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- By Levi Rickert
Letter from the Editor.
When I was coming up there used to be a saying that “Indians have been surveyed to death” with a usual follow-up, “and nothing ever gets done.” Hopefully that sentiment is no longer prevalent today.
Surveys and polls are important because they provide specific viewpoints on a given population or group.
Native News Online believes it’s important for Native people to have their voices heard, and that’s why we launched a survey designed to capture your thoughts and concerns about the upcoming election on Nov. 3. To be sure, Indian Country has a voice, and always has, but we want to help beat that drum a little harder.
Our survey was developed to give you an opportunity to have your voice heard, which, in all probability, will be ignored by mainstream media sources.
As one of America’s most read Native news sources, Native News Online feels strongly that American Indians and Alaska Natives should have an opportunity to give voice to the topics and issues that are important to them. The survey, launched Thursday, was shared with our newsletter subscribers via email and now we are seeking input from our everyday readers and social media followers.
We are attempting to reach prospective Native voters to determine problems you may have when it comes to registering to vote, voting and who you support in the presidential election.
Realizing that many of our readers are non-Native, we in no way attempt to discriminate by excluding you. However, we feel it is important to offer a snapshot of Native voters’ viewpoints as we go about gathering this data and information.
The results of our survey will be compiled and reported in a future Native News Online article. Additionally, the information we gather will be used during two upcoming Energizing the Native Vote programs that Native News Online will host this month and will be archived in our publication.
Our survey was developed in collaboration with the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association and Northwestern University.
Please take time to have your voice heard. The survey can be filled out within five minutes by following this link.
Native News Online appreciates your ongoing readership.
Levi Rickert
Editor
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
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At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
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Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
