Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Hau Mitakuyapi na Mitakolakuyapi, (Hello my relatives and friends)

October 12th is now known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and I would like to extend an invitation to our friends and allies to take some time to join with us at Four Directions Native Vote – Indian Country (4DNV-IC) to celebrate our resiliency, cultures and traditions. October 12, is reserved for remembrance and to give thanks for the strength and tenacity of our ancestors, who at great sacrifice to themselves, preserved our traditions, language, spirituality, and sovereignty so that we can continue to grow and thrive individually and as Native Nations. Although this is one moment, one day, we as Native people, as part of our teachings and practices ask that we do this every day.

At 4DNV-IC, we respect those cultural traditions, values and way of life that were

handed down to all Native peoples by our ancestors. To the Lakota people, those

traditions, values and way of life are called wolakota. It’s wolakota that guides 4DNV-IC in its mission to address historical and contemporary injustices against Tribalcommunities through equal access at state and federal elections, advocacy in the Census, concerted efforts to election protection in Indian Country, litigation, and

evolving Federal Indian law to benefit tribal interests.

The right to exist as sovereign nations, the right to govern our citizenry, to steward and manage our lands is a precarious one. The way to ensure our future as Tribal Nations and Tribal citizens is for all of us who are of voting age to register and vote in ALL elections, tribal, local, state and federal. Only in this way can we have the representation needed “at the table” when governments are discussing our futures.

Our ancestors fought hard so we could still be here. They were Fearless Advocates of our way of life. We need you, too, to be a Fearless Advocate by voting and by supporting the work of Four Directions Native Vote-Indian Country.

Join with us and celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on October 12, and take some time to:

Read books and articles by Native authors

Support Native owned businesses

Research the Tribal lands you live in and the Tribal nations who are connected to that land

Attend an Indigenous Peoples Day event in your area.

Respect our way of life, our resilience and know you are not alone,our ancestor, relatives and friends stand with you

Pilamaya yelo, (Thank you)

Oliver “OJ” Semans (Sicangu Lakota)

Executive Director

Sovereignty is not free

Stand with us as a Fearless Advocate.

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PO Box 731, Chamberlain, SD 57325 | info@4dnv-ic.org | (605) 216-1825

Four Directions Native Vote – Indian Country is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are

tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.