Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Vote 2024. With just six weeks to go until Election Day, Advance Political Leadership Action Fund (Advance), the first and only national Indigenous-led organization working to build a full ecosystem for political power-building in Indigenous communities, announced its first-ever endorsement of a non-Indigenous candidate for public office.
Anathea Chino (Acoma Pueblo), co-founder and executive director of Advance, says the Harris-Walz ticket is committed to Indian Country. Advance Political Leadership Action Fund is the organization’s 501(c)4 project that helps elect Native leaders to all levels of public office.
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“While this is not the first time a national ticket has shown understanding and commitment to Native peoples, this moment represents a historic shift with a deeper investment in elevating Native leaders and communities,” Chino said. “Governor Walz’s partnership with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and the legislative record in Minnesota is evidence that he is committed to the unique status of tribal nations and our right to exist, self-governance and self-determination. His inclusion on the presidential ticket is a game changer.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Ojibwe) were the first state leaders to visit all 11 tribes in Minnesota. Since their election in 2018, Walz and Flanagan, a co-founder of Advance, have built a significant legislative record expanding opportunities and support for tribal communities, including requiring state agencies to create and implement tribal consultation policies, requiring agencies to appoint tribal-state liaison officers, and requiring state agency leaders and employees to complete tribal-state relations training.
After a lengthy discussion about the Minnesota state flag and seal containing racist depictions of Native Americans, Walz and Flanagan changed the flag and added the Dakota name for the state, “Mni Sota Makoce.” They also saw the return of Upper Sioux State Park to the Sioux community.
This election season, the Native vote could be the deciding factor in a Harris-Walz victory in several key states, including Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin. In 2020, Native American voters helped elect President Biden in every one of these states, demonstrating the impact Native voters can have in close races where their population is larger than the margin of victory.
So far this year, Advance has endorsed 42 Native leaders running for federal, state, and local office in 13 states in 2024, representing the largest endorsement slate ever. This election season, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are making history like never before with 226 candidates running in 25 states. While 348 Native Americans currently hold elected office in the United States, more than 17,000 are needed to achieve representative parity in elected office based on population.
“This is a historic opportunity for Native peoples to participate in an election that can build a better Native future, one that provides greater opportunity, visibility and support for Native communities. A vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is a vote for Peggy Flanagan to become the nation’s first female Native governor, which could set a powerful precedent for Native representation in Minnesota and across the country. Her leadership would further amplify the concerns of Native communities, creating more opportunities for Native voices to influence policy at the highest levels,” Chino said. “It’s proof that inviting movement leaders and activists from all walks of life into the centers of power to develop a shared strategy ensures that we all win together.”
About the Author: “Neely Bardwell (a descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University, where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies.”
Contact: neely@nativenewsonline.net
