Native American Rights Fund
NEWS
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March 2020

Protecting Native Voters in Montana
 
This month, the Native American Rights Fund, American Civil Liberties
Union, and ACLU of Montana challenged a Montana law that severely
restricts Native Americans' access to the ballot. The lawsuit
was brought on behalf of the Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes of Fort
Peck, Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the
Flathead Reservation, Crow Tribe, and Fort Belknap Indian Community as
well as Western Native Voice and Montana Native Vote, Native
American-led organizations focused on getting out the vote and
increasing civic participation in Native American communities. They
are challenging the so-called Montana Ballot Interference Prevention
ACT (BIPA).The complaint charges BIPA with violating the voting and
due process rights of individuals living on reservations, as well as the free speech and
association rights of organizers engaged in ballot collection on
reservations. Learn more about the case at our website at
[link removed]

Want to Know More About What You Made Happen?

The 2019 NARF Annual Report is now available online. At any given
time, NARF's attorneys are working on fifty or more cases and
projects. The annual report is a great way to learn about the wide breadth
of those actions, which only happen with the support of our friends like you. Some
highlights from the last year include work to assert the Nez Perce
Tribe's water rights claims, the Little Shell Tribe obtaining federal
recognition, defending Native children and families through the Indian
Child Welfare Act, and enforcing tribal consultation requirements for
5G wireless development projects. The report also showcases
one-of-a-kind, high-end fashion pieces hand-executed by Jamie Okuma
(Luiseño, Shoshone-Bannock), which means that it is beautiful
to look at as well as informative. Get the report at
[link removed]

50th Anniversary Gala Postponed

From NARF Executive Director John Echohawk:
"After numerous discussions with the Gaylord Rockies Resort, we
regretfully have decided that we must POSTPONE our 50th Anniversary
Dinner Gala that was scheduled for May 8, 2020.  The decision to
postpone the gala was a difficult one....

Currently, we are in discussions to secure a new date for this
extraordinary event. Once this situation is behind us, we hope that
you will join us for our new date. Until then, I wish you well. Please
know our prayers are with you and yours during this difficult time."

Read the full letter at [link removed]

 


Native American Rights Fund
[email protected]
Anchorage 907-276-0680
Boulder 303-447-8760
Washington 202-785-4166

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