Indigenous Community Victories from the 2020 Election

This graphic was featured on theAlyssa Masaquaptewa instagram and designed by Alyssa Masaquaptewa.

This post was written by VCU Intern Razmila Razaak.

The 2020 general election has been nothing short of momentous—a historic one in terms of firsts for more diverse lawmakers and even more so with voter turnout. For many Native people, this election brought the issue of political representation close to home. Indigenous voters played a crucial role in electing the newly appointed Presidential administration. As the country advances to progress in diverse political representation across the states, many Native American voters had a significant impact on the outcome of the presidential election in several swing states that need to be recognized and acknowledged by all. Nonetheless, Native congressional candidates have made history this Election Day. This means that the 117th Congress will have more Native Americans than any previous Congress. 

Five Native American and Native Hawaiian lawmakers were elected to the House of Representatives — a record-breaking number. 

• Democratic Representative Sharice Davids from Kansas. 

• Democratic Representative  Kaiali'i Kahele from Hawaii.

• Democratic Representative Debra Haaland from New Mexico. 

• Republican Representative Tom Cole from Oklahoma. 

• Republican Representative Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma.

"I was pleased to know that we had so many Native American candidates running across the country, not just for Congress or the Senate, but in House and Senate districts across the country, and local, that's what we need. We need representation in elected office," Haaland said. - Dalton Walker: Indian Country Today

These victories were mainly about representation. Native Americans were made citizens of this country only in 1924, and they weren’t afforded the right in some states to vote until 1948.

Women in power 

In addition - for the first time, the U.S. House of Representatives will have gained two Native American women.  Debra Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo from New Mexico, and Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation from Kansas, will be the first Native American women to serve in Congress.

"According to a Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) report, 18 indigenous women were running for congressional seats this year – a record in a single year. Native American women made up 2.6% of all women running for Congress this year, " - Lauren Argandi: The Guardian.

For Native American women, this is about the power of the Indigenous community. Due to colonialism, Indigenous women have been made invisible, practically written out of history, and out of leadership roles by colonial officials. The memorable wins of Davids and Haaland are symbolic of a movement amidst Indigenous people today to decolonize. This includes efforts to reclaim a nation with strong women, gender equality, and women as treasured leaders in society.

Correspondingly - New Zealand appointed its first Indigenous female Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Jacinda Arden's administration. Nanaia Mahuta is Māori - the Indigenous people of New Zealand. She is related to the late Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu, and the current Māori monarch, Kingi Tuheitia, according to RNZ. Mahuta has been in parliament for 24 years and has held duties including trade, customs, Māori affairs, and youth development.

Rukuwai Tipene-Allen, a political journalist for Māori Television, stated in relation to the newly appointed Foreign Minister, "The first face that people see at an international level is someone who speaks, looks and sounds like a Māori - The face of New Zealand is Indigenous."

It is a step in the right direction as the country aims to decolonize its voice in foreign affairs.