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- By John E. Echohawk, Executive Director, Native American Rights Fund
Guest Opinion. This January 20, we recognize Martin Luther King Day. It is a day on which many in the United States remember and honor Dr. King’s work and the long and ongoing fight for civil rights and social justice that he helped foster.
I wanted to take this opportunity to assure you, our supporters and colleagues, that we at the Native American Rights Fund will stay strong and committed in the ongoing fight for justice. In the spirit of Martin Luther King, we will not back down in the face of hate. We will not crumple under the pressure of injustice. The fight for Native rights, for Tribal sovereignty, and for a more just nation continues.
When they threaten to take away our national monuments and sacred places, we will be there to stop them. When they try to disenfranchise Native voters, we will be there to amplify the Native voice. When corporate greed endangers our homelands and waters, we will not back down. We will continue to be at attention as long as it takes to ensure that justice is served. We remember our past to protect our future. We fight for our sacred lands. We fight for our sustained cultures. We fight for our people and our Tribal Nations.
This is a long fight, but we are committed. With your support and the support of people like you, we have been representing Tribal Nations and Native people for more than fifty years. We do not always win, but we never give up because losing is not an option. We are the last line of defense for Native rights. We will not back down in holding governments accountable. We will not back down in protecting Native lands, culture, and people.
Know that together, as we have so many times before, we will make progress.
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The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
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