The Environmental Crisis on Native American Lands

For over 15 years, 3 Generations has been documenting stories of injustices against Native Americans. We do so to bring attention to the degradation of their lands and to provide a platform for survivors and their stories. 

As the 2024 United States presidential election approaches, we must remember our country's voting history and advocate for just and equal voting rights. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a milestone piece of federal legislation that addressed voting racial discrimination. The VRA required states to obtain federal approval before making any changes to their voting laws, thus preventing lawmakers from passing laws that would negatively affect minority voters, including Native Americans. Additionally, a section in the VRA prohibits racial discrimination. This provision has challenged discriminatory voting practices, such as restrictive voter identification laws or the closure of polling places in Native American communities. Furthermore, the VRA has been used to support language assistance efforts for non-English-speaking voters.

While the VRA has been crucial, it has time and time again been impacted by Supreme Court decisions, such as the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder. This ruling has led to calls for legislative action to once again strengthen voting rights protections for Natives. Despite the protections afforded by the VRA, Native American communities continue to face barriers to voting, including geographic isolation, lack of access to polling places, and discriminatory voter identification laws. To protect Native American voting rights, we must continue to advocate for and encourage legal challenges, as well as collaboration between tribal governments, advocacy organizations, and policymakers. It is crucial for everyone, including Native American citizens, to have access to voting and trust that the democratic process serves them.

At 3G, we are continuing to monitor and sound the alarm about Native Americans and the degradation their lands face. For information about the issues we support and to watch our films, please visit our website, 3generations.org, follow us on social media at @3_generations, and connect with us via email by subscribing to our mailing list. We thank you for your support; we could not continue hearing their stories, amplifying voices, and demanding change without YOU.