Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a nonprofit legal organization established in 1970 to advocate for the rights of federally recognized tribes in the United States. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with additional offices in Washington, D.C., and Anchorage, Alaska, NARF primarily serves tribal governments that may lack the financial resources to engage in litigation. Staffed mainly by Native American attorneys, the organization aims to preserve tribal sovereignty and cultural integrity while promoting human rights and equitable treatment for Indigenous peoples.
NARF's work includes litigation to safeguard tribal land and water rights, assist in the repatriation of ancestral remains, and help non-federally recognized tribes pursue official recognition. Notable cases, such as the successful land rights claim by the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes against Maine, have brought national attention to their efforts. The organization also provides legal resources through initiatives like the Indian Law Support Center and the National Indian Law Library, which houses extensive tribal legal documentation. While NARF has garnered respect for its advocacy, it has faced criticism regarding its reliance on federal funding and its approach to tribal sovereignty, suggesting a complex landscape of Indigenous legal advocacy and the challenges faced within the broader legal system.
Native American Rights Fund
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) is a nonprofit, public-interest legal organization that was founded in 1970. It was established to represent tribal clients in litigation in state and federal courts and to strengthen tribal governments. Operations are supported by federal funds as well as by private and corporate contributions. Its attorneys are mostly Native Americans; the group’s headquarters is in Boulder, Colorado, with satellite offices in Washington, DC, and Anchorage, Alaska. One of the organization’s primary activities is to handle cases involving “federally recognized tribes” that cannot afford the full financial burden of litigation in US courts. The organization is led by a board of directors composed of thirteen volunteer Native Americans from various tribes, while the staff of sixteen attorneys handles more than fifty cases at any given time. NARF also acts as a consultant in the drafting of federal Indian policy.
NARF’s objectives include preservation of tribal existence and independence, protection of tribal resources, promotion of human rights such as education and the equitable treatment of Indian prisoners, and development of Indian law to improve tribal legal resources. The Indian Law Support Center and the Carnegie-sponsored National Indian Law Library are components of NARF, working in conjunction with its Legal Services Corporation. The law library houses a collection of more than six hundred tribal codes.
The Native American Rights Fund has taken on a number of well-known cases involving tribal land and water interests. The group gained national notice and respect for its handling of the 1982 land rights case brought by the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy against the state of Maine. The tribes were awarded $27,000 plus the money to purchase 300,000 acres of land. (An important footnote is that, although the case was regarded as a success story, the money did not go very far for some recipients. In addition, many such cases, even when legally successful, become bogged down by governmental bureaucracy.) NARF has been involved in litigation to strengthen aspects of the 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act dealing with the repatriation of ancestral bones and archaeological artifacts. NARF also assists non-federally recognized tribes in attempts to gain official tribal recognition, which may involve the restoration of at least some tribal homelands. It has litigated successfully for the Menominee of Wisconsin and the Siletz of Oregon.
NARF has not been without its critics. Some have argued that, because the organization is not self-sufficient and must rely on federal funding, it cannot truly be an effective advocacy group. From this perspective it may appear to be an extension of the federal system. Another criticism leveled against the group is that it has never attempted to challenge the European American legal paradigm by insisting on complete internal sovereignty for a client; rather, its negotiations seek negotiation, consensus, and settlement.
Bibliography
"About Us." Native American Rights Fund. NARF, n.d. Web. 13 May. 2015.
Brewer, Suzette. "Native American Rights Fund: Stop the Forced Removal of Baby Veronica." Indian Country Today Media Network.com. Indian Country Today Media Network, 19 Jul. 2013. Web. 13 May. 2015.
"Native American Rights." Indians.org. Indians.org, 2015. Web. 13 May. 2015.
Native American Rights Fund." Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. U of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2011. Web. 13 May. 2015.
Native American Rights Fund. Native American Rights Fund: 25 Years of Justice. Boulder: NARF, 1995. Print.