Montana-based Native advocacy group opens D.C. office
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On the heels of a busy Montana legislative session, the advocacy group Western Native Voice is setting its sights higher and opening a Washington, D.C., office next week.
The nonprofit formed in 2022 to advocate for equity and opportunity for Montana's Native people. Since then, the group has gained members in, and collaborated with tribes across, many western states.
Keaton Sunchild, director of government and political relations for the group, said it can be difficult to operate at a national level from 2,000 miles away.
"Being able to be right there, be on top of the action and be able to use our voice in Washington is going to help us be a little bit more proactive," Sunchild explained.
He pointed out top issues at the national level include criminal justice funding for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and drug crises disproportionately affecting tribal communities. Sunchild noted the national office will open May 12.
Sunchild called this year's Montana legislative session "pretty successful" for Western Native Voice but highlighted one area of continued concern is voting rights. Governor Greg Gianforte is expected to decide Tuesday on Senate Bill 490, which would add restrictions to same-day voter registration.
"It's a road we've been down before," Sunchild acknowledged. "Trying to figure out the best way forward for that, whether that's through the courts in Montana, maybe if there's some sort of backstop we can look at federally."
Other voting access issues Sunchild plans to work on are funding for more satellite elections offices and blanket protections for tribal IDs as valid voter registration identification.
