Law students: Ready to put your skills to work defending Tribal sovereignty and Native rights? NARF is now accepting applications for our externship and volunteer law clerk program! Apply by 10/15 to join the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit law firm advancing Indian law: buff.ly/snt7Kd4

The Michigan Supreme Court will hear Tribal Nations’ challenge to Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. Bay Mills Indian Community and allies argue the project threatens treaty rights, clean water, and the Great Lakes. Read: buff.ly/bSI9aGh

On Sept. 10, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska urged the Fourth Circuit to enforce NAGPRA and bring home the remains of Samuel Gilbert and Edward Hensley, two Winnebago children taken to Carlisle Indian Industrial School more than 125 years ago. The Tribe continues its fight: buff.ly/4mUKnBE

Alaska holds over 40% of the nation’s surface water, yet Tribal water rights here look very different from the Lower 48. With so much unappropriated water, the state has a unique opportunity to protect Tribal resources, salmon habitat, and future generations: buff.ly/05OrnAf

A new bill in the U.S. House seeks to abolish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The monument honors Tribal Nations, protects sacred lands, and reflects the will of the people: thttps://buff.ly/yTVYymT

Line 5 threatens Tribal homelands, water, and treaty rights. NARF stands in solidarity with the Bad River Band and allies challenging Wisconsin’s approval of Enbridge’s proposed reroute: a project that would cut through wetlands, streams, and cultural resources. Read more: buff.ly/AwOKgZh

Update: A win for Tribal Nations! The Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded Pakootas v. Teck Cominco, affirming that damages for lost use of natural resources—including cultural impacts—are recoverable damages. Learn more:

Native organizations are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the religious rights of incarcerated people in Landor v. Louisiana DOC. Forced haircuts violate Native identity, culture, and religious freedom. Read more: buff.ly/waAr6eB #NativeRights #ReligiousFreedom

We’re excited to be a #NationalVoterRegistrationDay Premier Partner this year! 🎉 On 9/16, communities across the country will come together to get #VoteReady for 2025. Join us in making sure every eligible voter has a voice: bit.ly/NVRDPartner25

Law students: Apply now to join NARF’s school year programs! Gain hands-on experience in Indian law, work for pay, credit, or as a volunteer, and make a real impact for Native communities. Positions available in Colorado, DC, and Alaska. #LawStudents #IndianLaw Learn more: buff.ly/8awkxGw

Forced haircuts have long been used as a tool of assimilation against Native people. Today, prison officials are still using them to strip incarcerated Native people of their identity and religious freedom. That must end. Read more: buff.ly/aii1l1b

NARF is defending Tribal court jurisdiction, Tribal sovereignty, and the rights of Native families in the Eighth Circuit. Read more: buff.ly/1wtoEgT #TribalSovereignty #NativeRights #IndianLaw #EighthCircuit

The fight for fair maps is now at the Supreme Court. Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and Native voters are challenging North Dakota’s discriminatory maps—and an Eighth Circuit ruling that stripped voters of the power to enforce their rights:

Join The Implementation Project and esteemed speakers, Judge Greg Bigler and Fmr. President Walter Echo-Hawk, on 9/16 from 12:00 to 1:30pm (MT) for the next TIP Quarterly Meeting, focusing on Tribal consultation and consent laws and educating the next generation of lawyers: buff.ly/ZEZsrd2

As water scarcity grows across the West, Tribal Nations must be able to protect their resources and rights—not just on-reservation, but against off-reservation threats as well. A new article explores how Tribal sovereignty and jurisdiction can be exercised: buff.ly/KsXWXZ2

On August 22, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s summary judgment in favor of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation in their challenge to a land exchange authorized by the Bureau of Land Management. Read more: buff.ly/DCucD31

Native voices matter in democracy. Join NARF, Brennan Center, and ASU’s Indian Legal Clinic on Oct. 3 for the Democracy Reform Summit—a day of solutions to expand Native political representation and protect voting rights: buff.ly/3eFo3s2

