Watch the opening remarks of our Native American Suffrage Symposium by Jane L. Campbell, CEO and President of USCHS. The event begins with a prayer led by Larry Wright Jr., an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and former tribal chairman with 11 years of service. Wright now serves as the executive director of the National Congress of American Indians.

Historians provided a comprehensive analysis of Native American citizenship, suffrage, and sovereignty in the context of and beyond the Snyder Act. Dr. David Silverman, a History professor at George Washington University, detailed how, even before the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, there were numerous efforts to “civilize” and dispossess Native Americans. Citizenship often seemed like an “empty promise,” even by 1924. Dr. Lila Teeters Knolle, History lecturer at Harvard University, added that opponents of citizenship feared the imposition of a foreign cultural and political system, while proponents saw it as a “simple act of justice to render to the Indian that which has long been due.”

John Echohawk, Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund, highlighted how U.S. policies of “termination and assimilation” evolved into a push for greater tribal sovereignty, which continues to be pursued through lobbying and legal action. Echohawk also explored the challenges to suffrage that still exist for Native American communities, highlighting their advocacy efforts and strategies for effecting change in this crucial area. The discussion was expertly moderated by Jennifer Romero, Majority Staff Director for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, who facilitated a nuanced exploration of these complex topics.

Join us for an insightful session with Elizabeth Hidalgo Reese Yunpoví (Tewa: Willow Flower), a leading expert in American Indian tribal law. In her talk at the Native American Suffrage Symposium, Reese explores the relationship between tribal nations and U.S. political institutions, highlighting how historical policies have denied Native Americans fundamental rights, including the right to vote. Reese questions why tribal governments are excluded from the U.S. democratic framework and advocates for their rightful representation. Her analysis offers a fresh perspective on integrating tribal nations into the constitutional order, making this a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of identity, race, citizenship, and government structure.

Watch as Dawson Her Many Horses, head of Native American Banking at Wells Fargo, and Kevin Gover, Undersecretary for Museums and Culture at Smithsonian Institution, engage in a compelling lunchtime discussion about Native American representation in predominant national narratives. They debunked old myths about Native American history at Thanksgiving through Little Big Horn; shined light on Native Americans’ historic contribution to U.S. military service; and unpacked newer Native American representations in modern culture, from Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone’s role in “Killers of the Flower Moon” to the hit series “Reservation Dogs.”

Larry Wright Jr., Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians, emphasized the importance of civic education to help tribal governments and communities adjust to the changing dynamics of Congress, the administration, the country, and economics, stating that “we’re voting for people who understand and defend our issues.” The Hon. Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, concluded by noting the strong results when Native Americans use their vote to uplift their communities and public servants from Indian Country. He affirmed that “not only does it benefit Native people, it benefits the United States.”