Native Voices

The Center for Native American Youth tackles Indigenous topics and civic engagement.

Give NowThe Center for Native American Youth, IllumiNative, the Native Organizers Alliance, and Indigenous researchers from the University of Michigan and University of California, Berkeley, created the Indigenous Futures Survey—the largest research project ever conducted in Indian Country thanks to support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Over 6,400 Native peoples across the country participated in the survey, representing 401 tribes form all 50 states. The survey is the first step in understanding motivations, priorities, and involvement in civic engagement for Native and Indigenous peoples—as well as understanding their hopes for the future.

Launched amid racial unrest, a global pandemic that disproportionately affected Indigenous people, and a historic election year, the data showed that Indigenous youth report lower rates of voting than any age group. One reason for the finding is that youth experience more barriers to voting than other age groups, particularly around access to transportation and polling places. One practical step is to increase accessibility. More troubling, however, is that one in five youth who did not vote report thinking that voting doesn’t matter. When it comes to inspiring the youth vote, it is imperative that politicians not only listen to the priorities of Indigenous youth but work to address these priorities and affirm the importance of voting.

Despite the lower rates of voting, Indigenous youth do engage in the political system. Indigenous youth are signing petitions, sharing political content, getting involved in grassroots organizing, and protesting to ensure their voices are heard and that they contribute to positive futures. America must continue to empower them to use their collective voices for the betterment of their families, communities, and society.