Native Nations in North Dakota challenge redistricting
A North Dakota judge has ruled the redistricting of two tribal Nations is in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
In November a federal judge ruled that North Dakota’s 2021 legislative redistricting plan violates the rights of two tribal nations, which the judge says dilutes voting strength.
The ruling comes just months after a trial was held in Fargo over the redistricting. Lawmakers who were involved say the plan they created and approved was redrawn according to 2020 census data.
That plan, the judge says, “prevents Native American voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice,” which is a violation of the landmark 19-65 civil rights law.
Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation citizen and former North Dakota lawmaker Ruth Buffalo says she hopes for good and fair representation. She said tribal nations deserve to have a seat at the table and this is long overdue.
Buffalo says she believes the divide-and-conquer tactics are still alive and well in North Dakota. Unfortunately, the MHA citizen says the good-old-boys club is alive and well. While watching a Bismarck hearing online that took place the former lawmaker said it was still very much business as usual.
Buffalo went on to say that creating an interim legislative redistricting committee still is not sufficient enough, and it is not doing our voters justice. She said she’s hopeful all voters throughout North Dakota will see corruption unfold in the state of North Dakota.
Of the 47 legislative districts, with one senator and two representatives, there are only 2 enrolled citizens of federally recognized tribes in the North Dakota Legislature
The Spirit Lake Tribe and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians allege redistricting packs Turtle Mountain into one house district, and keeps Spirit Lake citizens out of any majority Native house district.
Michael Carter, who is an enrolled Citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and staff attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, says that having more Native voices at all levels of government is something that it hopes will improve.
This includes the case that NARF brought on behalf of Turtle Mountain and Spirit Lake. His organization’s purpose is to increase Native American representation. Carter says American Indians across the country need to focus on getting involved.
North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe is seeking to appeal the decision that would halt the ordered December 22 deadline to come up with a new redistricting plan.
