- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — When Native Americans vote in the 2022 midterm elections, many of their concerns mirror those of other Americans, with some key exceptions driven by their tribal identities.
While jobs and the economy matter to Native Americans, the country’s first people are more concerned with issues such as tribal sovereignty, healthcare, the protection of sacred sites, the environment and tribal water settlements. As a matter of fact, tribal sovereignty is the number one issue important to Native Americans, according to a Native voter survey conducted by Native News Online.
In the survey conducted between September 27 and October 17, respondents said tribal sovereignty and a woman’s right to choose are the two most important issues to them as voters in the midterm elections. The survey received responses from 678 Native News Online readers.
“We at Native News Online want to know what is important to our readers when it comes to elections. Our community is seldom asked by polling groups what matters to them as Native Americans, so we thought we would conduct our own survey,” Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), publisher and editor said.
Rickert says the Native vote is influential in states that have a concentrated core of Native Americans. According to Rickert, these states include: Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Biinjwebinigedaa! - Let’s all Vote!
Tribal identity plays an important role when Native Americans consider how to vote. Four of the top 10 important issues to the voter survey dealt with issues that pertain to tribal identity, such as tribal sovereignty, protection of sacred sites, tribal water settlement, and civil rights.
Besides tribal sovereignty and a women’s right to choose, healthcare, the protection of sacred sites, and the environment round out the top five issues important to Native American voters.
The survey revealed that Native Americans are paying attention to the current political climate in the United States. Of the respondents, 91 percent answered yes to a question asked: “Do you think American democracy is under threat?”
When asked if they think their votes matter, 84 percent of respondents answered yes with 16 percent saying no.
While 52 percent of the survey respondents claimed the Democratic party as their political party affiliation, only 11 percent claimed to be Republicans; 22 percent claimed to be Independent; and 15 percent have no political party affiliation.
When the survey was analyzed by party affiliation, those who identified as Republicans answered the survey differently than others. The five most important issues to Native Republicans are: jobs/economy, tribal sovereignty, immigration, protection of sacred sites, and education.
Most of the respondents to the survey live away from an Indian reservation, which is very consistent with the U.S. Census’ analysis of where Native Americans live. In the survey 85 percent of respondents say they live off-reservation either in an urban or rural area.
More Stories Like This
Q+A: Journalist Connie Walker Reflects on Season 3 of 'Stolen' Podcast Investigating Navajo Nation MMIP CasesNative Bidaské with Sarah Eagle Heart (Oglála Lakota) on the Indigenous Fashion Collective
Twelve Cherokee Nation Cyclists, 950 Miles: The 40th Annual Remember the Removal Bike Ride
Leona Carlyle-Kakar (Ak-Chin), Instrumental in Securing the 1st Water Rights Settlement in Indian Country, Walks On
California Moves Forward with Pilot MMIP Program
Native Perspective. Native Voices. Native News.
We launched Native News Online because the mainstream media often overlooks news that is important is Native people. We believe that everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. That's why the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. We hope you'll consider making a donation to support our efforts so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount — big or small — gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous-centered journalism. Thank you.
