November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories. And to acknowledge the important contributions of Native People. It was formed to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have face both historically and int eh present, and show how tribal citizens work to conquer these challenges.
This month with the elections many Native Americans voted. We've discussed the fact women were a long time in getting the right to vote, but the people who lived in this country before it was a country didn't receive that right completely until 1965.
The Indian Citizenship Act in 1924 gave citizenship rights to American Indians and Alaska Natives who had not already become U.S. Citizens by military service or denouncing tribal status and affiliations At that time even though they became citizens not all states allowed American Indians to vote.
The Voting Rights Act in 1965 finally gave American Indians and Alaska Natives the right to vote in every state. But there is still only a small group of Native Americans who vote. The National Congress of American Indians(NCAI) has started campaigns and pushed the need for Native Americans to take an interest in where this country is going and vote.