HAPPENING NOW: Native American voters are taking their fight for representation to the Supreme Court. Spirit Lake Nation, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and Native voters are challenging North Dakota’s unfair voting maps and defending the Voting Rights Act: buff.ly/YF5fBGt #NativeVote

Tribal courts have long held jurisdiction over family matters involving Tribal citizens—especially when Tribal children and resources are at stake. Yet in a case out of Prairie Island, that authority is under attack. Learn more:

Tribal Nations led the effort to establish Chuckwalla National Monument, safeguarding ancestral lands, cultural heritage, and sacred sites. Now, they’ve filed to intervene in a federal case threatening the monument—standing up to ensure their voices are heard:

As water scarcity deepens across the West, Tribal Nations must be able to protect their water rights—not only against threats on Tribal lands, but also from off-reservation users and polluters. Read this article by NARF Staff Attorney Wesley James Furlong and Lori E. Blumenthal: buff.ly/26qpv8Q

VICTORY: The 9th Circuit has rejected the State of Alaska’s attack on subsistence fishing rights and affirmed the Katie John line of cases. The Court’s decision in US v. AK is a victory honoring her legacy, and as stated, “the precedent that bears her name lives on.” buff.ly/DTJOpo3

The proposed Line 5 tunnel threatens Tribal treaty rights, Great Lakes wildlife, and clean water for millions. Until August 29, you can tell Michigan regulators why this risky project should not move forward. Submit your comment today:

Recently, The U.S. Supreme Court has kept fair maps in place for North Dakota, protecting hard-won representation for Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Spirit Lake Nation, and Native voters statewide. Learn about this case:

Tribal Nations fought for years to protect Chuckwalla National Monument—now, they’re stepping up to defend it in court. This sacred landscape holds ancestral stories, cultural heritage, and generations of stewardship. We are proud to stand with the Tribal Nations:

NARF Board Member and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Chair Jamie Azure is featured in NPR’s coverage of the latest challenges to the Voting Rights Act. As Tribal Nations fight for the right to enforce Section 2 protections:

Significant fed developments this summer are shaping the future of Tribal water rights and environmental protections. The Tribal Water Institute’s Field Notes provides updates on legislation, the Interior Department’s reversal on Klamath River rights, critical staffing reductions:

BREAKING: Chouteau County (MT) has shut Native voters out of local government for more than a decade. The Chippewa Cree Tribe and Native voters are taking the county to court to demand fair districts and equal representation. Read more: buff.ly/wpg6IU5

Significant federal developments this summer are shaping the future of Tribal water rights and environmental protections. The August 2025 Tribal Water Institute’s Field Notes provides updates on legislation, the DOIs reversal on Klamath River rights, critical staffing reductions: buff.ly/v1KIePU

Join NARF to defend Tribal sovereignty and advance justice for Native communities. NARF’s competitive clerkships offer law students hands-on experience with groundbreaking cases in federal, state, and Tribal courts. Deadline: Aug 15. buff.ly/BrfWjOy

Significant federal developments this summer are shaping the future of Tribal water rights and environmental protections. The Tribal Water Institute’s Field Notes provides updates on legislation, the DOI's reversal on Klamath River water rights, critical staffing reductions:

NARF’s Alaska office is celebrating 40 years of fighting for Alaska Native rights. Our latest Legal Review highlights NARF’s Alaska work over the years from hunting/fishing rights to civil rights to protecting lands and resources. Stay informed on the cases shaping Indian Country: buff.ly/El18uoM

Two years ago today, the U.S. took a long-overdue step to protect sacred land when it designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. These are not just beautiful landscapes — they are sacred homelands: buff.ly/EpO7IZB

Thank you 2025 Summer Law Clerks! This incredible group of future advocates brought sharp legal minds, strong values, and deep dedication to Indian Country. We’re grateful for their contributions and excited to see the impact they’ll make in their careers and communities: buff.ly/qjccfmn

