Western Native Voice

Western Native Voice Inc (WNV), formed in July 2022 as an non-profit social welfare organization under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are committed to inspiring Native leadership so our communities flourish. We provide the information and tools necessary to empower citizens to have a voice and an impact on the decisions affecting their lives. We strive to protect the rights of Native Americans through leadership development, education, advocacy, and civic engagement to promote social, racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice to preserve our land, culture, and way of life for future generations.Native Americans make up 9% of Montana's population, with half of the population living off reservations. Native Americans are often overlooked in t lol lol he broader conversation among national groups doing progressive issue advocacy. Critical issues, such as Native civil rights, votingaccess, healthcare, and education, are often overlooked. WNV Inc fills this gap with focused outreach and engagement with tribal, state, and federal elected officials. In recent years, Montana and the United States have witnessed a concerted effort to roll back civil rights and voting rights, the worst assaults on voting rights in over 50 years. WNV Inc and its members are well-positioned to resist this rollback.1. Leadership Development - Western Native Voice uses a culturally relevant community organizing model to train emerging leaders and engage our members. Our training is tailored to meet the needs of attendees. Our customized training shares the principles and best practices of community organizing with respect to all indigenous identities.a. Western Native Voice: Expanding Horizons invests in Native American youth.Expanding Horizons consists of two components: first, our outreach with NativeAmerican and non-native youth in general through our middle school/high schoolpresentations, trunk or treat college tours, capitol visits, community events,conferences, All-American shootout collaboration, and summer camp. Second, ourcurrent 12-member student board.We distributed over 500 student ambassador applications to various urban andreservation schools. As well as handing out 75 posters to the schools in question. On the Western Native Voice website, Tracie Garfield allows for digital access to the application forms and a drop box for the applications. Over 50 emails were sentabout Expanding Horizons between Youth Program Manager Tristen Belgarde and High School Counselors. About 50 phone calls were made to high school counselorsand high schools about Expanding Horizons student ambassador opportunities.i. GOTV -1. Voters Contacted: 6,5222. Doors knocked: 3033. Phone conversations with voters: 1,5164. Text messages conversations with voters: 2,3295. Despite challenges, the Western Native Voice Get Out The Vote (GOTV) work helped to relay accurate election information, motivate voters to cast their ballot, provide assistance to voters, and ensure oversight of election services. All in all, voter turnout in our target precincts (precincts with over 50% Native voting age population) totaled 47%, an increase of 12% from the last comparable midtermelection. We are committed to work with all community stakeholders to ensure all eligible voters cast their ballot.ii. Voter Registration1. Stats -a. 1,261 Voters registered2. Voter registration portal -a. Our statewide voter registration work continued in 2022 with in person registration drives and use of the unofficial online voter registration portal. Western Native Voice partnered with Forward Montana Foundation, MontPIRG, Montana Women Vote, and Wild Montana to bring this service to Montanans.