American Indians in Nevada Still Fighting for their Rights to Vote
Alejandra Rubio from the Yavapai-Apache Nation interviews members of the Reno-Sparks Indian colony on why it is important for American Indians to participate in the electoral process, whatever the challenges, obstacles and shortcomings. Despite local advances, as she reports in this first person essay, new hurdles are still being placed.
Tribal sovereignty allows Tribes to govern themselves within their lands. Tribes maintain services like water, law enforcement, emergency assistance, education, housing, roads, and protecting and developing an economic base. Every Tribe typically would hold an election within their Nation to help appoint tribal leaders who would help govern these issues.
American Indians are the first people on Turtle Island (note: a name for earth or North America, used by Indigenous peoples) but the last to receive U.S citizenship. When the country ratified its Constitution in 1788, and when Black Americans won citizenship in 1868 with the 14th Amendment, American Indians still were not considered to be U.S. citizens. It was not until 136 years later, in 1924, when President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act they became citizens, but this still did not mean American Indians could vote in the U.S. It has been a long battle since, and one which continues to be fought for.
Our people who fought in World War II as American Indian Code Talkers thought this would give them the right to vote but later found out that they were prohibited from participating in their local elections.
It was not until 1965 when the Voting Rights helped outlaw much of the discrimination that denied U.S Citizens to vote.
On September 17th, my Nation, the Yavapai-Apache Nation, located in Camp Verde, Az, held its tribal elections. Education, culture, the Nation’s elders, and the Nation’s economic strength are my main concerns, so when voting, I am always on the lookout for those who share my thoughts.
Now living in Northern Nevada I ensure that my daughter and I participate in my Tribal elections by requesting and sending in an absentee ballot. As for local Nevada elections I try to keep up with all what is going on, seeing who is running, willing to help and work with their local Tribes. Even though I’m not a tribal member here in Nevada, I still love to see my fellow Natives thrive within their Nation.
The Native Votes Alliance Nevada and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony held a voter registration event called Indigenize the Vote on September 29th at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony gymnasium. They talked about why it is necessary to vote in the upcoming midterm election and helped those who were not registered to register and have a say in the upcoming elections.
Native Voters Alliance Nevada is the only organization in Nevada that is organized and led by American Indians. The NVAN helps build political power by mobilizing voters, electing officials who advocate issues, and promoting legislation that benefits the Indigenous peoples.
“It is extremely important for us to vote because there are current rights that we still have to maintain. One of the many things we can do for our community is to help them keep their rights and help maintain our lands and livelihood because it is still being taken away inch by inch. I just hope my vote counts to help our people,” said Community Organizer for the Native Voters Alliance, Nizhoni Widehat.
In 2021, the Nevada Legislature passed a bill which now allows the 28 Federally recognized tribes in Nevada to request a polling site or ballot drop box on their tribal lands which then automatically returns each election cycle.
The Shoshone Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Indian Reservation will be taking advantage of this. Unfortunately for the Tribe though, Elko County election officials in Nevada are making voting more challenging for them to come out and cast their votes, despite this new advance.
Typically early voting runs from October 22nd to November 4th in Elko County. However, Tribal members of Duck Valley will only be given an eight-hour window to cast their vote over two separate dates, October 28–29 and then on November 4th.
On September 16th, with the help of Four Directions Native Vote, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Indian reservation filed a lawsuit against the county for unequal voting opportunities.
So when it comes to voting for myself and for the future for my people, I will always remember how my past relatives have fought hard to be seen and heard, I will always make sure that I exercise my right to vote on or off my reservation, and I realize the fight to vote is far from over.
