Jodi Rave: NARF delivers message with hip-hop

"A bold illustration shows the Lakota Chief Sitting Bull looking stoic in braids, suit and tie, ready for a briefcase battle in the fight for tribal sovereignty. The lettering in this Ryan Red Corn piece reads: “The Indian Wars Never Ended.”

The Internet version of this Native American Rights Fund public service announcement leads the viewer to a video in which a team of modern-day Native rights lawyers join forces with (pause) hip-hop artists. If this seems an unlikely alliance, well, the pairing actually works.

NARF, the country's oldest legal advocacy organization for Native issues, has been unfolding its first-ever public service announcements - whether they have a shelf life is yet to be seen - where the nonprofit group shares the stage with hip hop.

Virginia Cross, a tribal councilwoman for the Muckleshoot Tribe in Washington, saw the spring launch of NARF's public service announcement while attending this year's National Indian Gaming Association's annual trade show.

Cross viewed “The Indian Wars Never Ended” PSA in Phoenix. She watched and remembered the day when the Muckleshoot Tribe owned a single acre of land in 1971.

“We didn't even own a tribal building,” Cross said. The tribe needed to fight one of the most powerful energy companies in the Puget Sound area, but had no money to wage a lawsuit that would protect its treaty-related fishing and water rights."

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Native legal advocates continue fight with new beat (The Missoulian 5/6)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

