by Kody Stump (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes), Fort Peck Community College
It is that time of year where we have the opportunity to band together and change how we can better the world we live in. It can be a frightening time, but it is so important that we all go to the polls to vote.
Voting is important to me because the people who are elected to represent us on the local, state, and national level are the people who need to understand the needs of our native communities.
Voting is a way to honor those who came before me. It was only 100 years ago that Native people, who were born in this country and here long before anyone else, could vote in elections. I see voting as a way to show my ancestors that I will try my best to make a future that we can all be proud of. The land around us is sacred. We must do everything we can to protect and preserve it for future generations. Every day, I try to contribute what I can to my community as a way of honoring those around me.
In our community, we grow up trying to do what we can to get by. I don’t want to just scrape by. I don’t want the bare minimum. I want people to dream wildly. I want people to be hopeful for the future. I can see a future so bright that we will not hesitate in to take that next step forward.
Currently, every single day I see people who desperately need help. There are many issues like addiction, mental health access, and violent crimes. These can all be addressed by elected officials. They have the power to shape how we can better our society. They are our representatives. They represent the people. This means that even we, the people on reservations, can have a say on what happens.
Democracy is the foundation of this country. This is the groundwork of what our ancestors practiced long before the United States was formed. I want people to remember that we have so much power in voting. If we stand aside and decide not to vote, that is letting down the people who sacrificed so much to make sure we have that right to vote.
Staying informed is also a daunting task. It can feel overwhelming trying to learn what each candidate stands for, what initiatives there are and what they do. It is a big responsibility, but it is a necessary duty. Staying informed means that you are able to spread awareness of issues that can be corrected by voting in elections.
Many things in the world are very complicated right now. As a Native woman, I have hope that voting will change our future for the better. We are so strong and we need to remind ourselves of that. Every vote is a vote to change the world into one we can flourish in. Your voice matters.
