http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/us/05navajo.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

From the New York Times:

Navajo voters have never had much of a say in how their modern government was shaped. But that may soon change, after a tribal judge cleared the way for a special election on a restructuring that could alter the balance of power on the sprawling reservation.

The government structure was forced upon Navajo voters 86 years ago and was reorganized under three branches without their consent.

Maybe Navajos “will have a greater sense of ownership in the government than they now have,” said Dale Mason, who teaches Navajo government at the University of New Mexico, Gallup.

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Inside USA - The Native American voting block - 01 Mar 2008 (via AlJazeeraEnglish)

This week Inside USA travels across America to speak to the Lakota Sioux, the Western Shoshone, and the Navajo. 

The Native American voting block in swing states like Arizona and New Mexico can be crucial. 

But what happens when Native Americans want to opt out of the US altogether?

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http://www.thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Aboriginal-Affairs/2008/10/09/firstnationsvote/

Ask John Beaucage, Grand Council Chief of the Union of Ontario Indians, which party First Nations people tend to support, and he says, “It’s dangerous to start talking about stereotypical behavior.” One of his biggest concerns is that people in First Nations communities are not voting at all.

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We are encouraging all sectors of our communities to speak out, not only by using their voices in this campaign, but by using their vote. We especially want our youth and elders to be vocal throughout the campaign and use the power of their votes strategically.

Grand Council Chief John Beaucage of the Anishinabek Nation, who developed the First Peoples Vote initiative.

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http://www.nativebiz.com/content/view/534/373/

NativeBiz is pleased to announce the launch of the Native Vote ‘08 Action Center.

Located on the web at www.nativebiz.com/vote the center serves as an online resource for those wanting to share a ‘native’ perspective on the upcoming presidential election, voice concerns, ask questions and more.

Users may Submit stories, editorials, opinions and comments. Upload, Share and View photos and videos.Participate in a webchat or other group activities. Rate other member’s posts and stay up to date with the latest election news from throughout Indian country.

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http://www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/nick_news/stories_weekly.jhtml?pollId=470421245&wstory=2

“(McCain) understands how we live and think,” Martinez told Associated Press reporter Martin Griffith.

Yet Mendoza is also from Arizona. And she supports Obama. “Maybe this country would change with a person of color in the White House,” she told Griffith.

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http://www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/index.cfm

deltafoxtrot:

you can vote here

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Rebecca Ford: Navajo Nation: Election 2008 - Off The Bus on The Huffington Post

Navajo Nation is the largest Native American reservation in the United States. More than 38,000 of its residents are registered to vote. This year, John McCain and Barack Obama are courting the Native American vote, especially in the west, where Obama is mounting a significant challenge to western senator McCain. Indeed, the McCain camp acknowledged last week that McCain’s home state, Arizona, could swing Democratic this election. Navajo Nation, spread across the “four corners” region of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona, has already seen the beginnings of presidential campaign activity.

Obama set up an office in early February in the Navajo Nation town of Shiprock. McCain, who has met with members of Navajo Nation in the past, is the former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

In this video, residents of Navajo Nation share their opinions on the presidential election, and their hopes for the future of the reservation. (The video takes a minute to load. Hit play and then pause for best playback. Play time is roughly 4 minutes.)

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http://www.reznetnews.org/article/flandreau-santee-sioux-tribe/indians-voting,-reservations

Some members said they don’t care. Others don’t think their vote will matter. But Gilbert still believes that every vote matters so she spent Election Day driving folks to the polls.

“It’s a daily struggle to get through 24 hours,” Gilbert said. “OK,” she added, pausing, “you’re asking me to vote. Vote for what? … I can’t even get milk, food and now gas.”

Nevertheless, Gilbert said she has no plans to stop voting and wants others to do the same

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http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417452

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama pulled out big wins in Indian country in Montana and South Dakota, which helped him to become the presumptive Democratic nominee for president June 3. ”The Indian vote definitely contributed to our victory,” said Matt Chandler, a spokesman for the Obama campaign’s Montana efforts. ”We performed a lot of Native American outreach here throughout the campaign, and we think it paid off.”

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