Native American Rights Fund
NEWS
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NARF News: October 2019

Bristol Bay Tribes Sue Trump Administration

For years, the local people and tribes of Bristol Bay (Alaska) have
advocated for policies to manage their water ways and protect their
pristine ecosystem. Despite widespread local support and extensive
scientific research backing these policies, Trump's Environmental
Protection Agency recently decided to remove the bay's protections.
This reversal came after Governor Mike Dunleavy met briefly with the
president on Air Force One, and told reporters that he was convinced
that the president was "doing everything he can to work with us
on our mining concerns."

The decision to change course was political, arbitrary, capricious,
and absolutely illegal. The Bristol Bay Defense Alliance,
consisting of (NARF's client) United Tribes of Bristol Bay, Bristol
Bay Native Association, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development
Association, Bristol Bay Reserve Association and Bristol Bay
Economic Development Corporation, are taking legal action on behalf
of the local people who rely on the Bristol Bay fishery and all it
sustains. The suit, filed on October 8, is based on the fact that the agency changed its position without
good reason or explanation, which are required by law.

Learn more at our website.
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Montana Residents Beware Deceptive Solicitation

On October 17, NARF and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
Under Law sent a letter to the Republican National Committee
demanding that it stop its practice of sending misleading and
deceptive mailers to voters in Bozeman, Montana. The letters feature
words such as "Census" and simultaneously seek
solicitations for the Republican Party. Officials in Montana have
declared the mailers deceptive and warned about responding to the
"imitation census survey." [link removed]

"The Census is critically important for Indian Country. The
political power of Native Americans and Alaska Natives is directly
tied to the population data derived from the Census, because more
accurate numbers translate into more representative districts.
Indian Country also relies on the dollars distributed based on the
Census for things like health care and education. That is why we are
disturbed by this blatant misinformation in these mailers-it
confuses voters and damages the entire Census process," said
NARF Staff Attorney Natalie Landreth.

An Update on Bears Ears National Monument

On September 30, 2019, US District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan
rightfully denied the Trump Administration's attempt to dismiss
the Bears Ears National Monument case. The case was brought when
President Trump unlawfully tried to reduce the Bears Ears National
Monument, an area of utmost importance to the region's tribal
nations.

With this decision, the plaintiffs-including NARF's
clients, the Hopi Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Zuni
Pueblo-can move forward to protect our lands and stop the
President's illegal attempt to open our federally protected
national treasures to exploitation by big business. Nowhere has
Congress given the President authority to diminish existing
monuments.

Get more information on the case at our website.
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Native American Rights Fund
[email protected]
Anchorage 907-276-0680
Boulder 303-447-8760
Washington 202-785-4166

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