100 Years of Native Citizenship

Author

  • Cheryl Bird
    Cheryl Bird Communications & Advancement Coordinator Oglala Lakota

On June 2, 2024, the Indian Citizenship Act turned 100 years old. Before this, the majority of Native people had been excluded from citizenship and thereby the right to vote. Still more decades would pass before it was legal for Native people to vote in all 50 states. 

With the 2024 general election approaching, Native Governance Center (NGC) is uplifting the significance of the Indian Citizenship Act, its impact on Native people, and the opportunities we have to come together in service of the next seven generations. 

What was the Indian Citizenship Act?

The Indian Citizenship Act, or the Snyder Act, was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge on June 2, 1924. Prior to this, Natives, the first people of this land, had been excluded from citizenship except through military service and land allotment legislation. 

With the Indian Citizenship Act, Native people born in the United States were granted full citizenship without having to give up their Tribal enrollment. Despite this, state laws continued to disenfranchise Native voters until 1957

What did it change?

The Indian Citizenship Act marked a new era of Native movement and power building. Generations of Indigenous activists fought for full voting rights for Native people in the US, a fight that continues today

“Natives have unique citizenship status in that we’re citizens of the US and our Native nations as well. Something that may not impact you as a citizen of your Native nation can still impact you as a US citizen. We are also citizens of our states, counties, and cities, and have a right to make an impact on all levels of government” said NGC Program Director Michaela Madrid (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe).

“When we look at the timeline of federal Indian policy, there were waves of really bad policy, not as bad policy, and then more bad policy. As we’ve gotten into the most recent era, however, the wave has somewhat stabilized and started going up,” said Madrid. 

“This is because we’ve seen an uprising in Native activism and movements that have put our issues and candidates on the table. When we make our voices heard and educate others on our issues, when we have participation in the legal system, when we have representation in these powerful chairs, we create change,” Madrid continued. 

How does it impact Native people today?

With the hard-won Native vote making headlines during recent election cycles, national awareness of the collective power of Indigenous people is growing. As more and more Native people vote and run for public office, we are witnessing the full utilization of our unique citizenship status. With increased representation in all levels of government, we are also making major headway in expanding and strengthening our rights. 

“When we have Native people involved in creating and implementing policies, they fit our people better. Having Native people in powerful positions across all levels of government is a great way to make our voices heard,” said Madrid. 

The Indian Citizenship Act continues to impact Native people in multiple ways, something that is very clear during this election year. We are preparing for Tribal council elections while also preparing to vote for the next president of the United States. There are also numerous Native people running for local, state, and national office. 

“In a democratic government, there’s not one singular person who can make final decisions and advance everything we want to see advanced. We need more people to advance these issues across the board. Having many, many qualified Indigenous folks sprinkled throughout all levels of our government ensures we can create real change,” Madrid continued.

In closing…

There are many ways to get involved and contribute to the widespread change happening across Indian Country. Practicing leadership in small ways can make a big difference. From organizing rides to the polls on election day to joining your local Parent Teacher Association, getting involved helps create brighter futures for the next seven generations. 

“Your testimony on your local water board can have more impact than submitting written comments on major federal policy. We still need to engage federally, but getting involved locally carries a lot of weight. We need to be involved across the board, and it doesn’t always have to be at the very top levels of government,” Madrid concluded. 

Learn more about our work by visiting NativeGov.org.