On May 20, 2020, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and Four Directions, a non-profit group that works to encourage civic participation in Indian Country, notified South Dakota officials of serious and ongoing violations of federal requirements for providing voter registration opportunities through public assistance agencies and departments of motor vehicles. “When you go to a state office, such as to get your driver’s license or to apply for public assistance, you are supposed to be able to register to vote at the same time. The state is supposed to facilitate voter registration, but that is not what is happening in South Dakota. Reservation residents in particular are not being given this opportunity, and it is driving down voter participation,” said NARF Staff Attorney Natalie Landreth. Learn more about these serious violations and what tribes are doing to protect Native voters→

Bay Mills Indian Community filed a Petition to Intervene to participate as a party in the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project proceedings before the Michigan Public Service Commission. The proposed tunnel would encapsulate oil giant Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, purportedly to prevent another oil spill. Enbridge was responsible for the largest inland oil spill in 2010 in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River, which resulted in nearly 1 million gallons of oil being released into Michigan’s waterways. NARF Staff Attorney David Gover explains, "Over the years, the tribe has consistently fought to protect their fishing and hunting rights. Today’s filing continues that fight. The Native American Rights Fund is proud to stand with the Nation to ensure that the Bay Mills Community’s fishing lifeways and tribal homelands are adequately protected for generations to come.” Find out more about how the Bay Mills Indian Community is safeguarding its homelands →

Legal Review Highlights Success in North Dakota

Earlier this month, we released the Winter/Spring 2020 Legal Review. The NARF Legal Review is a semi-annual publication that provides updates on NARF’s cases and information on other timely Indian law topics. This most recent edition highlights some good news with a successful ending to the long-standing fight for Native voting rights in North Dakota. Get the latest Legal Review and read about this and other recent case updates→

NARF Mourns Loss of Two Recent Board Members

NARF staff and board are saddened by the passing of two recent Board members and long-time advocates for Indian Country.  Kurt Bluedog, a member of the Sisseton-Wapehton Sioux Tribe, and Peter M. Pino, from the Pueblo of Zia, were beloved patriarchs to their respective families and long-time friends of NARF. The entire NARF family sends its prayers and condolences to the families and communities of Kurt Bluedog and Peter M. Pino. We are grateful for their example and their friendship, and we hope that their legacy will continue to live on in our organization and our continuing service to Indian Country. We do not doubt that they will continue to watch over and guide their families, communities, and NARF. Rest in power.