A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Mark Macarro holds a bachelor’s degree in political science. He serves as tribal chairman for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and works to lead the tribe to set its own political course. Outside this role, Mark Macarro is a board member of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), which strives to preserve tribal existence.

1. Native American Rights Fund -
Working to Preserve Tribal
Sovereignty
Mark Macarro

2. Introduction
• A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara,
Mark Macarro holds a bachelor’s degree in political
science. He serves as tribal chairman for the Pechanga
Band of Luiseno Indians and works to lead the tribe to set
its own political course. Outside this role, Mark Macarro is
a board member of the Native American Rights Fund
(NARF), which strives to preserve tribal existence.
One of NARF’s main goals is to protect tribal existence and
sovereignty, or tribes’ political status as governments with
legal rights. The United States recognizes tribal sovereignty
through treaties, executive orders, acts of Congress, and
court case law.

3. Native American Rights Fund
• Although Native American tribes do not require
acknowledgement by the United States in order to be
sovereign, recognition by the government grants tribal
status for federal purposes and formalizes a
relationship between tribal and U.S. governments.
NARF has helped numerous tribes navigate the long
acknowledgement process, which requires significant
resources and expertise. In addition to helping
maintain relationships between federal and tribal
governments, NARF helps facilitate relationships
between tribes and local and state governments.