency, fairness, and due process. Read now: buff.ly/9jjipLm

Tribes’ never-ending battle to protect subsistence fishing in Alaska - Native American Rights Fund The importance of fish to so many Alaskans has led to persistent conflicts about who manages fishing on which waterways. For many Tribal Nations in Alaska, no issue matters more than subsistence…

For decades, Katie John fought to protect her right to fish for her family and community. Today, the State of Alaska is once again trying to undo the protections her case established. As salmon populations collapse, protecting rural subsistence fishing is more urgent than ever.

The fight for democracy is bigger than any one organization. At Democracy Summit (co-sponsored with us by Brennan Center and ASU), Native voting advocates came together to confront the attacks on the Voting Rights Act and the ongoing barriers facing Native voters. Watch now.

Honoring Ancestral Sites: A Guide to Right Relations, Care, and Return - Native American Rights Fund In our longstanding work supporting Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, NARF has been committed to helping foster respectful, just, and sovereign relationships around sacred places, ancestral…

NARF and Land Justice Futures are proud to share Sacred Grounds: A Right Relations Guidebook, a practical and ethical resource for anyone who may steward Native burials, cultural items, or sacred sites. Right relations begin with respect, accountability, and listening. Read more:

It was wonderful to gather for NARF’s recent Board meeting and spend time with so many dedicated leaders. We’re grateful for the guidance, commitment, and vision our Board brings to this work. A heartfelt thank you to those whose terms have come to an end — we deeply appreciate your service.

We are thankful for you. Your support of the Native American Rights Fund makes this work possible. You are helping create lasting change for generations to come. Thank you for traveling this path with us.

It was wonderful to gather for NARF’s recent Board meeting and spend time with so many dedicated leaders. We’re grateful for the guidance, commitment, and vision our Board brings to this work. A heartfelt thank you to those whose terms have come to an end — we deeply appreciate your service.

About Tribal Nations, Tribal Citizens, and the United States - Native American Rights Fund Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with inherent authority over their lands and citizens. This is a political status that predates the establishment of the United States and continues to be…

Tribal sovereignty isn’t symbolic—it’s a legally recognized political relationship grounded in treaties, federal law, and the U.S. Constitution. Yet these rights are too often ignored or violated. Learn why understanding Tribal sovereignty matters and how NARF works to uphold it: buff.ly/Stf0hje

DYK the National Indian Law Library (NILL) at the Native American Rights Fund is the only law library in the country dedicated exclusively to federal Indian and Tribal law?
For more than 50 years, NILL has provided free access to legal resources that strengthen Tribal sovereignty: narf.org/nill

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Supreme Court, the Voting Rights Act, and the 2026 Elections. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Ellen Katz, University of Michigan Samantha Blencke, Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Deuel Ross, Legal Defense Fund Moderated by Rick Hasen, UCLA School of Law UCLA School of Law is a State Bar of...

TOMORROW: Join us for “The Supreme Court, the Voting Rights Act, and the 2026 Elections.” A timely conversation on how recent court decisions could shape Native voting rights in the years ahead. This webinar will feature NARF Staff Attorney Samantha Blencke speaking on the panel:

If you’ll be at the #NCAIAnnual, please join us for Rising Waters: Celebrating and Honoring Our Connection to Water, hosted by NARF and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians. Let’s honor our shared responsibility to protect and celebrate water. #NCAI #ATNI #RisingWaters

About: Tribal Nations, Tribal Citizens, and the United States - Native American Rights Fund Tribal Nations are sovereign governments with inherent authority over their lands and citizens. This is a political status that predates the establishment of the United States and continues to be…

Tribal Nations are sovereign govt's with inherent authority over their lands and citizens—a political status that predates the U.S. and continues to be recognized today. Understanding Tribal sovereignty, citizenship, and the U.S. trust responsibility is essential to justice:

Tribal Water Issues in Oklahoma - Native American Rights Fund Tribal Nations in Oklahoma face many water quality and quantity issues. Not only is the state coming off a five-year drought, but flooding is also frequent. Surface water quality is poor because of…

Tribal Nations in Oklahoma face many water quality and quantity issues. Not only is the state coming off a five-year drought, but flooding is also frequent. Surface water quality is poor because of agricultural runoff and algal blooms. Read more:

Today we honor all who have served—and recognize the extraordinary contributions of Native veterans. Native peoples have served in the U.S. Armed Forces at higher rates per capita than any other group, carrying forward generations of courage, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting their homelands.

The remains and stories of Native American students are being reclaimed from a Pennsylvania cemetery The latest round of exhumations of Native American students from a cemetery at the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania resulted in the remains of 17 students being repatriated to…

Seventeen Native children taken to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in the late 1800s have finally returned home. Read about this important step toward truth, justice, and healing after the devastating legacy of the federal boarding school era: buff.ly/N1zhl15

#BoardingSchoolHealing

Last week, NARF’s Tribal Water Institute was honored to host Protecting Tribal Waters, a symposium that brought together Tribal leaders, advocates, and legal experts to discuss the impacts of recent court decisions and ongoing efforts to protect clean water and Tribal sovereignty. #CleanWaterAct

Tribal Water Issues in Oklahoma - Native American Rights Fund Tribal Nations in Oklahoma face many water quality and quantity issues. Not only is the state coming off a five-year drought, but flooding is also frequent. Surface water quality is poor because of…

Oklahoma’s Tribal Nations are standing up for their right to protect the waters that sustain their people, lands, and ways of life. As the state tries to limit Tribal authority, communities face droughts, floods, and contamination: challenges that threaten sovereignty and survival:

How can Tribal Nations assert sovereignty and ensure development aligns with their values? The Implementation Project, a partnership between NARF and CU Boulder, created a new Tribal guide to applying Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in conservation and development: buff.ly/EWrqTaF

November is Native American Heritage Month! Take time to learn about the histories, rights, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples. Get the latest news on the fight for Native rights at buff.ly/D4SU86y

We celebrate the deep roots, resilience, and self-determination of Tribal Nations.

NARF Featured in Clean Water Video Series - Native American Rights Fund We’re thrilled to share that NARF Staff Attorney Daniel Cordalis, who leads our Tribal Water Institute, has just been featured in the newly launched Liquid I.V. x NowThis video series. The series…

ICYMI: The Liquid I.V. x NowThis series highlights leaders and organizations working to expand clean water access – and we’re honored to be part of it. Our episode showcases the heart of our water work and the impact we’re striving to make every day. Watch now:

Election Day is almost here!
If you experience any issues while voting, from registration questions to polling place problems, help is just a call away.
📞 Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)

Save this number in your phone so you’re prepared and protected at the polls.

Tribal Nations in Oklahoma are confronting drought, flooding, and contamination — all while the state continues to block their authority to protect water on their own lands.
Water is not only a resource; it’s a matter of sovereignty, health, and survival.
Read more: buff.ly/nNOOcMF

It’s #VoteEarlyDay! Native voices are powerful—and every early ballot strengthens our say in the future of our Tribal Nations and communities. 🗳️
✅ Visit voteearlyday.org to find when and where you can vote
✅ Cast your ballot early
✅ Celebrate your voice in action!

Five Tribal Nations have announced the formation of the new Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission: a historic step in ensuring that the management of these ancestral homelands reflects Indigenous leadership, values, and stewardship.

🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/2xtBIAf

On this #UnitedNationsDay, we invite you to check out our new resource! The Implementation Project, a partnership between NARF and CU Boulder, just released The Tribal Guide to Implementing FPIC in the Context of Conservation and Development.
Read the guide here: buff.ly/8jMT3St