AUGUST 2022 – Native voting rights organization Four Directions and Georgia Tribal Nations are hosting Georgia candidates and tribal leaders from across the United States on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20, 2022 at the ZuCot Gallery in Atlanta—providing an opportunity for candidates to engage with the issues most important to Native communities in Georgia and across Indian Country.
More than 40 candidates received invitations to earn the vote of Indigenous Georgians and engage with tribal community and government leadership, as well as Indigenous elders and youth. Day one of the Georgia forum is headlined by conversations with gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and incumbent U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declined to participate in-person or virtually.
A multicultural panel was hosted by Native American Rights Fund Director of Development Don Ragona and explored the cross-community similarities and differences regarding the ongoing fight for voting rights. Panelists included Berenice Rodriguez of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Cliff Albright of Black Voters Matter Fund, Gilda (Gigi) Pedraza of Latino Community Fund, Dallin Maybee of Native American Rights Fund, and Bret Healy of Four Directions.
On day two an introduction by former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp explored the importance of the Native Vote, followed by the National Congress of American Indians, a Multicultural Media Panel, and speakers to include Georgia District Candidates Dr. Val Almonord (3rd District), Jonathan Chavez (4th District), Bob Christian (6th District), Michael Ford (9th District), and Caesar Gonzalez (13th District).
AGENDA DAY ONE:
- 9:00am Opening Prayer, Principal Chief McCormick
- Welcome | Ancestral Lands, Principal Chief McCormick
- Opening Remarks, Jacqueline DeLeon from Native American Rights Fund (NARF), Saundra Mitrovitch from National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and OJ Semans Sr. from Four Directions Native Vote
- Impact on Indian Country Panel Moderated by OJ Semans Sr.
- Senator Raphael Warnock, US Senator & Candidate
- Multicultural Discussion Panel Moderated by Donald M. Ragona, Director of Development & House Counsel for Native American Rights Fund
- Ted Metz, Secretary of State Candidate
- Bee Nguyen, Secretary of State Candidate
- Stacey Abrams, Gubernatorial Candidate
- Tabitha Johnson-Green, GA District 10 US House Candidate
- Rep. William Boddie, GA Labor Commissioner
AGENDA DAY TWO:
- 9:25am Opening Comments
- 9:30am Heidi Heitkamp (Virtual Appearance), Former North Dakota Senator
- 10:00am Dr. Val Almonord, GA District 3 US House
- 10:30am National Congress of American Indians Election Training
- 11:45am Lunch
- 12:30pm Jonathan Chavez, GA District 4 US House
- 1:00pm Bob Christian, GA District 6 US House
- 1:30pm Michael Ford (Virtual Appearance), GA District 9 US House
- 2:00pm Multicultural Media Panel Moderated by OJ Semans Sr.
- 3:00pm Caesar Gonzalez, GA District 13 US House
- 4:00pm Political Engagement for Native Americans & Lessons Learned Moderated by Donald M. Ragona, Director of Development & House Counsel, Native American Rights Fund
- 4:45pm Closing Remarks
Georgia Background Information:
Based on an analysis of 2020 U.S. census data conducted by the National Congress of American Indians, Four Directions Native Vote estimates there are approximately 146,000 Native Americans of voting age living in Georgia. In 2020, the presidential election was decided by a margin of less than 12,000 voters. As Native voter turnout trends upwards across the country, there is no question Indigenous voters have the power to decide the outcome of every statewide election in Georgia.
