Inspire Indigenous Action

Federal Judge rules against discriminatory North Dakota redistricting map for Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake tribes

For Immediate Release November 20, 2023 For More Information Contact:Nicole DonaghyExecutive Director701-751-2154ndnativevote.orgNorth Dakota Native Vote Federal Judge rules against discriminatory North Dakota redistricting map for Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and Spirit Lake tribes A win for Indian country and validation of the effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act. Bismarck, North Dakota—On November 17, 2023, a federal judge blocked...

Legislative Updates April 17, 2023

The 2023 North Dakota Legislative Session is in crunch time, when controversial or difficult billsmust be finalized and acted on. We have some important bills in this mix that will need supportor opposition. The latest this year’s session can go is May 4, but chances are it will adjournseveral days earlier than that. School LunchesStop Shaming Students. First, some good news. The bill to limit shaming students who haveunpaid school lunch debt...

Legislative Updates for March 6-10th

ND Legislative Updates by Sharnell Seaboy, NDNV Field Organizer and Lobbyist, for the week of March 6th to the 10th and information on upcoming hearings. HCR 3027 would have recommended a study needed for safety improvements on specific State Highways on the Fort Berthold Reservation and reducing the highway speed to 55 mph. NDNV supported the bill. On March 6, HCR 3027 was defeated. HCR 3028 recommends a study of environmental impacts of oil,...

Priority Bills & Hearings from Feb. 21 to Mar. 3rd

https://youtu.be/zO5aaiFIrdw Legislative Update from Feb. 21st to March 3rd HB 1371 relates to corporate farming and bringing Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to North Dakota.  Passed in the House 70-24 on Tuesday February 21, 2023.  HB 1537 relates to adding bias crimes to state law, including data collection and law enforcement training. Failed to pass in the House 29 - 65 on February 21, 2023. HB 1536 relates to Indian...

Priority Bills & Hearings from Feb. 17th- 23rd

https://youtu.be/WxguFPRdBZA Updates from February 17th to the 23rd HB 1537  which adds bias crimes to state law, including data collection and law enforcement training.  We attended the second hearing on Tuesday February 14, 2023 at 10am where more supporters were heard by the committee.  Overall 40 people gave strong, real-life testimony in favor of this bill. No one testified against it.  SB 2203 Relates to social work...

ND Legislators Representing Reservation Districts

2023 Legislative Assembly District 4 (Manda Arikara Hidatsa) Sen. Jordan L. Kannianen, Stanley (R) Cell: 701-421-8813 Email: jkannianen@ndlegis.gov 4A Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, Manadree (D) Email: lfinleydeville@ndlegis.gov 4B Rep. Clayton Fegley, Berthold (R) Cell: 701-263-1442 Email: cfegley@ndlegis.gov District 9 (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) Sen. Kent Weston, Sarles (R) Cell:701-370-5100 Email: kweston@ndlegis.gov 9A Rep. Jayme...

Priority bills with hearings or votes the week of February 13-17:

Legislative updates by Don Morrison and Sharnell SeaBoy There are two school lunch bills:  HB 1491 originally would provide lunch to every public school student. Students are in school over meal time so the school should feed the students. North Dakota Native Vote testified in favor. However, the House Education Committee voted to limit free lunches to students in families at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. The House...