On September 21 and 22, 2026, Four Directions Native Vote – Indian Country (4DNV-IC) held its 11th Native election candidate forum at the Minneapolis American Indian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition to Minnesota being home to 11 federally recognized tribes, it holds a special place in modern American Indian history. Franklin Avenue, where the Minneapolis American Indian Center is located, is also the birthplace of the American Indian Movement and the renaissance of the Native Pride movement beginning in the late 1960’s.

One of the main priorities of Four Directions Native Vote – Indian Country’s work is advancing equality at the ballot box for all Native peoples throughout Indian Country. In 2019, Sioux City, Iowa saw the first Four Directions Native Election Candidate Forum. Since then, Four Directions has hosted forums in major battleground states with large Native American populations for every midterm and national elections.

The goal of the Native candidate forums is to engage and encourage Native voters to get involved with the upcoming midterm and national elections. The forums bring candidates, policymakers, tribal leaders and Native voters together to discuss major issues of importance to Native people. These forums help empower Native American voters and show the importance of making their voices heard at the ballot box in each and every election. By doing so, Native people can have a real chance to protect treaties, Tribal sovereignty, and our way of life.

The candidate forums are always nonpartisan and candidates from all major parties who are running for local, state, and federal elections are invited to participate. All candidates are given an opportunity to speak with Native leaders and community members about where they stand on issues that are important to Native people individually and to Indian Country as a whole.

The recent Minneapolis forum welcomed Candidate Rep. Betty McCollum, Minnesota’s 4th District, Congressional Candidate Tyler Bass, Cedrick Frazier, Candidate, Hennepin County Attorney, and Candidate Trina Swanson, Congressional Candidate. Candidate Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan also appeared virtually. In addition to the candidates interacting with Tribal leaders and community members, the candidates present listened to and participated in various panel discussions that focused on a variety of topics.

The panelists and panel moderators were all current leaders at major Native nonprofits, academics, tribal leaders and/or recognized experts in their fields of expertise. Some of the panels that were featured during the Minnesota forum were “Underinvestment in Indian Country: How Federal and Philanthropic Funding to Native Americans Falls Short, and How to Fix It"; “The Margin of Victory: The Power of the Native Vote”; “Every Election is a Landback Election”; as well as an update on current pending federal legislation that could affect Indian Country.

If you could not attend the forum in person, or watch it live on Facebook, you’ll be able to watch the entire Forum on YouTube.

Four Directions Native Vote - Indian Country addresses historical and contemporary injustices against Tribal communities through equal access at state and federal elections, advocacy in the Census, concerted efforts to election protection in Indian Country, litigation, and evolving Federal Indian law to benefit tribal interests.

The work to protect Native voting rights and Tribal sovereignty is never ending. Without the support of allies like you, we could not keep up the good fight for Native rights. Please consider supporting our efforts and become a “Fearless Advocate” in our fight for Native voting rights.

Below are some highlights from the forum.