On September 20, 2026 Four Directions Native Vote-Indian Country along with Fair Count Georgia, NDN Collective and the Coalition of Large Tribes hosted its first ever Four Directions Native Vote – Indian Country Democracy Academy at the Minneapolis American Indian Center. The Academy is an intensive civic leadership and advocacy fellowship program designed to teach participants how to influence policy, navigate the state legislature, and build grassroots power.

The one-day Academy focused on 5 key areas:

Census. The beginning of voter participation and why;

Model of Voting Equity (MOVE). this model was introduced to the participants and identifies counties/districts with voting barriers not only for Indian County but for people of color including all parties;

Data-Driven Approach. During this section, the attendees were trained on how to identify the actual amount of voter registration needed to meet the norms of voters registered in their districts;

Voter Registration. Voter registration errors can prevent votes from being counted. To help reduce voter registration errors, the Academy

provided hands on professional training for voter registration; and specific training in Getting Out the Vote.

4DNV-IC’s goal for these Democracy Academy training participants is for them to

become the core group of voting advocates who will be responsible for setting up and organizing getting out the vote (GOTV) efforts within Indian Country.

These efforts will include voter education; voter help lines and organizing transportation of voters to the polls.

Protecting Tribal sovereignty is of the utmost importance to Four Directions Native Vote -Indian Country. Attacks on Tribal nations and their right to exist as such are under constant attack for a variety of reasons by the states in which they are located and by private industry, both domestic and foreign, who would like to extract the resources that lie on and beneath their nations. Tribes must be ever vigilant of these onslaughts.

The only sure way for Native nations to not only protect their sovereignty but also to strengthen it is to participate in local, state, and federal elections. The Four Directions Native Vote-Indian Country Democracy Academies will provide an outline for Native peoples to understand how and why voting matters and how not participating in the voting process will continue to disproportionately and inequitably affect Indian Country.

Our sovereignty is not free! For our nations to continue to grow and thrive and to

protect our natural resources and our people, we must have representation in the local, state and federal branches of government. The only way to ensure that we get that representation is to understand and participate in the political process and vote. Indian Country is tired. Tired of others unilaterally making decisions for our future. Tired of our land and resources being served up to others on a platter without any input from Tribal governments.

Indian Country does not want decisions about our future being made exclusively by local, state, and federal governments. Tribal nations want their voices heard in any discussions that might affect their citizenry and their lands. Indian Country doesn’t just want a seat at the table; we want to help create the menu! Become a “Fearless Advocate” and support our ever so important Democracy Trainings.