The latest edition of the NARF Legal Review is here. This issue highlights landmark cases handled by NARF’s Alaska office. Dive into decades of advocacy, legal analysis, and the fight to defend Tribal sovereignty. Get the full issue: buff.ly/8wqdg9g

This Wednesday marks 60 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, a promise of equal access to voting. But for Native voters, that promise is still being denied. We're demanding action:

August is Make-A-Will Month — a powerful reminder to protect what matters most. For Native communities, creating a will helps preserve land, honor traditions, and ensure your wishes are carried out for future generations. Take the time. Make a plan. Protect your legacy. #MakeAWillMonth

Congratulations to Andrew Druart, this year’s Siletz Grant recipient and a proud Chickasaw Nation citizen clerking at NARF’s CO office! With support from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund, Andrew is gaining vital experience to help strengthen Tribal sovereignty: buff.ly/RbD7JvS

Join legal experts, Tribal leaders, and government officials next week at the 2025 Virtual Symposium on the Settlement of Indian Reserved Water Rights — co-hosted by NARF and the Western States Water Council on August 6. 🔗 Register today and be part of the solution. More info:

The fight for Native voting rights continues — but last week, SCOTUS took a vital step in the right direction. By staying the 8th Circuit’s harmful ruling, the Court protected Native voters in North Dakota and upheld the power of voters in seven states to challenge discrimination:

The Shinnecock Nation has fished Shinnecock Bay since time immemorial. These are not hobbyists, they are sovereign stewards of their homelands and waters. Now, fishers are in court, demanding that NY recognize their aboriginal fishing rights, rights that have never been given up: buff.ly/615HilZ

Massive cranes. Blasting. 24/7 lights. Six years of destruction in one of the most ecologically and culturally important places in the Great Lakes: the Straits of Mackinac. Speak up before 8/29: Submit your comment to EGLE: buff.ly/Jzs2IBD Protect clean water. Defend sacred places.

Victory at SCOTUS: Native voters in North Dakota just won a critical stay in their Voting Rights Act case. The Court’s action protects fair representation for Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Spirit Lake Nation, and Native voters — keeping in place a fair map:

Join legal experts, Tribal leaders, and government officials at the 2025 Virtual Symposium on the Settlement of Indian Reserved Water Rights — co-hosted by NARF and the Western States Water Council on August 6. 🔗 Register today and be part of the solution. More info:

The American Psychological Association has found that Native mascots negatively affect the mental health, identity development, and self-esteem of Native youth. Rather than honoring Native people, these mascots perpetuate stereotypes, and encourage cultural appropriation. Read:

Since 1978, Congress has approved 36 Indian water rights settlements. Today, 12 more remain stuck in legislative limbo, awaiting congressional approval and funding. These pending settlements represent years of negotiation over basic access to water for Tribal homeland needs: buff.ly/DYbKwkS

A parking lot now sits on sacred Odawa land — and Tribes weren’t even told until a year later. Enbridge made a lopsided land deal in Michigan, trading away a less valuable parcel and slipping in $1.5M to seal it — potentially to dodge federal review of land rich with Native history: buff.ly/EK67J8H

NARF’s Summer Law Clerk Program is now accepting applications! This 10–12 week paid opportunity is for rising third-year law students passionate about Native rights and public interest law. Work alongside experienced attorneys, gain hands-on experience of meaningful work: buff.ly/Phh7E0b

For thousands of years, Shinnecock Tribal citizens have fished the waters of Long Island for food, culture, and survival. That right has never been ceded, and now they’re fighting in court to defend it. New York must honor Shinnecock’s aboriginal fishing rights. Learn more: buff.ly/615HilZ

Since 1991, NARF and the Western States Water Council have brought together Tribal, state, and federal leaders to advance Indian reserved water rights settlements. Don't miss the Symposium on 8/6—a unique space for learning, collaboration, and progress. CLE credit available: buff.ly/p4doCD6