Voting Rights

The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Constructing Modern Nation-to-Nation Dialogue

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 23:28:00 +0000

The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Constructing Modern Nation-to-Nation Dialogue

spesweviwridri… (not verified) November 18, 2021

AIPI Blog

The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Constructing Modern Nation-to-Nation Dialogue

During this year's Native American Heritage Month, Tribal leaders and high-level White House Officials constructed discourse with respect to issues important in Indian Country. The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit (the Summit), hosted by the White House, was held on November 15th and 16th. This is the first time the Summit has taken place since 2016. The Summit presented a unique opportunity for nation-to-nation dialogue on support to Tribal communities to create opportunities, advance equity, and address new and long-standing challenges. Topics addressed included Infrastructure, Native languages, climate change and COVID-19. Several members of the American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) attended the Summit.

The Summit commenced by releasing the “White House Tribal Nations Summit Progress Report.” The 38-page document outlined key contributions made by the Biden-Harris Administration to Indian Country. In addition, a shorter fact sheet was also released titled “Building a New Era of Nation-Nation Engagement.” This fact sheet includes reports on progress made in Indian Country during the Biden-Harris Administration as well as present plans for continuing improvement of nation-to-nation relationships.

The first day of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit was inspiring and spirited. Welcoming remarks included engaging addresses from Secretary Deb Haaland, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. During his live remarks, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People. While signing the Executive Order, President Biden proclaimed: “I am proud to sign it. It is long overdue.”

Read the Full Executive Order, Here.

After the opening remarks, policy panels spoke on combating COVID-19, Native American Educations and Languages, Public Safety and Justice. Each panel featured dialouge between Tribal leaders and high-level White House Officials including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Officer to the President, Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco of the U.S. Department of Justice, and Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education.

Highlights of day one of the Summit include announcements of several initiatives:

Watch the Full Recording of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Day One, Here.

Day two of the Summit carried the momentum from day one. Opening remarks were provided by White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Rodriguez. Following opening remarks, four policy panels and one listening session were held. Panel topics were climate change, Tribal treaty rights, economic and workforce development and infrastructure were led by a myriad of Tribal leaders and members of the Administration. White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Secretary Marty Walsh of the US Department of Labor and Secretary Pete Buttigieg of the US Department of Transportation were among those present.

Highlights from day two of the Summit include:

Creation of First Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee at the Department of the Interior
A Focus on Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Broadband Funding
- See AIPI’s policy analysis on broadband and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
New Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding to Protect Indigenous Sacred Sites

Two heartening segments concluded of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit. First, attendees of the Summit had the pleasure of watching a performance from the first Native American U.S. poet laureate, Joy Harjo. Harjo read her piece “Eagle Poem”. Second and finally, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed Tribal leaders and those in attendance. Vice President Harris touched on some of the essential topics of the Summit including the significance of adequate broadband funding to Tribal communities to increase digital equity and fighting against the impediments facing Native Americans and their right to vote. She also reaffirmed the importance of the commitment the Biden-Harris Administration has to Indian Country.

Watch Vice President Harris’ Address, Here.

Watch the Full Recording of the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit: Day Two, Here.

In light of the recent events of COVID-19 and the spotlight on racial inequities across marginalized communities, the importance of informed and open dialogue is paramount. Opportunities such as the Tribal Nations Summit are key in constructing modern-era nation-to-nation relationships and continuing the bolstering of such dialogue. The 2021 Tribal Nations Summit was certainly an appropriate event to occur during Native American Heritage Month. The conversations and initiatives introduced during the Summit will affect Native American communities and ultimately, Native American heritage for generations to come.

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November 18, 2021

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2020 Class of Indigenous Elected Officials

tlmorri3 — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 21:39:00 +0000

2020 Class of Indigenous Elected Officials

tlmorri3 November 30, 2020

AIPI Blog

2020 Class of Indigenous Elected Officials

The 2020 elections featured the highest number of ballots cast in American history and was a landmark election for Indigenous representation at the Federal and State levels. In 2018, the first Native American women were elected to Congress as Representatives Deb Haaland (D-NM-1), and Sharice Davids (D-KS-3) were elected alongside incumbent Representatives Markwayne Mullin (R-OK-2) and Tom Cole (R-OK-4). In 2020, the number of Indigenous representatives increased again as six candidates successfully won their federal elections, including Congressman-elect Kai Kahele (D-HI-2) and Congresswoman-elect Yvette Herrell (R-NM-2).

New Mexico’s three-member House delegation now includes two Indigenous women. One of whom, Rep. Haaland, is currently being vetted for Secretary of the Interior under President-elect Biden. If nominated and confirmed, she would be the Native American to serve as a Cabinet Secretary. There is quite the buzz in Indian Country about the implications of this historic first.

In addition, several other indigenous candidates won their respective primaries, including Paulette Jordan (D, ID-Senate), Rudy Soto (D, ID-1), and Tricia Zunker (D, WI-7). This representation also continued down-ballot. In Arizona’s ninety-member legislature, six Indigenous candidates won their elections. In all, 14 Indigenous candidates ran across the State of Arizona for positions ranging from school boards to county recorders to the State House and Senate.

As a quick note, we told readers in a post in July about our former student worker Christina Haswood running for Kansas State Legislature. We wanted to update you and let you know that she won and at 26 years old she is the youngest member of the Kansas Legislature and only the third Native American Member in history.

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Vote-by-Mail is an Important Voting Method, Crucial that Indigenous Voices Have Input

spesweviwridriclitrauespuuadruwujihuthacrijowosomijeclifrewr — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 21:31:23 +0000

Vote-by-Mail is an Important Voting Method, Crucial that Indigenous Voices Have Input

spesweviwridri… (not verified) August 28, 2020

AIPI Blog

Vote-by-Mail is an Important Voting Method, Crucial that Indigenous Voices Have Input

This year, with the nation living under the shadow of a pandemic, and an expectation that COVID-19 will continue to be a presence well into the fall, officials are scrambling to ensure the November 2020 general election proceeds smoothly and safely. However, it has been widely reported that recent actions taken by the Trump Administration seem to undermine the capacity of the United States Postal Service (USPS), the agency entrusted to handle vote-by-mail (VBM) operations. In fact, the President confirmed that his efforts to dismantle the USPS are intended to hinder the Postal Service’s ability to sort and count ballots ahead of the election in November:

“They need [the $25 billion Democrats are pressing for] in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” he said on Fox Business Network, adding, if they don't get the funds, “that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”

The efforts in combination with his words lay bare an unprecedented and unethical—not to mention potentially unconstitutional—ploy to win reelection. Despite the USPS, headed by recent Trump appointee Louis DeJoy, being forced to back down on any further changes after more than 20 states sued over potential mail delays, the Postal Service has “no intention” to repair the damage that was already done.

While the House approved legislation last week that would allocate $25 billion to the USPS and ban operational changes put in place by DeJoy[6], the bill is unlikely to pass the Senate or be signed into law. The Postal Service is necessary for VBM and the efforts to dismantle the agency ahead of November’s election are alarming.

Although there is little we can do to save the USPS, we must continue to advocate for a fair and accessible general election this November. Our latest publication, Vote-by-Mail: Balancing Promise with Prudence examines the benefits of vote-by-mail efforts and the potential pitfalls of being overly reliant on VBM systems without sufficient and representative tribal input in the creation of equitable elections processes.

As stated in our report, “it is crucial that legislators and tribal leaders work together to develop VBM systems that will improve, not reduce, opportunities for an increased Native voter turnout.”