FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, November 1, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Mathilda Miller, [email protected], 808-897-1630
Native Voters Alliance Nevada Issues Urgent Open Letter to Candidates as Early Voting Ends
NEVADA – On the final day of Early Voting for the 2024 General Election, Native Voters Alliance Nevada, the only 501(c)4 Native advocacy group in the state, has issued an urgent open letter to candidates at all levels—presidential, federal, state, and local. The letter underscores the need for immediate and concrete action to protect sacred lands like Avi Kwa Ame and to advance designations for Chuckwalla and Kw’tsán. Native voters are calling for leaders who will honor their commitments and recognize that protecting these lands is not optional but essential to the survival and sovereignty of Indigenous communities.
Copied below is the full text of the letter from Native Voters Alliance Nevada (also see attached pdf)
To whom it may concern:
For Native people, sovereignty isn’t just a legal right—it’s our identity and survival. It’s our ability to govern ourselves, protect our traditions, and steward the lands our ancestors entrusted to us. Sacred places like Avi Kwa Ame aren’t just historical landmarks; they are living parts of our culture and our future. Their protection isn’t up for debate—it’s an existential fight for our people.
We’ve seen what happens when leaders betray us. Bears Ears National Monument was illegally slashed by the Trump Administration, a blatant disregard for Indigenous cultures and environmental protections. It took years to reverse that damage, and we won’t allow another betrayal. Avi Kwa Ame, newly designated as a national monument, stands at the frontlines of this battle. Whoever is in the White House next year better understand: these protections must hold, or there will be consequences.
Protecting existing monuments is only the beginning. Proposed national monuments like Chuckwalla and Kw’tsán are still at risk. These aren’t bargaining chips for political gain—they are essential to our sovereignty. Leaders who claim to support Native communities must prove it by extending protection to these sacred lands. Words are empty. Action is everything.
This isn’t just about protecting Tribal sovereignty. It’s about protecting the future of our environment, our public lands, and our shared climate. National monuments safeguard biodiversity, mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, and provide access to everyone. If these lands fall, we all lose. When leaders protect sacred spaces like Avi Kwa Ame, Chuckwalla, and Kw’tsán, they’re not just defending Native rights—they’re fighting for the future of America’s public lands.
Politicians who fail to protect these sacred lands aren’t just betraying Native communities—they’re betraying the country. Will our lands be preserved for future generations, or will they be sold off to corporate interests?
Native voters have been lied to for far too long. We’ve seen treaties broken, sacred lands desecrated, and leaders who disappear when it’s politically convenient. But let’s be clear: politicians who act, who stand up for our lands and our sovereignty, will earn our trust—and our votes. The rest will be left behind.
And this isn’t about loyalty to a party. Our votes don’t belong to any party—they belong to those who respect Native self-governance and take real steps to protect our lands. Leaders must do more than talk; they must act. Protect Avi Kwa Ame. Designate Chuckwalla and Kw’tsán. Those who step up will prove they understand the stakes.
The 2024 election is a test of America’s commitment to justice, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous rights. Avi Kwa Ame is just one battleground—there are more. Native communities, environmental defenders, and voters are watching closely. Will candidates go beyond empty promises and rhetoric? Or will they deliver real, lasting protections for sacred spaces? This is not a favor to Native communities—it’s a duty. Leaders who act will earn our trust. Those who don’t will face the consequences.
To all leaders—this is your moment. Protect Avi Kwa Ame. Protect Chuckwalla. Protect Kw’tsán. Prove that you’re committed to safeguarding sacred lands. Sovereignty isn’t just political power—it’s survival. The stakes are too high to ignore. Failure to act will resonate far beyond Native communities—it will determine the future of America’s public lands.
This is your test. Our trust and our votes are earned, not given. And this November, we’ll be watching.
Signed,
Native Voters Alliance Nevada
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About Native Voters Alliance Nevada: A rising powerhouse in the Nevada political landscape, Native Voters Alliance Nevada (NVAN) is dedicated to forging a dynamic Native ecosystem and fostering political strength within Indigenous communities. We serve as a resonating platform for urban and Tribal Nation voices, guiding elections, molding legislation, and championing tribal sovereignty. Join us in our empowering journey and learn more at https://nativevotesnv.org/.