PRESS RELEASE
ILLUMINATIVE, NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND, AND NATIVE ORGANIZERS ALLIANCE, ANNOUNCE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AND REFLECTION ON CENTENNIAL OF THE SNYDER ACT
Boulder, Colorado (May 30, 2024) – IllumiNative, the Native-woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to building power for Native peoples to advance justice, equity, and self-determination, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), the nation’s premier Native-led nonprofit law firm dedicated to advancing the rights of Native Americans for more than 50 years, and the Native Organizers Alliance (NOA), the largest Native-woman-led network of grassroots voting organizers in the country, announce the National Day of Action and Reflection taking place on Sunday, June 2, to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Snyder Act. Despite being Indigenous to the country, it wasn’t until the Snyder Act was passed in 1924 that all Native peoples born in the U.S. were granted U.S. citizenship. However, the act did not automatically grant the right to vote, leading to another 40 years of relentless struggle to secure this fundamental right in Indigenous communities across the country. This fight persists today, as Native people face unreasonable barriers to accessing election services, and as legislators pass laws designed to disenfranchise Native voters. The centennial offers a unique opportunity to raise awareness and foster a collective narrative about this pivotal moment in U.S. history for Native peoples.
The passing of the Snyder Act has been coupled with complexities surrounding Tribal sovereignty, forced assimilation, and disenfranchisement – issues which continue to resonate within Native communities today. To mark this milestone, Illuminative, NOA, and NARF are launching a coordinated online campaign, inviting individuals and organizations to participate in a National Day of Action and Reflection. The campaign aims to galvanize communities—calling on supporters to learn more about the history behind the Snyder Act, confirm their voter registration status and support the Native American Voting Rights Act (NAVRA).
“The centennial of the Snyder Act is a crucial moment to deepen awareness and foster meaningful dialogue around the complex and multifaceted realities of U.S. citizenship and Tribal citizenship for Native peoples,” said Crystal Echo Hawk, Founder and CEO of IllumiNative. “Through our National Day of Action and Reflection, we aim to honor our history, address the enduring challenges and celebrate the advancements within our communities.”
“The federal government unilaterally conferred U.S. citizenship with the hopes of trading land for the vote. And way too many are now trying to restrict our right to vote on our own territories,” said Judith LeBlanc, Executive Director of Native Organizers Alliance. “Our power and possibility of achieving self-determination and sovereignty comes from being dual citizens, both U.S. and Tribal citizens. We will provide a path towards sovereignty by exercising both citizenships – at the ballot box and through organizing Native grassroots political power to achieve self-determination and sovereignty.”
“It has been 100 years since the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act but Native Americans are still treated as second-class citizens and denied an equal opportunity to vote,” said Jacqueline De León, Senior Attorney for the Native American Rights Fund. “The resulting lack of representation has consequences. We have worse infrastructure, health outcomes, education, and food access. That’s why the Native American Rights Fund is fighting every day in courts and in congress to protect Native American sovereignty and claim Native Americans’ place in America’s Democratic Republic. Democracy is Native, and Native people will fight for the power it confers.”
For more information on how to get involved, please follow the conversation on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
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100 YEARS OF NATIVE AMERICAN U.S. CITIZENSHIP
This election year marks 100 years since Native Americans were conferred U.S. Citizenship in 1924. It took another 40 years of relentless struggle before voting as fundamental right was secured in Indigenous communities across the country. This centennial marks a new opportunity to build on generations of hard earned progress by using our hard won right to vote and ensuring all Native Americans can do the same.
About IllumiNative
IllumiNative is a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of—and challenging the narrative about—Native peoples. Our mission is to build power for Native peoples by amplifying contemporary Native voices, stories, and issues to advance justice, equity, and self-determination. We envision a future where the self-determination and sovereignty of Native peoples is respected and supported; where our children see themselves reflected in the world around them; and where Native peoples author and drive our own narrative.
About Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
NARF is the Nation’s premiere nonprofit 501c(3) organization focused on applying existing laws and treaties to guarantee that federal and state governments live up to their legal obligations to Native Americans. Since 1970, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) has provided specialized legal assistance to Native American Tribal Nations, organizations, and individuals nationwide to assert and defend the most important Native rights. In hundreds of major cases. NARF has achieved significant results in critical areas such as tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, natural resource protection, voting rights, and Indian education. NARF’s voting rights practice group articulates the barriers faced by Native voters, advocates for equitable voting laws, and uses the courts to defend the fundamental right to vote. Like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedIn, and visit us at narf.org to learn about the latest fights to promote justice and protect Native American rights.
About Native Organizers Alliance (NOA)
The Native Organizers Alliance (NOA) is dedicated to building the organizing capacity of tribes, organizers, and community groups for transformational policy change. It also provides a forum for Native leaders, organizers, and organizations to work in collaboration with each other and promote their work with non-Native national allies. Learn more at nativeorganizing.org.
