Getting more American Indians and Alaska Natives to the polls this November is a top priority of tribes around the nation.

Charles F. Bunnell, the chief of staff for external and governmental affairs for the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, said tribal members are reluctant to vote in local, state and federal elections. "It's harder to get to the polls, and there are generational issues of mistrust in voting," Bunnell told The New London Day. "I've spoken to people who have never missed a tribal election but have never voted for Congress."

The Mohegan Tribe gave $10,000 to the Four Directions Committee in South Dakota. The group claimed two- to three-fold increases in turnout on some reservations in an election there this month.

L. Buddy Gwin, director of intergovernmental, media and cultural affairs for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said tribes need to work with both political parties. He said allegations that the tribe told others not to donate to Four Directions were untrue. The group has ties to Democratic interests in South Dakota.

Get the Story:
American Indians Being Pushed To Polls This Year (The New London Day 6/30)
pwday

Relevant Links:
Native Vote 2004 - http://130.94.214.68/nativevote