Native Americans had the lowest voter turn-out rate of any ethnic group, according to a 2008 report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Natives share a common attitude that election outcomes do not impact them because a lot of tribes are self-governed.

Cherrise Reyes, a senior political science major and enrolled member of the Upper Skagit Tribe, explained that Native Americans should participate in politics because tribal businesses work with outside contributors daily.

As an enrolled member of the Chehalis Tribe, I urge all eligible Native Americans to exercise their right to vote in local, state and national elections.

Most people know that after the United States became a country, it took more than a century to grant women the right to vote in 1920. But a majority of people never considered the history behind granting Native Americans’ their rights to vote.

The United States did not recognize natives as citizens until 1924.

For the next three decades, individual states began to grant Native Americans the right to participate in elections.

Utah, the last state to follow suit, didn’t grant natives the right to vote until 1956.

The first people of this land, my ancestors, couldn’t contribute to government functions for the first 150 years of the United States’s existence.

This is why I urge natives to vote in presidential, local and state elections.

Caleb Pletcher, a politically-active WSU student, said it’s everyone’s “civic duty” to exercise their right to vote.

And for the generation of people ages 18 to 22, who are first time voters, Pletcher said “it’s a really exciting process.”

“(It’s) not just about enjoying voting, but to see the benefits of it,” Pletcher said. “They see that they have the ability to enact real change with their voice.”

Pletcher also made comments regarding Vermont Sen. and former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ support for the people of Standing Rock, North Dakota, as the natives gather to protect the lands.

Although Sanders dropped from the presidential election, his actions didn’t go unnoticed and are still relevant — he set a precedent for future political figures to follow.

Natives need someone to represent them. Better yet, natives need to elect their own into higher positions of office.

Reyes said we need public officials who “fight for native issues.”

For Native Americans who live in the Fifth Congressional District, Congressman Joe Pakootas fits the criteria.

The fifth district consists of 10 counties, including Whitman, Spokane and Ferry counties.

Also within the district are the Spokane Tribe, the Kalispel Tribe, and part of the Colville Tribe.

Pakootas is a member of the Colville tribe, which he chaired for five years and served as CEO of Colville’s tribal enterprise.

He best represents the native voice because, as of now, there’s a void in Native American public officials.

This void causes a lack of representation for the native population. Natives should take action and vote for native representatives running for office and fill this void.

If the natives of this region ever have to face what the tribal people of Standing Rock currently face, they will be glad they voted for Pakootas.

Edmund Frazer Myer is a senior communication major from Onalaska. He is enrolled in the Chehalis Tribe. He can be contacted at 335-2290 or by [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the staff of The Daily Evergreen or those of The Office of Student Media.