What Civic Engagement Looks Like

Civic engagement is how communities care for one another, protect their future, and make their voices heard. It shows up in many ways, including:

  • Staying informed about issues that affect families and communities
  • Learning how systems work so voices are not left out
  • Participating in community conversations and decision-making
  • Supporting youth leadership and future generations
  • Showing up consistently, not just during major moments
  • Advocating for community needs and shared values
  • Protecting sovereignty and self-determination through participation
  • Practicing leadership without needing a title
  • Voting in local, state and federal elections

Strengthening Communities Through Civic Engagement

At Western Native Voice, our civic education program prepares community members to understand how decisions are made and what responsibility looks like in civic life. We envision Native communities where people are informed, engaged, and willing to participate—serving on boards, attending meetings, and helping guide decisions that shape their families, lands, and future generations.

What We Do

Our civic engagement work includes:

  • Public Storytelling Training – Helping people learn how to share their own stories and speak up about what matters to them.
  • Issue Advocacy – Helping people take action on issues and decisions that affect their community.
  • Community Meetings – Creating safe spaces where community members can learn, listen, and talk about important issues together.
  • Voter Registration – Helping people sign up so they can take part in elections.
  • Voter Mobilization – Encouraging and reminding people to get involved and make their voices heard.
  • Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Activities – Helping people take part in elections through early voting, Election Day support, and neighborhood outreach.

By working with partner organizations, we help more people register, participate, and connect with their elected leaders.

Western Native Voice believes that strong Native communities are built through responsibility, participation, and care for future generations. Civic engagement is one way we honor our ancestors and protect what matters most.

Our GOTV Program

Our robust GOTV efforts focus on ensuring every voice is heard during early voting and on election day. We provide:

  • Assistance with ballot pick-up, drop-off, and replacements.
  • Rides to ballot drop-off locations and satellite election offices during early voting.
  • Neighborhood canvassing that spans from rural reservations to urban centers.
  • Voter protection through poll-watching, voter rights education, and advocacy for policies that safeguard voting access.

We are committed to protecting and amplifying the voices of our communities through nonpartisan citizen engagement. Together, we can ensure that every individual has the opportunity to participate in shaping the future of their communities.

​Regions covered:

  • Blackfeet
  • Flathead
  • Crow
  • Fort Belknap
  • Fort Peck
  • Northern Cheyenne
  • Rocky Boy
  • Billings
  • Great Falls
  • Missoula
  • Bozeman
  • Helena

Public Service

We are dedicated to empowering communities with the knowledge and tools to participate in civic life. By promoting the value of civic engagement, we help individuals understand the impact of their involvement and the collective power we hold in fulfilling our civic duties. Through targeted outreach and ongoing engagement, we increase public service participation and amplify the Native voice by:

  • Offering internship and volunteer opportunities
  • Providing training for running for elected office, including energy and school boards, as well as tribal, city, county, state, and federal positions
  • Facilitating appointments to boards and commissions

Community Organizing

Our community organizing approach is guided by the values that sustain Native communities—family, community, care for future generations, and resiliency. Through year-round engagement and education, we support Native people in showing up for their communities, participating in decisions that matter, and using their voices to strengthen leadership and protect what comes next.

Training topics include:​

  • The Struggle and Triumph: A History of Native Voting Rights
  • Native Voter Victory: Celebrating Recent Achievements and Their Impact
  • Navigating the National Political Landscape: What It Means for Native Communities
  • Mastering Montana’s Voter Registration System: A Guide to Satellite Offices and Services
  • On the Ground: Field Training for Effective Voter Engagement
  • Power in Numbers: Strategic Approaches to Get Out the Vote (GOTV)
  • Unlocking the Vote: Proven Strategies for Voter Registration Success
  • Building Community Engagement: Effective Approaches for Native Leaders
  • Harnessing the Power of Personal Stories to Mobilize Voters
  • Decoding the Ballot: A Guide to Election Analysis and Strategy
  • Social Media Mobilization: Leveraging Digital Tools for Voter Engagement
  • Medicaid Expansion: The Impact on Native Communities and How to Get Involved
  • Public Policy and Native Communities: Understanding and Shaping Local and National Impact
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Mobilizing Native Voters: A Year-Round Commitment

At Western Native Voice, we work alongside Native communities throughout the year to strengthen participation, leadership, and civic engagement. Our organizers—rooted in their own communities—engage directly with individuals and families, supporting informed involvement in decisions that affect daily life and future generations.

Beyond election years, we focus on local meetings, community discussions, and presentations led by staff and local leaders, building relationships that last and networks that support long-term community leadership.

Stay up to date on upcoming events and important updates through Western Native Voice’s social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.