Western Native Voice hosts family fun day to bring awareness and encourage action
Organization teaches workshop on how to make public comment during committee meeting.
Western Native Voice held their very first family fun day in Crow on the Little Big Horn College Campus, where at the same time Montana’s Redistricting Committee was holding a meeting open to public comment. This was not a coincidence.
Western Native Voice a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to “increase Native American participation and engagement in voting and self-determination”, has been foc using its efforts recently on educating N ative people and encouraging them to speak to the redistricting board.
A short training that exp lained redistricting was offered by WNV Deputy Director Tai’jin Perez. The workshop also educated participants on how to submit a public comment.
The training was simple and clear, lasting only around ten minutes. Participants who went through the training and made a public comment were rewarded a $25 gas card.
“It’s very important to speak out and testify, because whatever choice they make will affect us for the next ten years,” said Tracie Garfiled, Communications Director with Western Native Voice
Montana redraws district lines every ten years based on census data.
The Western N ative Voices website offers information on how redistricting affects Montana ’s Native voice and empowerment, as well as resources to register t o vote on their website https://westernnativevoice.org/.
Western Native Voice is holding a Membership Convention in Billings on Nov. 3 and 4, more information is available on their website.