Western Native Voice

WE INSPIRE NATIVE LEADERSHIP SO OUR COMMUNITIES FLOURISH. WE FOSTER POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH LEADERSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY.

IN 2022, WESTERN NATIVE VOICE WON A COURT VICTORY. THE CASE WAS BASED ON LAWS PASSED IN THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE LAWS ELIMINATED ELECTION-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION, ID LAWS, AND BALLOT COLLECTION. BOTH ELECTION-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION AND BALLOT COLLECTION ARE CRITICAL PIECES OF WESTERN NATIVE VOICES GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) WORK. MANY VOTERS UNWITTINGLY DISQUALIFY THEMSELVES AS ACTIVE VOTERS WHEN THEY MOVE AND CHANGE NAMES, ESPECIALLY IN INDIAN COUNTRY. ELECTION DAY VOTER REGISTRATION IS AN IMPORTANT OPTION TO SOLVE REGISTRATION ISSUES WHILE PEOPLEHAVE THE ENERGY AND COMMITMENT TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY. BALLOT COLLECTION HAS BECOME A RELIED-UPON SERVICE IN MANY RURAL RESERVATION COMMUNITIES, AND WE FOUGHT BACK ON STATE LAW OVERREACH INTO VOTERS RIGHTS. DURING AN ELECTION, OUR ORGANIZATION IS ASKED BY VOTERS TO DELIVER THEIR BALLOTS BECAUSE THERE IS TRUST IN US AND TRUST IN THE PROCESS OF VOTING. THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE OF MONTANA FILED AN APPEAL ON NOVEMBER 23RD.ENGAGE IN TARGETED POLICY ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, WITH EACH ORGANIZATION TAKING ON COMPONENTS OF THE WORK.WORKED ON VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY ISSUES, ENGAGING BROAD COALITIONS. CENTERING ON EQUALITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND PROTECTING NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY.UTILIZE TARGETED MESSAGING TO HELP EDUCATE PARTNERS, MEDIA, AND THE BROADER PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REGISTERING TO VOTE, VOTING, AND BEING A MEMBER.WVNEP FOCUSED ON BUILDING A SOLID BASE OF INFORMED AND ENGAGED MEMBERS READY TO MOBILIZE AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION.WVNEP FOCUSED ON NATIVE AMERICAN ENGAGEMENT IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS. WNVEP HOSTED REDISTRICTING EVENTS AROUND PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON PROPOSED MAPS. WNVEP EFFORTS SUCCESSFULLY HELD NATIVE AMERICAN MAJORITY DISTRICTS BY HAVING SO MANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN THOSE AREAS.EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR EVERYONE TO FULFILL THEIR CIVIC DUTY AT ALL LEVELS, FROM SCHOOL BOARDS TO COUNTY AND STATEWIDE POSITIONS. THEY WORK ON VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTER MOBILIZATION, GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) ACTIVITIES, TRAINING ON PUBLIC NARRATIVE, MOBILIZING INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ACTION ON ISSUES VITAL TO THEM, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE GOAL IS TO MAKE VOTING A TRADITION IN NATIVE FAMILIES AND FOR THEM TO REALIZE THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS AND THEIR VOICE MATTERS.REGISTERED 410 VOTERS, 303 DOORS KNOCKED ON ELECTION DAY, 105 RIDES GIVEN ON ELECTION DAY, 4505 TEXT MESSAGES SENT ON ELECTION DAY. SIXTY SHIFTS WERE WORKED ACROSS THE STATE, AND 1675 ATTEMPTED CONTACTS ON ELECTION DAY.WNVEP EXPANDED THE DAY LABOR PROGRAM TO THE CROW TRIBAL NATION.