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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2016)
To the editor: We need all of you! For your loved ones who are incarcerated or you know someone who is, we’re their voice. Please help and storm the gates of the State Capitol! Rally is set for Feb. 19, 2016, from noon to 1 p.m. on the steps of the Capitol build- ing. Would love to see 500 or more people come and support. If you can’t come, you can call, write or email your senator, representative and governor. Measure 11 time does not fit the crime. This law needs to be amended now. For more info, contact: Siletz News Letters Policy Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, is published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from readers about stories printed in Siletz News and other Tribal issues. All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, personal attacks or unsubstantiated statements. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, Tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. If you and your family and friends can’t come, show your support by buying a sweatshirt, T-shirt or tank top at Teespring.com/TimeDoesNotFitTheCrime. Hope to see you all there! Roxanne Williams, Tribal Member Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Increase in American Indian and Alaska Native US Populations Elected Representation in US Government 2 Native US Representatives million Actual If representation in Congress was proportional to the US Native population, we would have 2 Native Senators and 7 Native Members of the House. 2010 million 2000 1.9 Senate 5.2 House Please note: The general manager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief of Siletz News. 4.1 Patty Youngblood at pattyyo70@gmail.com Barb Dickerson at barbspigpen@charter.net Proportional 0 2 2 7 64 Native State Legislators million 1990 Maine Maryland 22 Native Legislators 3 Native Legislators 1 Native Legislator New Mexico South Dakota Minnesota 9 Native Legislators 3 Native Legislators 1 Native Legislator Montana Washington North Carolina 8 Native Legislators 2 Native Legislators 1 Native Legislator Alaska Illinois North Dakota 5 Native Legislators 1 Native Legislator 1 Native Legislator Arizona Kansas Wyoming 5 Native Legislators 1 Native Legislator 1 Native Legislator Oklahoma = 1 million AIAN People Source: US Census Tribal Government Sovereignty Energy Indian Child Welfare Gaming Education Environmental Impact Issues Water Federal Budget & Spending e ma l e F Key Issues that Bring Native People to the Ballot Box 17 Senators 31% 69% Ma l e 47 Representatives National Congress of American Indians Embassy of Tribal Nations 1516 P Street NW | Washington, DC 20005 www.NCAI.org | www.NativeVote.org with the Highest Populations of Voting-Age Natives 50,000 3 % 134,000 WA 3 Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) was re-elected by 500 votes in 2002, with the final votes counted coming from the Pine Ridge Reservation. 27,000 49,000 5 % 8 % 7 % OR 3 % SD WY 76,000 Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) credits her victory in the 2010 election to the significant power of the Alaska Native vote. With over 100,000 write-in votes, she was only the 2 nd successful US Senate write-in candidate. Voting Population 66% Registered Of American Indians and Alaska Natives eligible to vote, only 66% are registered, compared to 74% of eligible non-Hispanic Whites. ND MT % With endorsements from 12 tribes, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) was narrowly elected in 2000, creating a 50-50 tie in the US Senate. The power of the Native Vote has been significant in state races and important national races. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) won the 2012 election by a 1% margin. Heitkamp noted that her only road to Washington, DC was through Indian Country. In 2006, Senator John Tester (D-MT) won his election by 3,562 votes, over 17,000 voters cast ballots on Indian reservations. Top 10 States Fast Facts 1,000,000 11 5 % 10 % 88,000 OK AZ NM 17 % Not Registered % Map Key Eligible AIAN Voters in 2010 232,000 AK % 149,000 AIAN population as % of state’s total population (18 and over) 34% of the total Native population over 18 — or 1,000,000 eligible voters — is not registered to vote. Ballot measure to expand the number of legislative districts fails. Nine American Indians serve in the Montana Legislature, reflecting proportion of American Indian state population. Alaska Redistricting Board merges two Southeast Districts, diminishing rural Native voter impact. 2012 State population triples between 1959-2009, though no change in the number of state representatives or legislative districts. Montana creates six American Indian- majority districts. 2006 Tribes’ influence leads to the appointment of a tribal member as Chair of Redistricting Commission. 2003 Montana tribes challenge 1990 redistricting and file case in federal court. 2011 ALASKA: Erosion of Native Districts 1959- 2009 a Base of Power 2010 1990 MONTANA: Building 1999 Lower Turnout Election loss of long-serving Alaska Native State Senator Albert Kookesh due to redistricting. The turnout rate of American Indian and Alaska Native registered voters is 5 to 14 percentage points lower than the rate of many other racial and ethnic groups. Source: Demos, 2012. 20 • Siletz News • February 2016
