Centering Indigenous Values and Addressing Barriers to Native Youth's Civic Engagement

By: Triston Black

Civic engagement in tribal communities is a complex road of understanding cultural values, historical experiences, tribal sovereignty, and navigating voting across Indian Country. CIRCLE’s Young People and the 2024 Election: Struggling, Disconnected, and Dissatisfied election findings highlight the impact of civic engagement, underscore institutional barriers, and encourage communities to recognize these challenges, but also spark dialogue to address civic engagement in tribal and rural communities. 

Being civically engaged encompasses a wide range of individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Within tribal communities, this engagement is uniquely shaped by people, community, and long-standing traditions that view this participation as sacred. Electing leaders, determining who can have a voice, and governing as a society are guiding pillars in tribal civic engagement. From an Indigenous lens, the analysis of the election report offers a perspective that emphasizes relationality, kinship connections, and community responsibility as a foundation to Indigenous civics.

Three Major Barriers

In the aftermath of the election, the post-election survey reveals pivotal findings that shed light on the reasons behind the engagement of young individuals across the United States in nationwide elections. It also suggests why some youth feel a disconnect with the current political landscape and a lack of representation. Understanding these barriers is essential to fostering a more inclusive and diverse voting process for young people in tribal and rural communities. Several systemic barriers hinder civic participation among tribal members.  

Physical Addresses

The historical implication of legal and geographical complexities that have overlapping authorities between tribal, state, and federal governments can complicate access and representation. Many tribal voters live in rural and rustic communities that have little or no way to provide physical addresses for tribal citizens to register. This obstacle faced in tribal communities hinders a multigenerational group of tribal citizens from registering, including tribal youth residing. Consequently, it is crucial for tribal governments to establish and develop the necessary infrastructure to address this issue effectively. 

Voter ID Requirements

Young people face difficulty in understanding the requirements to vote, especially in navigating voter ID and required documentation. For example, providing a document to provide residency and citizenship is difficult in tribal communities that have not established permanent addresses or access to proper documentation such as birth certificates or certificates of Indian blood. Legislation like the SAVE Act (H.R. 22 / S. 128) would further deepen the gap in voter registration access and make it extremely difficult for Native youth to register. In addition, there is already a lack of polling places on Indian reservations, and restrictive voter ID laws disproportionately affect Native voters. 

Historical Disenfranchisement and Distrust

Indigenous youth's cultural identity is often shaped by historical disenfranchisement and skepticism toward dominant political institutions. According to the CIRCLE Report, “less than 1 in 4 youth, and just 13% of those who didn’t vote, feel like they belong to a group that expresses itself politically.” For many tribal youth, not finding a political affiliation is not indicative of indifference but of a consciousness shaped by historical legacies, lived experiences, and an Indigenous worldview of governance. Additionally, young people living in tribal and rural communities may not have sufficient information or support to make informed decisions due to a lack of access, education, and mentorship. Native youth often forgo electoral politics but respect community organizing, cultural teachings in contributing to the community, and grassroots mobilization. Recent studies showed that many tribal youth do not see their values represented by political affiliation but are instead rooted in tribal sovereignty, land, and identity. Politically unaffiliated tribal youth are not disengaged; rather, they are reimagining civic life in ways that align with their cultural identities, communal responsibilities, and envisioning an Indigenous democratic future.

In many tribal communities, kinship is fundamental to the Navajo concept of familial relationships and community building. Kinship is the principle that encourages relational wellbeing and a sense of duty to both kin and the larger community. In terms of civic engagement, the relationality to one another fosters community engagement by valuing every relative’s role in the family, community, and society. In the Navajo language, I’iinííł bik’ehgo áhodoolnííł naaltsoos naaniih describes voting information to Navajo elders, community members, and promotes language preservation for language learners. The integration of Native languages in civic engagement is rooted in traditional forms of governance and sustains Indigenous frameworks that contribute to the community’s well-being.

How One Organization Is Doing This Work

Arizona Native Vote, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a grassroots group dedicated to advancing educational, charitable, and community objectives through civic engagement and increased election participation within tribal and rural communities. Arizona Native Vote actively reimagines civic life by empowering community members with comprehensive knowledge of civic engagement and elections at all levels of local, state, and federal government. 

Envisioning an Indigenous democracy begins when the organization collaborates with local Indigenous organizers to provide culturally appropriate voter registration and programming such as the Firekeepers program and the Indigenous Democracy classes. These programs empower Native matriarchs and students to build community and strengthen Native voting power. Arizona Native Vote builds Indigenous and rural voting power and provides local year-round community organizers and leaders to work together in increasing civic engagement by educating their rural and tribal communities about voter registration, elections, government, and voting rights. 

Civic engagement in tribal communities is multifaceted, resilient, and deeply interwoven with cultural identity and tribal sovereignty. Recognizing and supporting Indigenous models of civic life is critical to fostering democratic participation and advancing tribal self-determination. Local grassroots organizations across Indian Country aim to address tribal and rural barriers when it comes to increasing voter participation and stay connected with tribal citizens. By participating in civic responsibilities like voting, Indigenous peoples assert their sovereignty and hold a vital role in shaping the future of their communities. Civic engagement is a tool for preserving traditions, advancing representation, and ensuring that Indigenous voices are part of the national conversation.

Triston Black is Director of Youth Programs at Arizona Native Vote.