TULSA, Oklahoma (September 16, 2024) — United Indian Nations of Oklahoma (UINO) is launching its second bi-annual “Warrior Up to Vote” event, an unprecedented statewide initiative to increase voter registration among Native Americans in Oklahoma. Oklahoma ranks 50th in voter participation and registration, and Native Americans have some of the country’s lowest voter registration and turnout rates. With tribal citizens comprising 13 percent of the state’s population, Warrior Up to Vote aims to change that.
“There are so many problems we feel we can’t move the needle on because they seem insurmountable when we look at them as a whole. Societal issues such as education, healthcare, mental health and substance abuse seem impossible to overcome,” said Ben Barnes, UINO Board Chairman. “But registering to vote is a right. We can impact taxation, our tribal compacts and tribal sovereignty when we vote, which helps all those issues that disproportionately affect Native Americans. Whether you are a young person or an elder, no matter your background or education, voting is something we can all do to uplift our communities, and it requires minimal effort.”
UINO received a grant from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), which will help UINO visit tribal nations, tribal complexes, and headquarters across Oklahoma from Sept. 23 to Oct. 5. The tour will culminate in voter registration drives in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Highlighting the tour is the Oklahoma Tribal Sovereignty 101 Summit and candidates forum at River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa.
UINO’s efforts to register tribal citizens to vote are nonpartisan, but they will include information on candidates’ positions on tribal sovereignty and issues critical to Indian Country.
“As we mobilize efforts to encourage Indian Country to vote, we do so in a non-partisan manner. We do, however, advocate for a Tribal Sovereignty ticket,” said Larry Wright, Jr, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), a Warrior up to Vote partner. “Regardless of political party affiliation, we encourage Indian Country to vote for candidates that will support and defend priorities important to Indian Country. In doing so, this will extend to upholding the trust and treaty obligations this country has to all of Indian Country.”
By registering Native American voters, UINO and NCAI will empower tribal communities in Oklahoma to influence critical policy issues in Indian Country, such as economic development, criminal justice, health care and education.
The tour’s highlight is the Tribal Sovereignty 101 and Candidates Forum on Sept. 30 at the Muscogee Nation’s River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa. All Oklahoma candidates running for state and federal office are invited to engage directly with tribal leaders and Native voters.
During the Tribal Sovereignty 101 session, tribal leaders, legal scholars, and national organizations will discuss sovereignty and how it impacts policy and legislation at the state level, including the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling, tribal compacts, education, and economic development. Candidates will then be able to present their platforms and engage with Native voters during the Candidates Forum.
Tribal Nations are encouraged to join the movement.
As part of this campaign, UINO will distribute voter registration materials to Tribal Nations and Native voters, including posters and flyers with QR codes that link directly to the online registration resources. Tribal nations are encouraged to display these materials in high-traffic areas such as social services offices, health centers, tribal tax offices and other community spaces to ensure accessibility.
“United Indian Nations of Oklahoma is mobilizing the Native vote like never before,” said Margo Gray, UINO Executive Director. “With the support of our tribal leaders, we can reach more Natives than ever, and we can make our collective voices more impactful than ever. This tour is truly historic, and we are ready to Warrior up to Vote.”
The Warrior Up to Vote tour is committed to showcasing Oklahoma’s Native communities statewide and nationally by visiting as many tribal communities as possible before Oklahoma’s Oct. 11 voter registration deadline.
Why the Native Vote Matters:
- Native Americans represent 13% of Oklahoma’s population but have been historically underrepresented in voter registration and turnout.
- Oklahoma ranks 50th in voter turnout and participation. Registering Native Americans to vote gives Tribal Citizens the voice they deserve in policymaking.
- With issues like tribal sovereignty, economic development, healthcare, and education at stake, Native American voices are essential to shaping the future of Oklahoma’s policies.
- Voting is a fundamental right, and this tour aims to remove barriers to registration, educate communities, and empower voters to make informed choices.
- The Warrior Up to Vote tour is more than a voter registration drive; it celebrates Native sovereignty, community strength, and the power to create change through political engagement.
Key Tour Dates and Events:
September 23-October 5, 2024:
Warrior Up to Vote Tour stops at tribal complexes and headquarters across Oklahoma
- 9/23 Monday – Miami, OK – Shawnee, Miami, Peoria, Seneca Cayuga, Eastern Shawnee, Quapaw, Wyandotte, Ottawa and Modoc Tribal Nations
- 9/24 Tuesday – Vinita and Tahlequah, OK – Cherokee Nation and UKB Tribal Nations 9/25 Wednesday – Bartlesville & Pawhuska- Delaware Tribe of Indians and Osage Nation Tribal Nations
- 9/26 Thursday – Kaw City, Ponca City, Tonkawa – Kaw, Ponca and Tonkawa Tribal Nations
- 9/27 Friday – Redrock & Pawnee, OK – Otoe Missouria and Pawnee Tribal Nations
- 10/1 Tuesday – Perkins, Stroud, McCloud, OK – Iowa, Sac & Fox, Kickapoo Tribal Nations
- 10/2 Wednesday – Shawnee, Seminole, OK – Citizen Potawatomi, Absentee Shawnee, Seminole, Thlopthlocco- Tribal Nations
- 10/3 Thursday – OKC Event will include Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribe and all Natives in OKC and surrounding areas with Special Guests
- 10/4 Friday – Anadarko, Lawton, Binger OK -Kiowa, Wichita, Delaware, Comanche, Caddo, Apache, and Fort Sill Apache Tribal Nations
- 10/5 Saturday – Chickasaw Festival – Tishomingo
Sept. 30, 2024:
- Tribal Sovereignty 101 and Candidates Forum – River Spirit Ballroom, Tulsa, OK (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM)
- This event will bring together tribal leaders, legal scholars, Native advocacy groups, candidates for state and federal office and citizens of tribal communities. The morning session will discuss Tribal Sovereignty threats and opportunities in Oklahoma. The afternoon will feature a forum where candidates can share their views and engage with the community on matters related to Tribal sovereignty and Native rights.
- Warrior Up to Vote Registration Drive – River Spirit Ballroom, Tulsa, OK (5:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
- A voter registration event designed to energize Native American voters in Tulsa and the surrounding areas. With the largest Native population in the country residing within a 100-mile radius, the event will feature live entertainment, DJ Chance Rush, and community leaders encouraging voter participation.
Oct. 3, 2024: Songbird Plaza and Hill Pavilion, Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma City Registration Drive – Special guests and entertainment will provide a backdrop for celebrating Tribal sovereignty and the power of the vote.