Related Stories:
Jodi Rave: Leadership in a multicultural age (4/30)
Jodi Rave: More Natives needed in journalism (4/20)
Jodi Rave: Probate reform changes 'devastating' (4/16)
Jodi Rave: Indian probate conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Native language preservation efforts (4/16)
Jodi Rave: Cobell calls for accountability (4/12)
Jodi Rave: Doctrine of Discovery and Indians (4/11)
Jodi Rave: Tribal colleges press for federal funds (4/6)
Jodi Rave: George Longfish never short on imagery (4/4)
Jodi Rave: Cobell calls trust offer 'insulting' (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Indian probate conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Lawmaker a symbol of Old West ignorance (3/26)
Jodi Rave: Res2007 highlights tribal economies (3/19)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (03/12)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (03/12)
Jodi Rave wins national fellowship award (03/06)
Jodi Rave: Natives find 'Voices' at Autry Museum (3/2)
Jodi Rave: Environmental racism expert in Montana (3/1)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree artist honors heritage (2/28)
Jodi Rave: Nellie Two Bulls leaves strong legacy (2/22)
Jodi Rave: Count me among America's lawn freaks (2/20)
Jodi Rave: Tribes receive heating assistance (2/19)
Jodi Rave: Tex Hall leaves tribe with $100M-plus debt (2/12)
Jodi Rave: Meet your next Native American Idols (2/12)
Jodi Rave: Without funds, NAIHC fires half of staff (2/9)
Jodi Rave: Montana panel cuts Indian education budget (2/7)
Jodi Rave: Sharing the dance and harvest in Alaska (2/5)
Jodi Rave: Montana family preserves beading (1/30)
Jodi Rave: Navajo Nation to market scenic routes (1/22)
Jodi Rave: Native youth get turned onto reading (1/19)
Jodi Rave: Think tank aims to help Native students (1/16)
Jodi Rave: Winona LaDuke speaks in Montana (1/11)
Jodi Rave: Myers drops bid for 9th Circuit seat (1/11)
Jodi Rave: Interior mum on class action tribal suit (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Rep. Rehberg backs Indian committee (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Cobell sees hope for case in new year (1/2)
Jodi Rave: Native American Basketball Invitational (12/20)
Jodi Rave: Wellness wave sweeps Indian Country (12/18)
Jodi Rave: NIGC presents new hurdle for tribes (12/12)
Jodi Rave: Tribes share success stories on TV, radio (12/12)
Jodi Rave: Indian family stands up to racism (12/11)
Jodi Rave: Gaming talk at University of Montana (12/8)
Jodi Rave: Freedom of the press in Indian Country (12/4)
Jodi Rave: Writer's views on poverty draw heat (12/1)
Jodi Rave: Native students not always a priority (11/27)
Jodi Rave: Native veterans are the unsung heroes (11/13)
Jodi Rave: Election Day for Indian Country (11/9)
Jodi Rave: Northern Cheyenne teen survives cancer (11/6)
Jodi Rave: Native candidates seek more Native votes (11/2)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (10/30)
Jodi Rave: An environmental role for Natives (10/26)
Jodi Rave: Burns and Tester seek Indian vote (10/23)
Jodi Rave: Rehberg and Lindeen tout tribal issues (10/23)
Jodi Rave: UN to honor Chief Arvol Looking Horse (10/18)
Jodi Rave: Tribes bless site of Native center at UM (10/16)
Jodi Rave: Tribes to bless Native center at UM (10/11)
Jodi Rave: Play brings treaty to life for students (10/10)
Jodi Rave: Tribe rallies against drugs and abuse (10/9)
Jodi Rave: Open college doors to Native students (10/4)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (10/2)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/26)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/25)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/22)
Jodi Rave: Series on violence against Native women (9/18)
Jodi Rave: More Native students enter college (9/11)
Jodi Rave: Campaign seeks Native marrow donors (9/6)
Jodi Rave: Sharing tribal histories of Sacagawea (9/5)
Jodi Rave: Native athletic events an inspiration (8/28)
Jodi Rave: Cultural revival on the reservation (8/21)
Jodi Rave: Accurate media coverage of Natives (8/10)
Jodi Rave: From the Chickasaw Nation to Broadway (8/7)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous summit at base of Bear Butte (8/1)
Jodi Rave: Fire Thunder steps into ring of fire (7/31)
Jodi Rave: Dangerous policy on Native ancestors (7/28)
Jodi Rave: Cobell worried about settlement legislation (7/24)
Jodi Rave: Documentary explores Indian land (7/24)
Jodi Rave: Gathering celebrates Native women warriors (7/17)
Jodi Rave: HUD releases block grants for tribes (7/10)
Jodi Rave: Montana Natives win at Indigenous Games (7/7)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous Games kick off in Colorado (7/4)
Jodi Rave: Indigenous Games propel indigenous rights (7/3)
Jodi Rave: Tribal housing hurt by HUD decision (6/29)
Jodi Rave: Passing on the stories of the people (6/26)
Jodi Rave: Ulali carries on singing tradition (6/20)
Jodi Rave: Churchill fabricated history of my people (6/19)
Jodi Rave: Native family gets help with first home (6/12)
Jodi Rave: Express tribal identity at graduation (5/30)
Jodi Rave: Trendsetters at UM Indian journalism (5/22)
Jodi Rave: Immigrant marchers belong to Native America (05/08)
Jodi Rave: Tribes alarmed at trust reform initiative (04/03)
Jodi Rave: Racial tensions in border communities (04/03)
Jodi Rave: Program to help Natives in legal system (02/14)
Jodi Rave: Tribal employee admits to fraud in Iraq (2/13)
Jodi Rave: Tribal political donations debated (2/9)
Jodi Rave: Native people object to school mascots (2/6)
Jodi Rave: Garcia calls for settlement of Cobell (2/3)
Jodi Rave: Native conservation a focus of conference (2/2)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree artist honored for work (1/27)
Jodi Rave: HUD loans a success in Indian Country (1/23)
Jodi Rave: Burns to celebrate birthday with lobbyists (1/19)
Jodi Rave: Sen. Burns ignored Cobell, tribal issues (1/17)
Jodi Rave: King speech still matters to Indians (1/16)
Jodi Rave: Black Indians struggle for acceptance (12/05)
Jodi Rave: Deloria represented human adventure (11/17)
Jodi Rave: Applause for Gov. Schweitzer at NCAI (11/07)
Jodi Rave: Natives pay for health care with lives (10/24)
Jodi Rave: Group to propose Tribal Justice Act (10/10)
Jodi Rave: Blackfeet citizens invest in their future (10/03)
Jodi Rave: Media needs more Native journalists (9/23)
Jodi Rave: Indian Country guide an essential tool (09/13)
Jodi Rave: Free press in Indian Country a big issue (08/15)
Jodi Rave: The best fry bread in Indian Country? (7/29)
Jodi Rave: Tragedy on the Red Lake Reservation (07/11)
Jodi Rave: Blackfeet opera lacks authenticity (07/11)
Jodi Rave: Reporting on reservations is improving (06/02)
Jodi Rave: Hope remains after mother's passing (05/11)
Jodi Rave: Fewer and fewer Indians in newsrooms (04/25)
Jodi Rave: 'No Media' sign at Red Lake not for me (04/14)
Jodi Rave: Indians don't pay taxes and other myths (03/11)
Jodi Rave: Deloria unknown because he's Indian (01/24)
Jodi Rave: Native participation needed in politics (01/10)
Jodi Rave: What was 'Kokopelli' professor thinking? (12/15)
Jodi Rave Lee: It feels good to be a grandmother (11/23)
Jodi Rave: Native veterans denied home loans (11/11)
Jodi Rave: Indian issues need more than a month (11/9)
Jodi Rave Lee: Protecting rights of Native voters (11/04)
Jodi Rave Lee: Trail tells story of Nez Perce (10/12)
Jodi Rave: Mixed emotions surround NMAI opening (09/27)
Jodi Rave Lee: Native image on coin inspires pride (09/14)
Jodi Rave Lee: Indians, Iraqis have much in common (08/30)
Jodi Rave Lee: Gag order sign of poor leadership (08/09)
Jodi Rave Lee: Native presence can't be denied (08/02)
Jodi Rave Lee: Warrior spirit gives Natives hope (07/06)