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46 NARF Legal Rev. 1 (2021)

handle is hein.journals/narf46 and id is 1 raw text is: REDISTRICTING IN INDIAN COUNTRY WE CAN #SHAPENATIVE FUTURES 'C, Every ten years, the United States holds a Census to deter- mine how many people live in the United States and its territories. One thing that we do with that popula- tion informa~tion is to divide the nation into voting districts. That process is known as redistricting. Redistricting is the redrawing of political boundaries for election districts for the US House of Representatives, state legislatures, county commissioners, city councils, school boards, and other local bodies. Having equal numbers of voters in each of a state's voting district protects the constitutional right to have a vote that is equal to any other per- son's vote. Thus, under the Constitution, a state must ensure that its districts each have approxi- mately the same number of people. By redrawing the lines every ten years, the government can make changes to district boundaries based on where people have moved or where populations have grown or shrunk. This often over-looked process is essential for protecting our civil rights and political strength. Without these periodic adjustments, the voting power of a particular community can become diluted over time. In addition to preserving equal representation, how officials define boundaries during the redis- tricting process is important. The way people are grouped into districts has an immense influence on who our representatives are and what policies they fight for. Voting districts control access to political representation. Changing district boundaries can change the political agency of the people therein. It is crucial that Native Americans and Alaska Natives have an equal voice in redistricting, to protect the ability of Native voters to elect candidates of their choice and protect their political power. The Native American Rights Fund is providing education and resources to make sure that Native commu- nities are prepared to effectively participate in the 2021 redistricting process. Redistricting Effects and Limitations The United States Supreme Court started the modern era of redistricting in the 1960s. The Court's rulings during this time were intended to address issues like the rural-urban tension and racial discrimination. Prior to the Supreme Court rulings, some states across the country had not redistricted for decades. It was a way to maintain existing power structures. During the first half of the 20th century, many states resisted redistricting, and voting districts often became markedly unequal as populations shifted from one region to another. Political º Redistricting in Indian Country We Can #shapenativefutures................................ page 1 º Case Updates .......................................... page 4 º National Indian Law Library.................. page 9 º Call to Action........................................ page 10 º NARF .................................................... page 11 º NARF Board .......................................... page 12 WINTER/SPRING 2021 VOLUME 46, NO.1

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