There is only one way to start today’s message: thank you, thank you, thank you! From the bottom of my heart, and from so many of us here at Standing Rock Nation, we feel blessed and grateful to have you on our side.
Our Vote 2020 Campaign has been a resounding success on so many levels, and we couldn’t have done it without you. We formed important new bonds, trained 40 tribal members on voter outreach, and created powerful media that reached hundreds of thousands. Most importantly, all the work we did made a definitive difference in the election — and I urge you to read much more about this in our new Lakota Law blog.
Halle Martinez, one of our outstanding Standing Rock calling team members.
Your support allowed us to reach out to more than a quarter million Native and environmentally conscious voters. Ultimately, we had 11,000-plus activating conversations with people in battleground states like Arizona. Now, due partly to the Native vote, we’ll have new national leadership, more Indigenous people in office, and the chance to heal this nation.
We saw exactly how loud the voices of Native people can be in Arizona. We had nearly 2,500 conversations with voters in the Grand Canyon State. Turnout was high in Indian Country, and the state will now have a Senator who should stand up for the environment.
I think most of you are aware that Donald Trump has not conceded victory and isn’t stopping his attacks on the will of the people. We must not rest on our laurels, become the least bit complacent, or stop working together for justice and the health of our democracy.
There is much still to accomplish together moving forward. I’m confident we can continue forming critical partnerships down the road to bring about even more positive change. That could be as soon as January with Georgia’s two U.S. Senate run-off elections. Regardless, I’m excited about what the future holds for Standing Rock, the United States, and our shared world.
Wopila tanka — my deepest gratitude for your participation in our democracy!
Phyllis Young
Standing Rock Organizer
The Lakota People’s Law Project
Water is Life 