Minneapolis, MN "Together We Rise: March to Decide our Future" https://t.co/4jdfindapx
— NDN Collective (@ndncollective) November 7, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, November 7, 2020
NDN Collective on Biden, Harris Victory
Rapid City, SD – Today, in response to news that former VP Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris have won the election, the NDN Collective, released the following statement:
“Today, we recognize the power of the people and our collective movements that have come together to fight for our future, and to fight for our existence,” said Nick Tilsen, President and CEO of NDN Collective. “Today is a victory, but now it is time for us to lean in to the change that we want to see in this society and world.”
“We continue the fight for our land back, for treaty rights to be respected, and for Indigenous liberation,” continued Tilsen. “Our elected officials — from the President down to local officials — all have a direct influence on the systems we are fighting to change. We have to continue our work to dismantle and rebuild. Biden’s win did not happen out of nowhere. Biden won because of the people and our demands for a more equitable society that defends Black lives and honors Indigenous rights. Now, the Biden administration must be accountable to our people and communities.”
Today, and for the next four years, we must not forget, it is Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Muslim, LGBTQAI, Youth, and Communities of Color who defeated Trump. #Election2020
— NDN Collective (@ndncollective) November 7, 2020
“We took our protests into the ballot box,” said Judith Le Blanc, Chair, NDN Board of Directors. “We mobilized a historic turnout of the Native vote. Elections by themselves do not solve our problems. Our communities do. Our problems which have been hundreds of years in the making can only be solved by a politically empowered Native grassroots movement. With strong ties with all those who have suffered under the Trump administration’s policies, we will make sure our agenda is heard by the new administration. And Indian Country will reset the nation to nation relationships with Washington, DC.
In October, NDN Collective convened their Sko Vote Den Virtual Intertribal. Joined by Representatives Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland, the event aimed to engage Native voters ahead of election day to discuss voting challenges, and to educate people about the complexities and importance of voting in Indian Country.
In addition to providing historical and current background, NDN Collective’s podcast and blog shares encouraging messages and information empowering Native voters to connect the dots between fighting for self-determination and voting.
For Indigenous Peoples, this means a chance at survival. Today, I rejoice gloriously and feel the deep sense of relief for the land, for the water, the climate, my people. #Election2020
— Jade Begay (@_jadebegay) November 7, 2020
Here are a few links with additional information.
Sko Vote Den Virtual Intertribal Voting Event
Sko Vote Den Podcast
Sko Vote Den Blog
Ȟesápa, a LANDBACK Film
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NDN Collective is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power. Through organizing, activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building and narrative change, we are creating sustainable solutions on Indigenous terms, our terms.