'Social Change Goes Native'

An evening discussion reviews modern Native American
social activism

Submitted by Native Voter – Kristy Alberty – (541) 552-1744

Native American activist Janet Robideau is the
featured speaker in Wesley Hall, Ashland United
Methodist Church, 175 N. Main Street, Ashland, MT, 7 pm to 9 pm, Friday, May 14th. The event is sponsored by the
Native American Leadership Institute as part of their
nonpartisan initiative to "Get Out the Native Vote"
and co-sponsor Church in the World Committee of
Ashland UMC.

Janet Robideau is a member of the Northern Cheyenne
Nation and a resident of Missoula, Montana. Her
earliest life experiences include forced relocation to
Federal and Catholic boarding schools and later,
living on an impoverished Indian reservation in
eastern Montana.

In the 1970s, Janet became an activist for Indian
rights through the American Indian Movement. In that
time, both the Black Panther Party and the American
Indian Movement were notorious agents of change,
sometimes violently, against police discrimination and
racial injustice.

Years later in Missoula, Janet became an assisted
living caregiver and organized other caregivers into a
trade organization for worker rights. It was during
that time she encountered Montana People's Action, a
social change organization very similar to Oregon
Action, which has offices in Portland and Medford,
Oregon. Janet learned organizing techniques employed
by MPA and she decided it was time for Indian people
to organize again but in a different way.

Using bits and pieces of information and training from
MPA, Janet created Indian People's Action. IPA
protects the civil rights of Indian people in Montana
and addresses discrimination by police, the courts and
public school systems but also larger issues such as
affordable housing, health care reform and wage
protections. For the last eight years, IPA has raised
awareness about voter participation by Native
Americans with an unprecedented 95% of Missoula's
Native population voting.

NALI brings Janet Robideau here to raise awareness of
current Native American social justice issues and the
importance of voter participation to build a true
democracy. Admission is free with donations going to
NALI's "Get Out the Native Vote" campaign. For
information call 552-1744. Doors open at 6:45pm.
-30

For those of you wishing to sign the petition against the Disney Corporation for blocking the distribution of Michael Moore's new film "Farenheit 911" because it criticizes President George W. Bush go to http://democrats.com/disney.

Be forewarned: It is a very, very busy site so keep tryng - bobbie

NATIVE UNITY - A place for Native American Peoples to solidify their tribes to make a positive impact on the cultural, social, economic and political fabric of American society and a place for non-Natives to better understand the ways of the American Indian.

NATIONAL VOICE, a coalition of non-profit and community groups working to maximize the impact of voter groups, has set up a Native Voter listserve to inform about Native voting projects, training opportunities, funding and breaking news throughout
the country.

To learn more about National Voice - http://nationalvoice.org.
To join -
http://www.nationalvoice.org/lists2.html.

Alyssa Burhans, Organizing Director for Native America and Young Voters at National Voice.