Western Native Voice staff toured six tribal colleges across Montana in an effort to register new voters, recruit new members, and listen to young people about the issues that matter to them. All in all, Western Native Voice field manager Alissa Snow logged 1,456 miles, registered 103 voters, signed up 73 new members, and talked with countless folks about important issues — in just 10 days.
Alissa found the experience both valuable and rewarding. “Growing up in a reservation community, we often grow up feeling powerless and insignificant,” she explained. “And that’s something that we carry with us into adulthood. But there’s a major change happening, a shift in consciousness. The face of Native engagement is changing.”
Changing minds on voter registration
Alissa’s favorite example of this was at Aaniiih Nakoda College, where a young man approached her table with some friends. He told her that he didn’t vote, and had no interest in doing so. However, after talking to her for a few minutes, and hearing her various reasons to vote, he changed his mind and registered…and even brought over some friends to do the same.
“That’s where Western Native Voice comes in,” Alissa said. “We’re helping to light these fires. And what’s so amazing is, we’re not even giving anyone power — we’re helping them realize that they had it all along! When they make that connection, when that fire gets lit and you can see the glow in their eyes, we get to be a part of that… even if all we did was hand them a match.”
The tour started at Little Big Horn College, in Crow Agency, on February 8, and moved in rapid succession to Chief Dull Knife College (Lame Deer, February 9), Fort Peck Community College (Fort Peck, February 10), Aaniih Nakoda College (Fort Belknap, February 11), Blackfeet Community College (Browning, February 16), and Stone Child College (Rocky Boy, February 17).
Contact
For more information or to contribute to this important work, visit Western Native Voice’s website, or contact Alissa at asnow (at) westernnativevoice.org.